During the changes of seasons, our skin develops changes of their own. The cool fall/winter air depletes the skin's water content, so heavier moisturizers are needed to protect the skin from water vapour - as moisture loss can make the lips feel dry and chapped and can make the skin feel dehydrated, scaly, and rough.

Implementing small changes to your skincare routine to fit the changes of the seasons will work wonders as the products & ingredients you use will greatly impact your skin's response. As we finally move from cool and frigid fall and winter days, let's begin the process of changing our skincare routine more suitable for warmer and dryer weather.

Lightweight Moisturizer

When switching to your new seasonal skincare routine, using a lightweight moisturizer is of the utmost importance as you don't want to weigh your skin down with the heavier moisturizer - used during the cold harsh winter months - as it could lead to an excessive amount of oil on the face and could lead to breakouts. However, oily skin and breakouts can also occur when the skin is dehydrated. This over production of sebum occurs when there's a lack of moisture in the skin, and the skin tries to make up for the moisture lost.

To prevent dehydrated skin, look for a hydrating moisturizer. One that uses ingredients such as aloe vera, glycerine, and hyaluronic acid as not only is it important to retain moisture in the skin, but it's also important to bring moisture to the skin via humectant ingredients. These qualities in your moisturizer will benefit your skin greatly during the warmer humid months.

Exfoliate Your Skin

As much as we love warmer weather, we also got to welcome the cons that come with them - sticky feeling and sweaty skin. These two attributes invite a lot dirt to the skin. So during the warmer months remember to regularly exfoliate the skin with a gentle exfoliator, 2 to 3 times a week - this can be a physical body scrub or a loofah/exfoliating glove (just make sure you change them regularly - approx. 3 months).

Honorary Mention: Sunscreen

Using sunscreen a day, keeps the UVA/B rays away. Sunscreen is absolutely vital - not only for your skin health, but your overall health as well.

• Apply sunscreen daily as it protects your skin from sun burns, extrinsic aging, and skin cancers.
• Reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours. Any type of sunscreen (mineral or chemical) will break down when exposed to sunlight for long durations of time. Reapplying your sunscreen ensures that you’re getting the protection and coverage you need to protect your skin.
• And if you're not sure how much sunscreen you need, try the '2 finger rule' which requires squeezing sunscreen along the length of 2 fingers (index and middle), and applying it to the face to ensure you’re getting the right amount of SPF. 
• Lastly, if you’re wearing makeup and need to reapply your sunscreen, use a makeup sponge to help reapply or use a setting powder/spray that has SPF.

UV rays are here to stay, so wear your sunscreen year round - even in the winter months (fun, but not so fun fact: snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays - so wear that sunscreen!).