The weather can have a significant effect on the health of our skin. Open to all the elements, the skin can be vulnerable if not looked after properly. From warm to cold and heavy rainfall to dry winds, seasonal shifts affect skin wellness in ways many people are not even aware of. Why does the skin change from season to season and what helps take care of it?
From warm to wintry
The skin likes consistency, so the changes that come from the seasons can be a shock to the system. According to dermatologists, fluctuations in weather can take its toll on the epidermis as it adjusts to its environment. From summer to autumn and winter, temperatures and humidity drop almost instantly, making the skin work even harder to stay hydrated as the drier, cold weather kicks in. With winter especially, skin can become desiccated and irritated against the harsh elements of cold climates.
Avocado oil is an emerging ingredient that many believe to have skin healing properties, especially for dry or generally inflamed skin. Its ingredients include oleic acid, potassium and essential fatty acids, offering gentle, non-irritating relief. The epidermis easily absorbs these nutrients which also help skin regeneration. Similarly, cocoa butter provides cosmetic formulators with a versatile ingredient that can increase the elasticity of the skin. Rich in oleic acid and antioxidants to ward off free-radicals and high in fatty acids to hydrate the skin deeply, the butter is a perfect addition to body moisturisers and lip balms.
From wintry to warm
On the flip side, as the climate moves from cool to warmer conditions, humidity heightens and the skin has to adapt yet again. Elevated temperatures can trigger the body’s biological process to try to cool itself down. In the summer, glands start to secrete more sebum, the oily substance that helps keep the skin moisturised. This often means the skin is greasier and heavier as more oil gets trapped on the surface of the skin.
Aloe Vera is a skin saviour in the summer, thanks to its cooling and medicinal properties. Packed with minerals, antioxidants, vitamins and other essential nutrients, it acts as a non-greasy moisturising ingredient and keeps the skin rejuvenated and hydrated during hot summer days.
Warmer weather also means more time in the sun, where harsh UV rays can burn and dry out the skin. Natural ingredients such as raspberry seed oil, which is said to have an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30-50, and sunflower oil, with its high beta-carotene content, which can reduce sun sensitivity, are all excellent alternatives for suncare applications.
Equally, mango butter is a traditional and alternative addition for sun care recipes. A highly rich antioxidant and skin regenerative butter, its natural qualities moisturise and soothe the skin which is ideal for when it is irritated or burned.
While we can’t do a lot to change the weather, we can make changes to our skincare routine to suit the seasons.
These oils, butters and more are available through Kerfoot, which presents product options that match any personal care need, no matter what the weather brings. For more information on what Kerfoot has to offer, please contact the team on +44 (0) 1609 766790
