Thanks to more than a year of social distancing, many of us have cut back on travel, then quelled our stir-craziness by getting outside—in our running shoes, on a bike, up a mountain. This has been largely good for our mental and physical health—but not always so great for our skin
Vigorous outside activity—paddle boarding, trail running, traversing a mountain [insert your favorite]—has many upsides for the skin: It boosts circulation and enables nourishing oxygen and vital nutrients to reach skin cells. It also improves skin-cell turnover and can help decrease stress levels so there’s less skin-aging cortisol (a.k.a. the stress hormone) coursing through your body. Outdoor activity does, however, have a few downsides. Extreme temperatures or humidity levels can cause a cascade of negative effects, including irritation, moisture loss, and acne and eczema flareups. Additionally, being exposed to UV rays and pollution for extended periods of time can result in accelerated skin aging. So, how can you keep up your outdoor activity, without compromising the health of your skin? Tweak your skincare according to your climate. In addition to
always applying SPF, the following strategies will help protect your skin from outdoor elements:
The weather outside is sticky and hot
Skin becomes oilier in high humidity, which, counterintuitively, can leave the skin dehydrated. Why? That extra layer of oil inhibits the skin’s ability to draw moisture from the air, leaving your complexion both greasy and parched. To maintain healthy hydration levels, slather on
Pour Moi’s Tropical Day Cream before heading outside. The lightweight formula is comfortable in sticky weather but also contains humectants that actively draw water from the air, overriding the inhibiting impact of excess sebum. High humidity plus heat also makes the skin a breeding ground for bacteria and can lead to acne flareups. To quell bacteria growth, wash your face thoroughly twice a day and apply a toner like
Hydrating Balancer (Humid Conditions) to ensure any trace of grime is removed. Using the Tropical Day Cream will also help because it contains bacteria-fighting coconut acid.
The weather outside is dry, and the air is thin
If the air is thin, you are likely at a high altitude (e.g. rock climbing, paragliding, glamping in the mountains), and the air is extraordinarily dry—even dryer than you’d find in many deserts. Traditional day creams won’t keep your skin nourished outdoors in this environment. You need
Mountain Day Cream, which is chock-full of deeply hydrating ingredients, including Salicornia Oil, Japanese Rice Bran Oil, and Pentavin, which provides a moisture reservoir that lasts for 72 hours. The Mountain formula also contains Pour Moi’s Geo-Hydradynamic Complex—Mountain, moisture-replenishing technology created for extremely dry climates.
The weather outside is hot and dry
A lack of water in the air means your skin is constantly battling dehydration because the dry air robs whatever moisture your skin does have— and then offers no replenishment. To keep your skin supple, slather on
Desert Day Cream before stepping outside. It instantly replenishes lost moisture with Squalane Oil and other oil-based hydrators, then utilizes the Geo-Hydradynamic Complex-Desert to draw in moisture from the air (even when it’s super dry)—and
hold onto that moisture. In addition, the lack of moisture in the air can make it hard for skin cells to naturally exfoliate, leading to dead-cell build-up and a dull, drab complexion. To slough away stubborn dead cells, use a balancing toner like
Hydrating Balancer (Arid Conditions) after cleansing.
The weather outside is cool and humid
When the weather tends to be overly cloudy and rainy, you may incorrectly assume that your skin is safe from the skin-damaging effects of the sun. But it’s not. Overcast skies actually amplify UV light. Combine that with pollution and fluctuating temperatures and skin can really suffer. Morning and night, sweep skin first with
White Serum to deliver a healthy dose of vitamins and nutrients to skin, then for day follow with
Marine Day Cream. It’s up to the challenge of protecting skin since it’s packed with skin replenishing ingredients like Geo-Hydradynamic Complex-Marine utilizing three different sizes of Hyaluronic Acid.
The weather outside is freezing!
When it’s frigid, skin loses moisture at an accelerated rate—as much as 25 percent more than it does in a moderate climate. So, to keep skin plump and nourished, apply a generous layer of
Polar Day Cream before setting outside. This formula is packed with Hyaluronic Acid, a humectant that pulls water from the environment to quench thirsty skin, plus Shea Butter, which acts as an invisible barrier, holding in moisture and strengthening the skin barrier. It’s also important to regularly exfoliate when the air is cold and dry. You can slather on moisturizers all day long, but if dead skin cells have accumulated on top of the skin, those creams won’t be able to penetrate the buildup. So, to shed the dead, after cleansing, apply
Hydrating Balancer (Arid Conditions), which uses glycolic fruit acids to remove dead skin cells, as well as glycerin to boost moisture content.
