Should Our Skincare Routine Change with the Season? Dermatologists Weigh In (2024)

If you're a beauty enthusiast, you're no stranger to the seasonal reset. It's when lipstick shades go from pinks, peaches, and neutrals in the spring and summer to deeper, vampier reds, browns, and burgundies in the fall and winter. Nail polishes go from light, airy hues to bold, eye-catching statement colors. You may even switch up your go-to hairstyles.

That said, there are likely aspects of your beauty and grooming routines that you never change—your favorite body wash or signature perfume, for one. But should you switch up your skincare routine? It's a question that's long divided the internet, so if you want to know the truth once and for all, keep reading to see what dermatologists have to say about it.

How Do the Seasons Affect Your Skin?

Each season affects your skin differently, so if you’ve found your products not being as efficacious as they once were, this could be the reason. Since the spring and summer months are hotter and more humid, your skin starts to retain moisture.

“During these seasons, the skin can also produce more sebum, which can lead to clogged pores. Sweat can also exacerbate this issue,” says Omer Ibrahim, MD, FAAD.

"Conditions like dyshidrotic eczema or acne can worsen with increased sweating or humidity," says Kiran Mian, DO, FAAD. "Heavy sunscreen application, while important for protection, can also lead to acne if you are prone to breakouts. Conditions like melasma can also get worse in the summer, due to increased heat and sun exposure. As dermatologists, we also see a lot of folliculitis in the summer due to the inflammation of hair follicles from sweating and heat."

In the fall and winter, your skin may react to unexpected temperature changes during the former season, but for the latter, you can expect some transepidermal water loss, also known as TEWL.

"Transition weather, like fall or spring, can be tricky," Dr. Mian says. "Temperature fluctuations from cold to warm lead to skin that is dry some days and more oily other days, which can result in irritated skin and more breakouts. The winter season is very dry, and cold air pulls moisture from the skin. This leads to loss of moisture, itching, and irritation. Hot water showers, heaters, and wool clothing also further compound dryness and irritation.”

If you have skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even acne, this loss of moisture without proper replenishment can lead to flare-ups that cause your skin to become even more inflamed and irritated, leading to a seemingly endless cycle of skin-scratching or picking, scarring, and dark marks.

Should You Change Your Skincare Routine With the Seasons?

In short, yes, your skincare routine should be changing alongside the climate. How you do this will change based on which season you're in and even where you're located, but at a base level, you should at least switch out one particular product.

"For those who live in places like Chicago, New York, or anywhere else that experiences true seasonal changes, while a full overhaul may not be needed, you'll need to switch up your moisturizer," Dr. Ibrahim says. As for the spring and summer, you'll want your moisturizer to have a lighter texture—in this case, you'll want to opt for gel- or water-based formulas.

"This means you'll see ingredients like water or glycerin near the top of the ingredient list, which means that the product has the ingredient at a higher concentration than the rest," Dr. Ibrahim says.

How to Adapt Your Skincare Routine Based on the Seasons

Still wondering how to perfectly tailor your skincare routine by season? Here's a little cheat sheet: In the fall, you can slowly incorporate a more moisturizing cleanser or cream into your skincare routine.

"Use more nourishing, richer moisturizers formulated with a higher ratio of occlusives versus humectants, as well as barrier-strengthening ingredients like ceramides. This will help address transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and keep the skin moisturized. Ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and squalane are ideal," Dr. Ibrahim says.

When winter comes around, you can double up by opting for a moisturizer and cleanser to combat dryness.

"Alongside looking for more moisturizing ingredients, consider products designed for sensitive, eczema-prone skin," Dr. Ibrahim says. "Dry, dehydrated skin is more sensitive and more prone to irritation, so products made to address these issues are an easy way to make sure that you're on the right track when switching up your skincare routine for dryer seasons. Also, if you are using a retinol serum, make sure it's paired with a rich moisturizer or consider switching to a moisturizer with retinol already in it."

In the spring, warmer weather can be expected, so switch out your cleanser or moisturizer for one with a lighter texture. This is especially important for people with oily skin and acne to help prevent flare-ups as the seasons change."Rather than a creamy facial wash, switch to a gel or foaming cleanser, as it can help cut through excess sebum better," Dr. Ibrahim says.

For summer, less is more. You can expect more heat, which means more sweating and oiliness. "Use cleansers that incorporate exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs," Dr. Ibrahim says.

In addition, opt for moisturizers that have a more gel-like consistency or are water-based."This combination will minimize pore clogging, which is especially helpful for acne-prone people," Dr. Ibrahim says.

The Final Takeaway

The best way to approach changing your skincare routine is to closely monitor how your skin changes during each season. Many targeted actives (serums, retinols, etc.) are safe to use year-round, allowing you to switch out only your cleanser or moisturizer to keep any environmental effects at bay. If all else fails, pay a visit to your dermatologist to make sure that your curated regimen will provide you with the best results that meet your needs.