Seasonal Skincare Without The Overwhelm
Hi friends!
One base routine, small seasonal tweaks. Weather shifts change how skin behaves. Cold air, indoor heat, humidity, wind, and abrupt temperature swings all affect water loss, oil flow, and sensitivity. This guide gives you clear, simple routines for each season. Every pick is sensitive skin friendly, fragrance light or fragrance free, and nickel aware.
How to use this guide
• Start with the season you are in.
• Follow the core steps first, then add the skin type tweaks.
• Patch test new products on the jawline for 72 hours.
• If your skin flares, simplify for three days, then add back one step at a time.
Affiliate Disclaimer: We may earn commission from links on this page. I only recommend products I use and trust.
Winter
Goal: Reduce water loss, calm irritation, and keep barrier lipids steady.
Do this
Cleanse with a creamy or low foam formula.
Layer humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, then seal with cream.
If very dry, add 2 drops of avocado oil over moisturizer at night.
Keep showers warm, not hot. Apply moisturizer within 60 seconds of toweling.
Avoid this
Strong foaming cleansers.
Harsh scrubs or daily peels.
Heavy fragrance and botanicals if you are reactive.
Oats and coconut if they trigger you.
Routine skeleton
AM
Gentle cleanse
Hydrating toner or essence
Humectant serum
Moisturizer that fits your skin type
PM
Gentle cleanse
Hydrating step
Cream moisturizer
Optional seal: a few drops of avocado oil for very dry areas
Weekly
Exfoliate once, very gently. Stop if you see redness.
Use a 10 minute honey plus aloe mask when skin feels tight.
Run a humidifier if indoor air is very dry. Clean it weekly.
Skin type tweaks
Dry: pick a ceramide rich cream and add avocado oil at night 3 to 4 times a week.
Oily or acne prone: stay with gel cream but do not skip hydration. Focus on water binding serums.
Combination: gel on the T zone and cream on cheeks.
Sensitive: choose fragrance free products with short ingredient lists. Introduce one change at a time.
Product picks
Hydration step: Pixi Hydrating Toner with Antioxidants
Moisturizer: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream tub
Seal for very dry areas: 2 to 3 drops of pure avocado oil at night
Weekly mask: Raw manuka honey 10 minutes, then rinse
Low nickel notes
Avoid products that include oats, canned extracts, or nickel-releasing clays. Choose simple formulas with short ingredient lists.
BTW, if your skin barrier is already fried: red, flaky, itchy, or just mad at life… I wrote a whole post about how to fix it. Think of it like skin rehab with a little tough love. Read it here → How to Repair Your Skin Barrier (Without Having a Mental Breakdown in the Process)
Spring
Goal: Lighten textures, keep hydration steady, and quiet any leftover redness from winter.
Do this
Stay with gentle cleansing.
Swap heavy creams for gel creams or light lotions.
Use niacinamide at low percentages for tone and calm.
Keep exfoliation mild and infrequent.
Avoid this
Alcohol heavy toners.
Large routine changes all at once.
Routine skeleton
AM
Gentle cleanse
Hydrating toner or essence
Light humectant serum
Gel cream or light lotion
PM
Gentle cleanse
Hydrating step
Same gel cream, or a richer cream if cheeks feel dry
Weekly
One gentle exfoliation.
One hydrating mask.
Skin type tweaks
Dry: keep cream at night and use gel cream in the morning.
Oily or acne prone: use gel textures for both steps and keep actives simple.
Combination: spot treat with gel on T zone and lotion on cheeks.
Sensitive: pick low fragrance or fragrance free, and avoid strong botanicals.
Product picks
Cleanser: Vanicream Face Cleanser
Hydration step: Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner
Moisturizer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, fragrance-free
Calm/clarity serum: Naturium Niacinamide 5%
Once-weekly polish, body only: Fine sugar + jojoba oil DIY, short massage, rinse
If you want to go high-tech, I also wrote a full guide to LED masks and how to use them safely for sensitive skin. Read it here → LED Masks: How They Work, My Results (Spoiler: I’m Obsessed)
Summer
Goal: Keep pores clear, hydrate lightly, calm reactivity in heat and humidity.
Do this
Cleanse after heavy sweat or workouts.
Rehydrate with an alcohol-free toner or essence.
Use a light gel moisturizer.
Rinse skin after pool or ocean time to remove residue.
Avoid this
Over-washing with strong foaming cleansers.
Heavy oils that sit on top of skin.
Strong fragrance and coconut derivatives if you are reactive.
Routine skeleton
AM
Light cleanse or water rinse based on how skin feels
Hydrating toner or essence
Gel moisturizer
PM
Gentle thorough cleanse
Hydrating toner or essence
Gel moisturizer
Optional seal on dry patches only
Weekly
One very gentle exfoliation if the texture feels rough.
Ten-minute honey plus aloe quench when skin feels tight.
Skin type tweaks
Dry: add 1 to 2 drops of squalane over gel at night.
Oily or acne-prone: keep textures very light. If shiny by noon, use a niacinamide serum after toner.
Combination: gel everywhere, add a small amount of lotion on cheeks if tight.
Sensitive: fewer steps, short ingredient lists, patch test first.
Product picks
Cleanser: Vanicream Face Cleanser
Hydration step: ETUDE SoonJung pH 5.5 Relief Toner
Clarity serum: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Moisturizer: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Optional PM seal for dry patches: The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane, 1 to 2 drops on damp skin
Weekly reset: 10 minute raw honey plus aloe mask, then rinse
Fall
Goal: Repair after heat, increase hydration steadily, prepare for colder air.
Do this
Stay with gentle cleansing.
Add a cream at night if skin feels tight.
Use humectants under moisturizer to hold water.
Reintroduce richer textures slowly.
Avoid this
Jumping from gel straight to heavy occlusive in one night.
Strong botanical fragrance.
Over-exfoliating to chase post-summer texture.
Routine skeleton
AM
Gentle cleanse
Hydrating serum or essence
Light lotion or gel cream
PM
Gentle cleanse
Hydrating serum or essence
Cream moisturizer
Optional seal on very dry areas
Weekly
One hydrating mask.
One gentle exfoliation only if skin is calm.
Skin type tweaks
Dry: cream at night plus 2 to 3 drops avocado oil twice weekly.
Oily or acne prone: gel by day, light lotion at night if tight.
Combination: gel on T zone, cream on cheeks.
Sensitive: keep the routine short and fragrance-free, add only one new product per week.
Product picks
Hydration step: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Moisturizer: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Night repair layer as needed: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5, pea size over moisturizer
Weekly treatment: Rael Refresh + Moisturize hydrating mask
| Season | Goal | Swap To | Avoid | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Lock in hydration, calm irritation | Creamy cleanser, ceramide cream, 2–3 drops avocado oil at night if very dry | Strong foaming cleansers, scrubs, heavy fragrance, oats, coconut | Moisturize within 60 seconds after toweling. Humidifier helps. |
| Spring | Lighten textures, keep hydration steady, calm redness | Gel cream AM, cream PM if cheeks feel dry, low % niacinamide | Alcohol-heavy toners, big routine changes at once | Shift textures slowly from heavy to light. |
| Summer | Keep pores clear, hydrate lightly, soothe heat reactivity | Light cleanse or water rinse AM, alcohol-free toner, gel moisturizer, niacinamide if shiny | Over-washing, heavy oils, strong fragrance, coconut derivatives if reactive | Rinse after pool or ocean. Honey + aloe 10 minutes when tight. |
| Fall | Repair post-summer, increase hydration, prep for colder air | Hydrating serum under moisturizer, lotion or gel cream by day, cream at night | Jumping straight to heavy occlusives, strong botanicals, over-exfoliating | Reintroduce richer textures gradually. Add avocado oil twice weekly if very dry. |
FAQ
How do I know when to change textures?
Watch feel and look. If skin feels tight or makeup sits on flakes, move one step richer, like gel to lotion or lotion to cream. If you look shiny and congested, move one step lighter.
How often should I exfoliate?
Once weekly is enough for most. If you see redness or stinging, stop and increase hydration.
In what order should I use the products?
Thinnest to thickest. Cleanser, hydrating step, serum, moisturizer, then an optional oil if you need a seal at night.
What if I am very reactive?
Strip the routine back to a gentle cleanser and a simple moisturizer for seven days. Reintroduce one product at a time.
Do I need different products for every season?
Not always. Often, you can keep the same core items and change how much you use and how often.
Seasonal tweaks do the heavy lifting. Keep cleansing gently, layer hydration, pick textures that match the weather, and change only one thing at a time. If skin feels tight, go one step richer at night. If you are shiny by noon, switch to a lighter daytime texture and keep the richer product for evening.
Save this guide and check back each season. I update product picks as formulas change and as I test new, nickel-aware options.
Next steps
• Add one item from your current season today. Keep everything else the same for a week.
• If your skin is reactive, stay fragrance-free and avoid oats, coconut, and heavy botanicals.
• Want my step-by-step routines? Join the Chronically Chic newsletter.
Share: If this helped, send it to a friend who keeps asking what to use when the weather changes. Sharing supports this work and helps me test more products for sensitive skin.
Check out our article: THE SECRET TO GLOWING SKIN: A COMPREHENSIVE NUTRITIONAL GUIDE.
