Adapting Your Skincare For Warmer Months
It’s that time again… the weather shifts, the sun starts showing up a little stronger, and you better believe it’s time to reevaluate your skincare routine. Your skin is coming out of months of cold air, indoor heating, heavier products, and (for a lot of people) a little bit of barrier disruption. As temperatures rise and humidity increases, your skin starts producing more oil, holding hydration differently, and reacting to more environmental exposure.
So let’s walk through exactly how I reset my routine for spring. Before I do this, I do want to highlight two important factors. One, I am absolutely not suggesting you overhaul your entire routine. Small tweaks are all you need, but we will get into that in a minute. Two, while these suggestions will definitely help, the best thing you can do is speak with your dermatologist as the seasons change. They will give you a plan for tailoring the adjustments specifically for your skin.
prioritize protection
While SPF and I are an unbreakable companion, I would say our relationship reaches new heights in warmer months. Here are my 3 best protection tips to commit to during warmer months (although, ideally you would be doing them all year):
You become more intentional with how much you apply (about ¼ teaspoon for face and neck)
Be consistent with reapplication (every 2 hours, especially if outdoors)
Think about layered protection (add makeup with spf on top of your base of spf **more is more with spf** , hats, stay in shade)
Remember, as UV exposure increases, so does your risk for pigmentation, collagen breakdown, and overall skin damage.
Adjust Your Moisturizer
This is always a hot topic when warmer months arrive. I either hear about oily skin types ditching moisturizers altogether, or dry skin types still sticking with their heavy winter cream.
Let me be clear—neither of these are the move.
Instead, we’re adjusting texture. As humidity increases, heavier creams can start to feel congested or sit on the skin in a way that doesn’t feel great. But your skin still needs hydration and barrier support.
What I typically recommend:
Keep ingredients like hyaluronic acid + glycerin
Make sure you’re still getting ceramides or barrier-supporting ingredients
The only thing I will say is if you are of an oily skin type and you have a super hydrating spf, you can probably skip your morning moisturizer, and go straight in with your spf!
Prioritize the Antioxidant + SPF Combo
Tbh this probably falls under the “protection” category, but I do think it’s worth standing on its own. Let’s discuss why you need to be committed to the unbeatable combination of antioxidants + SPF.
Here’s why:
Sunscreen is designed to protect your skin from UV radiation, but it’s not perfect. Some UV exposure still gets through, which can lead to the formation of free radicals (aka one of the main drivers of premature aging and pigmentation).
This is where antioxidants come in.
Antioxidants (like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and other plant-derived ingredients) help neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. So when you pair antioxidants with SPF, you’re essentially getting a more complete level of protection.
And, as you’d imagine, this becomes even more important in spring and summer when UV exposure is higher and more consistent.
How I recommend incorporating this:
Apply an antioxidant serum (I typically reach for Vitamin C) in the morning
Follow with your moisturizer
Finish with sunscreen
Be Intentional With Exfoliation
After winter, it’s tempting to want to “scrub everything off” and start fresh. But over-exfoliating, especially as your skin is adjusting to new environmental factors, is one of the fastest ways to disrupt your barrier.
Stick to gentle exfoliation! I have a whole other blog on it, so I won’t go into too much detail, but I would generally suggest sticking to an active cleanser 1–2 times per week, a peel pad 1-2 times a week, and then a retinoid for your skin type in the evenings.
Don’t overdo it, be gentle and consistent always.
I hope this helps you as you adapt your skin for Spring and Summer! Remember, it doesn’t need to be a massive 180, but small shifts to support your skin for the season change.
Hungry for more? Check out my Comprehensive Skincare Guide in the Skinthusiast Shop!
**Disclaimer: This post does not constitute medical advice. Please speak to your Dermatology provider before adding any at home procedures or products into your routine!
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