You’re probably eagerly anticipating the transition from winter to spring. Your skin, on the other hand, isn’t so excited—it doesn’t like change.
Skin gets used to certain types of weather, and has trouble adjusting when temperatures suddenly start to change. This is especially true when you go from cold, dry winter air to warmer, more humid spring conditions. The dramatic shift can lead to dullness, dryness, acne, dark spots, and irritation. Help ease the transition by using products specifically formulated to adapt to seasonal shifts.
How seasonal changes affect our skin
Humidity and temperature impact how our skin looks and feels. When conditions change, skin takes a while to catch up (anywhere from two weeks to a few months). During this period, your skin’s moisture barrier falls into a bit of a frenzy, and your skin will struggle to maintain the right level of hydration for your new weather conditions. And the results aren’t so pretty: In a study from the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, a team of researchers analyzed skin changes in the faces of 354 women of various ages over two successive six month periods, and found that seasonal changes affected hydration, pigmentation, and sebum levels. Another study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, may shed light on these findings. It shows that filaggrin (a protein involved in skin barrier function) changed between winter and summer, as did the texture of corneocytes, which are cells that live on the outermost part of the epidermis.
Three ways to ease seasonal skin shock
1. Calm Skin with a Climate-Smart Moisture-Burst Mask™
Skin is slow to acclimate to a new climate, and Moisture-Burst Masks can accelerate the adjustment process. When freezing temps give way to slightly warmer (but still cool), wetter days, switch from the Polar Moisture-Burst Mask to the Marine Moisture-Burst Mask, which bridges the gap between cold and warm weather. It prevents the rosacea and irritation associated with changing seasons, and keeps hydration in perfect balance with the help of hyaluronic acid, white truffle, marine-derived Kobu Active, and oat extract. Once a week (or as often as needed), apply the mask to clean skin, avoiding the eyes, eyebrows, and lips. Let the mask marinate on your skin for 10-15 minutes. Then remove the mask with a wet towel, and apply the Day Cream (in the morning) that corresponds to the climate you’re in, or Night Cream (if you apply the mask before bed).
2. Switch to a lighter day cream
Speaking of day creams, you don’t need as much heavy-duty hydration as you did during the dry winter months. In fact, continuing to use a heavy cream during the spring can result in clogged pores and acne—and a greasy-looking complexion. The Marine Day Creamis formulated to keep skin youthful, radiant, and clear in spring-like weather.Marine Day Cream contains Climate-Smart® Geo-HydraD/Marine complex to maintain optimal hydration levels in cool, wet conditions. One would think that all the extra moisture in the air would be good for the skin—and it is, at least on the surface. But studies show that low temperatures (which are common in early spring) can actually dry out the lower layers of skin and lead to poor skin barrier function. Climate-Smart® Geo-HydraD/Marine complex guards against the dryness, and bolsters the skin’s protective barrier (keeping out damaging environmental toxins and irritants) while also preventing excessive oiliness. Another option? The Temperate Day Cream. It utilizes the Climate-Smart® Geo-HydraD/Temperate complex that keeps skin optimally balanced in mild weather conditions. It relies on a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, peptides and botanical extracts that complement skin’s own biochemistry in a relatively tepid environment.
3. Brighten skin with Vitamin D Drops
Vitamin D is an anti-inflammatory antioxidant associated with cell growth, cell metabolism, and cell repair—all of which are essential for healthy, younger-looking skin. Overcast spring weather deprives our skin of much needed sunshine-induced Vitamin D, and topical applications of Vitamin D just don’t cut it.Weather-Proof Sunlight Drops mimic the effects of Vitamin D, providing all the benefits of sunshine on gloomy spring days. It’s a topical skin booster that works to fight off the signs of aging caused by extreme weather or environment-related skin stressors (like not enough sunlight). The drops contain chicory extract which research shows has a “vitamin D-like” effect on the skin, improving skin barrier function and rejuvenating the skin. The drops also contain MossCellTec™, a moss extract that improves cell nucleus health (which becomes faulty with age)–and studies show that MossCellTec™ helps skin adapt to climate changes, and improves skin hydration, homogeneity, and skin barrier function. Simply apply one drop directly onto your face on mild, white-looking overcast days (or mix the drop directly into your daily moisturizer). On particularly gray days, use two drops, and up to three drops on dark, stormy days.These three simple steps will keep skin bright and radiant on even the dreariest of spring days—and will help prep, balance and calm your skin for sunnier days ahead.
