Gone are the gloomy grey skies and the harsh winds that have kept our skin looking dry and dull. Winter has overstayed its visit, it’s time for sun and warmer blue skies. Skin and weather have a weird complex relationship that may be overwhelming for most and intriguing for others on how to navigate this arena. It can be overwhelming trying to navigate our skin’s needs during the change in weather. Don’t fret , we chatted to a few skin care experts and asked for their tips/recommendations on how to maintain healthy lookin’ skin as we embrace the warmer temperatures.
Our Skin care experts gave us the low-down on how to maintain healthy skin as we transition into Spring.
1. Skin changes with the weather
The change of season can influence the skin in a number of ways. “Our skin is the largest and most sensitive part of our body. Thus, changing weather conditions tend to have a significant impact on the texture, complexion, and elasticity of the skin” says Co-Founder of Yearn Skin, Nadia Michael.
“Increased Sun Sensitivity: Some skincare products, like exfoliants or certain topical treatments, can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. During the transition to warmer months, you may need to adjust your skincare routine or apply these products at night to minimise sun sensitivity,” says Ruan Winter from Vitaderm.
Esse Skincare Education specialist, Alicia Stander, says “as we move into Summer the increase in humidity can help the skin retain more moisture, resulting in the skin becoming less dry and dehydrated. With the change of season, there is also a change in pollen levels, exacerbating skin conditions associated with allergies leading to redness, itchiness and blotchiness. Overall, you can look forward to smoother texture, less dryness, flakiness, tightness and a brighter complexion.”
2. Don’t skip these steps!
As we transition into the warmer months these steps are crucial in maintaining healthy-looking skin throughout. Skincare expert Caro, from Tocara Skin & Body Science, stresses that a step we shouldn’t be compromising on is “Hydrating or Nourishing Mask twice a week or lovely rich serum every day. PLEASE be careful of the derma pen at this time as it really can sensitize the skin.”
In the warmer seasons, we tend to get oilier and don’t even get me started on the persistent sweating. Alicia says “it is important to cleanse your skin in the evenings if makeup or sunscreen was worn during the day, especially since warmer weather can increase sweat and oil production.”
“Sunscreen Application: Sun exposure is certainly one of the biggest contributors to premature skin ageing and is directly responsible for many of the changes we see in skin that we associate with skin ageing. Long hours of exposure to digital devices similarly contribute to skin damage due to excessive exposure to the blue light that is emitted from these devices,” says Ruan.
3. The trick with exfoliating
Exfoliating is super essential if you wanna achieve that healthy glow. It breaks down a layer of built up dead skin, giving the skin that natural glow. Nadia says, “Depending on your skin type, tolerance and sensitivity, we’d recommend 1-2 times per week. A great chemical exfoliator for people who are used to actives would be our 5% Glycolic Exfoliating tonic. It effectively removes impurities, assists with skin cell turnover and prepares the skin for the next step of your skincare routine.”
Chemical Exfoliation: This more intense form of exfoliation incorporates the power of alpha- and beta hydroxy acids to accelerate the sloughing off of skin cells. These exfoliators’ intensity is determined by both the strength / concentration of the chemical content as well as the pH. Since these exfoliators have the potential to work much deeper within the skin, these treatments should be performed only once every 4 weeks,” says Ruan.
4. Introducing new products
The introduction of new skincare products can be a bit daunting for some - especially your Takealot cart is filled with beauty products but just don’t know where to start. Alicia suggests “The changing and unpredictable weather during transitional seasons can indeed impact your skin's response to new products. We recommend a “go low, go slow” approach and subscribe to “skinimalism”. This means introducing new products gradually, sticking to a simple, minimalistic routine, and avoiding product overload. Also, be mindful of ingredients and research the ingredients in new products.”
As much as trying out new products is fun and exciting, I am definitely guilty of getting impatient when it comes to seeing results. Alicia advises “remember to be patient. Give your skin time to adjust to new products. It's normal for your skin to go through an adjustment period, which can initially include minor breakouts or dryness. Keep an eye on how your skin is responding. If you notice any redness, irritation, itching, or an increase in breakouts that persists beyond a week, discontinue use of the new product.”
“Patch Test is always a good idea to perform a patch test before general application of a new skin care product. A patch test is performed by applying a small amount of the product to a localised area, generally on the arm, behind the ear or on the side of the neck. If no adverse reaction is apparent within 12-24 hours, then it should be safe to apply the formulation to the skin,” says Ruan.
5. Keepin’ that glow all year round
Nadia says “When you don't use a moisturizer on your face, you are likely to see more signs of premature ageing (like dull skin). What happens when the skin gets dry is that it's actually experiencing a low level of inflammation. This ongoing inflammation can lead to a breakdown of collagen. That's bad news for beauty,” says Nadia.
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