Caring for Dry-Feeling Skin Through the Seasons

Skin doesn’t behave the same way all year, and it’s worth adjusting how you look after it rather than reaching for the same routine in January as you do in July.

Winter: when skin needs the most support

Cold air outside and heated air inside is a rough combination — it’s usually when skin feels tightest, roughest and most in need of something rich. This is the time of year a proper salve earns its keep, applied to hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that’s taken a battering from the cold.

Spring: easing off, gradually

As the air warms and humidity creeps back up, skin often needs a little less than it did in midwinter. It’s a good time to notice how your skin’s actually feeling rather than sticking rigidly to a winter routine out of habit.

Summer: lighter, but not skipped

Warmer weather doesn’t mean skin care stops being useful — sun, wind and swimming can all leave skin feeling dry in their own way. A lighter oil, used little and often, tends to suit summer better than a heavy salve.

Autumn: preparing for the shift back

As the air starts to dry out again, it’s worth bringing the richer products back into rotation before skin gets a chance to feel uncomfortable, rather than waiting until it already does.

A few things that help, whatever the season

• Apply to slightly damp skin where possible — it helps a balm or oil spread further and sit better
• Hands and heels usually need more frequent attention than people expect
• Consistency matters more than any single product — a little, often, tends to work better than a lot, occasionally

Worth remembering

Everyone’s skin responds differently, and what suits one person through a British winter won’t necessarily suit another. If you’re dealing with a persistent skin concern rather than everyday dryness, it’s worth speaking to a pharmacist or GP alongside anything you try at home.