6 Tips for Adapting to Changes in your Skin
If you’re anything like us, you have a natural skin care routine that you love and swear by. Once you find those favorite products there is no going back, but when it comes to a routine you do regularly, it's crucial that you’re using the right products, at the right time, and in the right order (Check out our full breakdown of a complete skincare routine).
It is also important to take in all factors like acne, environmental stressors, time of day, and weather into consideration. Our skin behaves differently in the winter versus the summer, and some days we are more oily than others. If your skin is changing, your skin care routine should too.
Morning vs Night
Our skin is impacted by a variety of factors. In the morning your skin care routine should prepare your skin to take on the day, whereas at night your skincare routine should cleanse your skin of all makeup, and dirt and oil that is collected throughout the day and sitting on your skin. During your menstrual cycle your skin might over-produce oil, so your skin care routine should include products that don’t add oil to your face, help balance it out, and target hormonal acne. However, if your skin goes through a dry spell and you are experiencing flakiness, your products should account for that.
Dry vs Oily Skin Phases
During times of dryness, we recommend a heavier moisturizer, such as a Face Cream or our Blue Dew. Products like this will make up for the lack of hydration in the skin, and help lock in moisture to prevent future dryness.
During times of oiliness, your skincare routine should include lightweight products that help balance out your oil production. We recommend an oil-free moisturizer, and a face mask that contains clay to eliminate excess oil.
Bacterial vs Hormonal Acne
If you are experiencing acne, it is important to know what kind it is.
If you are dealing with bacterial acne, you need to be using products that prevent dirt and oils from getting into your pores and disrupting your skin. By using products that create a barrier between your skin and external factors, you can protect against bacterial acne. Products like this include a blemish treatment that contains fennel (fennel is an antiseptic that functions as an anti-inflammatory for bacterial blemishes), any products with bentonite clay (negative ions), and a good face serum.
If you are experiencing hormonal acne, we recommend products that help balance out your skin’s pH balance and oil production. The first step in the process is using the right face wash and toner. A good face wash and toner combination will give your skin a good foundational pH balance before moving on to the rest of your skin care routine. You then should use an oil-free moisturizer that doesn’t contribute to the excess of oil in your skin. Make sure you are avid about keeping your skin clean during the daytime and nighttime.
The worst thing you can do for your skin is leave your makeup on overnight, so to prevent any excess irritation and blemishes in your skin, try using a makeup remover that also targets dirt and oil buildup from throughout the day.
Summer vs Winter Skin
During the summer, it is important to use products that don’t have heavy oils (as to not draw in extra UV rays and increase sun damage), and instead use skin care products containing aloe that will add extra hydration to the skin and reduce any damage done by UV rays. At the end of a summer’s day, it is crucial to wash your face to remove sweat, oil, dirt, makeup, sunscreen, etc. before continuing with the rest of your routine. You then should use a light, aloe-based moisturizer to help with any sun damage and add extra hydration.
In the winter, your skin often needs extra help locking in moisture and protecting against low temperatures and harsh winds. In the colder, dryer months we recommend using a heavier moisturizer that will give your skin the hydration it needs and penetrate to deeper levels. This can include a dense, oil-based face cream, or our Blue Dew, a product that specializes in deeper-level hydration.