Seasonal routine: what really changes between summer and winter

Key takeaways

• Dry winter air makes dehydration worse; summer heat increases sebum.
• Sunscreen is not seasonal: UVA rays are still there on cloudy days and in winter.
• Change the texture of your moisturiser (richer in winter, lighter in summer), not the structure of your routine.

It is tempting to completely change your routine with every season. However, most seasonal adjustments involve a few specific factors, not an entirely different routine.

What really changes with the seasons

Air humidity, UV exposure, and temperature fluctuations primarily affect sebum production and the rate at which the skin loses water. In winter, the drier air increases skin dehydration. In summer, heat and perspiration can increase sebum production, especially in areas already prone to shine.

What doesn't change: sun protection

Contrary to popular belief, UVA exposure remains significant even on cloudy days or in winter. Daily sun protection is therefore not a seasonal step: it remains necessary all year round, even indoors near a window.

Adjust the texture, not the structure

The most relevant change from one season to the next concerns the texture of the moisturizer: richer in winter to compensate for increased water loss, lighter in summer to avoid a heavy feeling. The structure of the routine—cleanse, moisturize, target, protect—remains the same.

The special case of exfoliating actives

Exfoliating acids (AHA, BHA) make the skin more sensitive to the sun. Using them in summer requires increased vigilance regarding sun protection, without the need to stop using them altogether if this protection is properly ensured.

Which product to choose

• In winter: the Panthetoin Cream by Manyo, richer, with panthenol.
• In summer: the Aqua Oasis Moisturising Gel Cream by S.Nature, a light gel-cream.
• All year round: the Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream SPF50+ by Anua.

Adapting your routine to the season therefore does not mean rebuilding it: it is mainly about adjusting the richness of the textures and staying attentive to the skin's actual needs, week after week.

Read also: Dry, oily, combination skin: do you really need to change your routine? · Korean sunscreens: why their texture changed our relationship with SPF

Sources

• Engebretsen KA et al. The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2016. doi:10.1111/jdv.13301
• Kikuchi K et al. Improvement of mild inflammatory changes of the facial skin induced by winter environment with daily applications of a moisturizing cream. Dermatology, 2003. doi:10.1159/000073089