Any time friends plan to visit from out of town and ask what sort of clothing to pack, I always advise them to check the daily weather forecast. Because anything can happen in a span of just a few days in NYC when it comes to the weather. It can seriously be close to 70s, a high of 50 (which can mean lows in the 30s) for a few days, and then it’ll get to 60 for a quick second only for it to feel cold again and maybe even snow—ALL IN THE SAME WEEK. Not only is this confusing for your outfit planning, it can also be confusing for your skin care routine.
I have oily skin and for the most part the products I use change from season to season. I need more lightweight and mattifying products for summer, more moderate textured products for spring and fall, and for the winter I typically need products that are heavier in texture and are more hydrating. But when the weather plays games like it has been, I sometimes have to vary what I use on my skin from day to day. And that’s typically with my daytime moisturizer.
Moisturizer is a non-negotiable in your skincare routine—why? Well the short of it is that moisturizer protects the skin and is also filled with nutrients that help boost the skin’s collagen production. Collagen is a protein found in various parts of what makes up the body, but when we talk about it here it’s the stuff in your facial skin that gives it that taut appearance. Once the collagen starts to break down, your skin can start to look like it’s sagging.
Your daytime moisturizer should also include a sunscreen and if it doesn’t then you need to add one on top (see my series on sunscreens that won’t make your skin ashy). Sunscreen helps protect the skin from harmful rays—the sun’s rays are the biggest culprit in the breakdown of collagen (remember I said it’s what helps give skin it’s taut appearance—once that starts to break down, the skin can start to lose its snatched-ness) and sunscreen is one of your best defenses against aging. Sunscreen is also your best defense in helping to prevent some skin cancers.
But we all know not all moisturizers are cut from the same cloth. Some do different things for different skin types and for the different climates and seasons. While I’m pretty much always down to test different moisturizers so I have options to talk about here on the blog, lately I’ve been rotating between these four: Murad Anti Aging Moisturizer (I was using this mostly when I was on adult acne regimen), Murad Balancing Moisturizer (this is my typical moderate weather moisturizer—like when it’s about 45-60 degrees out), Murad Oil Control Mattifier (this and other mattifying lotions are what I use when the weather is above like 65), and Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer (I use this when the weather is 40 or below and I’ll use Murad Invisiblur on top of it so I have SPF protection).
But because the weather can give just about anything these days, I have to check the forecast before I decide on a moisturizer. If you use something that’s not hydrating enough, your skin will be all thirsty and dry—you might even notice the dry areas and your skin may also feel like crinkled paper. If you use something too heavy it can make your skin feel greasy and can even incite breakouts. And just from reading those last two lines, I’m sure you can imagine how wearing the wrong moisturizer can have an affect on your makeup and its longevity for the day. Wearing a moisturizer that’s too heavy can make your makeup look greasy suuuuper fast and can even make it run and fade faster. Wearing a moisturizer that’s not hydrating enough can make your makeup look dryyyyy and if there’s any flaking as a result, that can make your makeup look clumpy.
SO. Your moisturizer not only needs to match your skin type and needs, but it also has to work with the climate where you live (or where you travel). If you live somewhere that has distinct seasons, the moisturizer switch-up might be something you need to look into. Also check out Cover FX Custom Infusion Drops—they might be helpful in adding an extra dose of hydration or brightening properties to your current products in your skincare routine. Read about them here.
Dis tew much lol! No but seriously I was just looking at Murad’s Oil Control Mattifier. I already have their Anti Aging Moisturizer and just tried a sample of the Invisiblur.