Your skin is not static, changes in weather, hormones, lifestyle, environment and emotional state can impact and change your skin. Seasonal shifts are one of the biggest contributors to skin changes. The shift in season brings differences in temperature, humidity, and sunlight. If your skin is changing, so should your routine!
Let’s explore how skin behaves across the year and how to adjust your routine, products, and habits so your skin stays balanced, healthy and radiant no matter the season.
Why seasonal skincare matters
In winter, cold air and indoor heating can strip moisture from your skin and compromise the lipid barrier, increasing sensitivity and flakiness. In summer, higher humidity, sweat and sun exposure raise the risk of clogged pores, pigmentation and sun damage. Spring and autumn are transition seasons where your usual products can suddenly feel too rich or too light.
Adapting to these shifts in season prevents common skin problems like dehydration, irritation, breakouts, increased fine lines driven by water loss, and uneven tone from sun exposure. You don’t need to introduce a new routine every season, but rather make thoughtful adjustments to texture, concentrations and supporting active ingredients so your skin remains comfortable and balanced.
Core principles for year‑round skin health
Support the skin barrier: Regardless of the season, it is always beneficial for skin health to maintain a solid level of ceramides for barrier support.
Hydration + occlusion: Humectants such as hyaluronic acid & glycerin draw moisture into the skin, and Occlusives like squalane & oils lock it in. Balancing these based on humidity levels will ensure your skin's hydration stays at an optimal level year round.
UV protection daily: Broad‑spectrum SPF is non‑negotiable year‑round. Sun damage drives premature aging, pigmentation and even sensitivity for some people.
Match textures to climate: Lighter gels, serums, and creams work well in heat and humidity. Whereas, richer creams and balms support skin during dry cold months.
Winter: protect, replenish, soothe
What happens in winter? Cold air outside and dry heated air inside strip moisture from our skin. The skin’s lipid barrier can become thin or damaged, resulting in redness, tightness, flaking and sensitivity. Active ingredients like retinol or glycolic acid may feel harsher. UV exposure may be lower, but still matters — SPF remains essential.
Adjustments to consider
Swap to richer moisturisers: Choose creams with ceramides, fatty acids, or oil‑rich serums. Ingredients such as squalane, shea butter and plant oils help replenish lipids and restore softness in the skin. Our Aeon Azure is the perfect choice for a ceramide rich cream.
Prioritise humectant + occlusive pairing: Use hyaluronic acid or glycerin to attract moisture, then seal with an occlusive like squalane or a richer night cream. This reduces transepidermal water loss and plumps fine lines caused by dehydration. Pairing our Collagen Boosting Gel with the Beyond Night Cream is an excellent combination to lock in moisture and banish fine lines.
Reduce active ingredients if needed: If your skin becomes reactive, reduce retinol frequency or switch to lower concentrations. Pause or lower frequency of exfoliating acids (AHAs/BHAs) until barrier tolerance improves. Swapping to a more gentle exfoliant like our Rosemary & Jojoba Bead Exfoliating Cream Cleanser is also a good option for reducing intensity. Opting for our Luminous Balm over a traditional retinol can help reduce irritation while also locking in moisture.
Don’t neglect eye and lip care: Thinner skin around your eyes and the very exposed lips benefit from thicker formulations or overnight treatments. Our Evolve Collagen Lip & Eye Cream is a perfect winter choice.
Keep SPF: Even on cloudy days, broad‑spectrum SPF is essential. Some moisturisers now include SPF, like our A+B+C Daily Cream with SPF15, but ideally layering an SPF50 means you will have more reliable protection.
Spring: transition gently, renew
What happens in spring? Spring brings rising temperatures and humidity, along with seasonal pollen and changing allergy patterns that can increase redness and sensitivity for some. Your skin may shift from dry to combination as oil production responds to warmth.
Adjustments to consider
Choose Lighter Textures: Move from heavy creams to lighter lotions or serums as humidity increases. This prevents congestion while maintaining hydration. Our Illuminate Cellular Repair Day Cream is new to our range and a great choice for lightweight hydration.
Start reintroducing active ingredients carefully: If you reduced your use of retinol & acids in winter, slowly reintroduce them as sensitivity decreases. Spring is a good time to resume skin renewal related to texture and tone.
Address vascular redness and sensitivity: Ingredients like niacinamide and azelaic acid can calm inflammation and reduce visible redness making them good choices during allergy season. Our Blue Tansy & Cypress Anti-Redness Serum is ideal for soothing red & irritated skin. Blue Tansy essential oil is not only soothing on skin but for your respiratory system as well.
Protect from pollution: Springtime outdoor activity will increase exposure to environmental stressors and pollution. Antioxidants like vitamin C and green tea help neutralise free radicals. Including a serum like our Super C + Bearberry Illuminating Serum is the easy choice for environmental protection.
Keep sunscreen daily: As sun intensity increases, an SPF 30–50 mineral sunscreen remains essential. If you’re outdoors often, reapply as required.
Summer: prevent clogging, prioritise protection
What happens in summer? Heat, humidity and UV exposure peaks. Sweat and excess sebum on the skin's surface can lead to clogged pores and breakouts, while sun exposure speeds up photoaging and pigmentation. Some active ingredients increase your risk of sun damage, mainly AHA’s & retinol, so being aware of time spent in the sun and applying SPF is crucial.
Adjustments to consider
Choose lightweight, non‑comedogenic textures: Gel moisturisers, water‑based serums and light lotions maintain hydration without adding pore‑clogging oils.
Emphasise sun protection: Daily broad‑spectrum SPF 50 physical (mineral) sunscreens are great for sensitive or acne‑prone skin. Reapply frequently during prolonged sun exposure, our SPF50 has no nasties so it’s a great choice for sun & skin protection.
Use antioxidants regularly: Vitamin C and other antioxidants work synergistically with SPF to neutralise free radicals and reduce sun‑related damage.
Manage oil and congestion: Salicylic acid (BHA) can help unclog pores and control oil. Niacinamide helps regulate sebum and reduce inflammation. Our Hibiscus & Banksia Mattifying Mask can be used to help decongest the skin and absorb excess surface oils.
Rethink retinol timing: Retinol can still be used in summer, but apply it at night and in the morning be sure to use SPF. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, consider lowering retinol concentration to avoid photosensitivity.
Address sweat‑related irritation: After sweating, cleanse your skin gently to remove salt and oils, but avoid harsh products which can strip the skin and thus cause more oil production. Our Orange & Vetiver body wash is a super refreshing and aromatherapeutic wash great for summer.
Autumn: repair, resurface, recalibrate
What happens in autumn? As temperatures cool and humidity drops, skin often transitions back toward dryness. Autumn is a great season to focus on repairing any summer damage like hyperpigmentation, sunspots and texture issues — before winter sets in.
Adjustments to consider
Reintroduce nourishing creams as evenings cool: Move toward richer formulations at night while keeping daytime textures lighter if humidity still lingers. The Aurora Matrix Firming Night Cream is more lightweight than our other night creams, but still delivers deep hydration making it an excellent choice for Autumn.
Use targeted brightening treatments: Ingredients like vitamin C, azelaic acid, and niacinamide, help fade post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation and even tone – as does our Prebiotic + C Exfoliating Powder.
Strengthen the barrier: Add replenishing lipids, ceramides and antioxidants to protect against the coming dry months. Introducing a serum like our Peptide Amino Acid serum is great for delivering nourishment & hydration into the skin.
Lifestyle tweaks
Hydration and diet: Drink water and eat a balanced diet rich in omega‑3s and antioxidants to support skin from the inside. See our blog on Eating Your Skincare to learn more about the food sources for popular skincare ingredients.
Gentle cleansing: Avoid super hot showers and harsh soaps in cold months. Instead, use lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, like our Petitgrain PH Balancing Cleanser.
Sleep and stress: Poor sleep and elevated stress can worsen seasonal skin issues. Prioritise sleep and stress‑management practices. We’d recommend our Hypno-Spa Dream State if you are having sleepless nights.
Layered protection outdoors: Hats, sunglasses and appropriate clothing add a fabric barrier to complement sunscreen.
Common seasonal mistakes to avoid
Skipping SPF in cooler months: UV still causes photoaging even on cloudy days or during winter. Daily broad‑spectrum SPF matters all year‑round.
Over‑exfoliating during dry months: Aggressive exfoliation combined with dry air can damage your skin barrier and increase sensitivity.
Sticking rigidly to one product: If your skin signals a need for change, adapt. Rigid loyalty to products that cause dryness or congestion won’t help your skin.
Chasing trends over tolerance: High‑strength actives have benefits, but layering multiple potent actives during vulnerable months increases irritation risk & skin damage.
Seasonal skincare adjustments are about responsiveness and prevention. Know your skin’s baseline: oily, dry, combination, reactive, acne‑prone or sensitive. Then adjust textures, concentrations and supportive ingredients with the changing climates. Use hydration, barrier support, antioxidant protection and daily SPF as the backbone of every season’s routine.
Small thoughtful changes — switching to a lotion in summer, adding a ceramide cream in winter, reintroducing retinol slowly in spring — keep your skin resilient, comfortable and glowing year‑round.