Chaé Skincare Regimen – 4 Simple Steps for all skin types
Chaé’s four-step routine (cleanse or exfoliate, mist, serum, moisturize) with the products to reach for at each step, whatever your skin type.
Seasonal Skincare Tips: How to Transition Your Routine for Winter/Summer
Cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers ask different things of your skin. Here’s how to read the signs and adjust your routine as the seasons change.
Your skin changes with the seasons. Temperature, humidity, and sun exposure all shift through the year, and your skin responds to each of them. A routine that works beautifully in July can leave you tight and flaky in January — and the rich cream you love in winter can feel heavy once summer arrives.
The fix isn’t a whole new routine every few months. It is knowing what each season does to your skin, and adjusting a few key steps to match.
The short version
- Winter brings cold air and low humidity, which pull moisture from the skin and leave it dry, flaky, tight, or irritated.
- Summer brings heat and humidity, so you sweat more and produce more oil — which can mean breakouts, clogged pores, and shine.
- In winter, switch to richer moisturizers, add a hydrating antioxidant serum, and exfoliate gently once or twice a week.
- In summer, go lightweight and non-comedogenic, and cleanse gently to clear sweat and excess oil.
- Wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher all year — UV rays still reach you in winter, especially off snow.
- A simple skin journal helps you see what your skin needs from season to season.
How the Seasons Change Your Skin
Winter
In winter, the drop in temperature combined with lower humidity can lead to dryness, flakiness, and irritation. Cold air strips moisture from the skin and weakens its natural barrier, which can make conditions such as eczema and psoriasis worse. Many people notice their skin feels tight or rough — a sign it needs a richer, more emollient moisturizer to restore hydration and support the skin’s barrier.
Summer
Summer brings rising temperatures and higher humidity, so you sweat more and your skin produces more oil. That can mean breakouts, clogged pores, and a shiny complexion. Your skin needs lighter products that help control excess oil (sebum) without stripping away the moisture it needs.
More time in the sun also raises the risk of sun damage, which can show up as discoloration, premature aging, or sunburn. That makes broad-spectrum sunscreen critical in summer.
Read the Signs
Pay attention to what your skin is telling you. If it looks dull or rough in winter, a hydrating serum or facial oil may help. If summer brings excess oil or breakouts, switching to a gel-based cleanser or a lighter moisturizer can help keep things in balance.
Essential Winter Skincare Tips
Cold, dry air means more moisture loss, so a good winter routine is all about hydration — keeping your skin plump and healthy despite the weather.
- Switch to a richer moisturizer. Light lotions may be enough in warmer months, but winter calls for richer creams and balms. Look for ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, which hydrate and help fortify the skin’s natural barrier. Occlusives such as shea butter or petrolatum lock that moisture in, cutting down moisture loss throughout the day.
- Add a hydrating serum with antioxidants. Antioxidants add an extra layer of protection against free radicals, which can be more prevalent in cold weather because of indoor heating. Apply your serum before your moisturizer so it absorbs best.
- Keep wearing sunscreen. Many people forget that UV rays can still do damage in winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 part of your daily routine to protect against premature aging and other skin concerns.
- Exfoliate gently. A mild exfoliant once or twice a week removes dead skin cells without upsetting your skin’s moisture balance or its barrier. DIY options, such as a honey and oatmeal mask, can add extra nourishment.
Key Strategies for Summer Skincare
Longer, hotter days bring their own challenges. Managing heat and UV exposure takes an intentional approach built around lightweight products that let your skin breathe.
- Go lightweight and non-comedogenic. As sweat and humidity rise, switch to formulas that don’t clog pores. Gel-based moisturizers or serums hydrate without feeling heavy, and ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera feel refreshing and help maintain moisture balance in hot weather.
- Take sun protection seriously. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and don’t stop at one morning application: reapply every two hours, and after swimming or sweating. Products that combine SPF with moisturizer or makeup make this easier.
- Cleanse regularly and gently. Extra sweat and oil can lead to breakouts if you leave them on your skin. A gentle cleanser clears impurities and excess oil without stripping your skin’s natural oils.
- Cool things down. Ingredients such as cucumber and green tea extract feel refreshing, soothe the skin, and help calm irritation from sun and heat.
Lightweight products, diligent sun protection, and consistent cleansing add up to a summer routine that keeps skin healthy, radiant, and protected.
Create a Year-Round Skincare Plan
Healthy, radiant skin all year comes from reassessing your needs as each season turns. Summer typically brings humidity and sun exposure. Winter brings dryness and harsher conditions. Your routine should flex with both.
Keep a Skin Journal
Track how your skin reacts to products and weather. Note texture, hydration, and any breakouts. Over time you will see which ingredients work best in each season, and you can adjust your routine before problems start.
Adjust your tools, too. Serums with different concentrations of active ingredients let you match your routine to the season: richer moisturizers and hydrating serums to replenish moisture in the dry winter months, and lightweight, oil-free formulas to balance excess oil in summer without giving up hydration.
And protect your skin from the sun all year, adjusting your SPF to how much UV exposure you expect. A good year-round plan is flexible and responsive — and it keeps your skin healthy and radiant through every season.
FAQ: Seasonal Skincare
Why does my skin get so dry in winter?
Cold air and low humidity pull moisture from the skin and weaken its natural barrier. That is why winter skin often feels tight, rough, or flaky, and why a richer moisturizer helps.
Do I really need sunscreen in winter?
Yes. UV rays can still damage skin in winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day.
What should I change in my routine for summer?
Switch to lightweight, non-comedogenic products such as gel moisturizers, cleanse gently to clear sweat and excess oil, and reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
How often should I exfoliate in winter?
Once or twice a week, with a mild exfoliant. That removes dead skin cells without disrupting your skin’s moisture balance.
Product Spotlight
For winter, reach for richer moisture — Argan Collagen Moisturizer for your face and a shea-butter body butter for everywhere else — plus a gentle scrub once or twice a week. When summer comes, a refreshing foaming cleanser keeps your routine light.
Argan Collagen Moisturizer
Deep hydration. Stronger barrier. Firmer-looking skin—without heaviness.
Original price was: $59.95.$35.95Current price is: $35.95. · save 15% with Subscribe & Save
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Body Butter
Deep hydration that feels light—never greasy.
Original price was: $25.95.$15.55Current price is: $15.55. · save 15% with Subscribe & Save
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Açai Polishing Complex - Exfoliating Scrub
Smooth, refined skin. Brighter tone. Better absorption—without harsh scrubbing.
Original price was: $19.95.$11.95Current price is: $11.95. · save 15% with Subscribe & Save
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Foaming Cleanser - Wash Away Dirt and Makeup
Clean, balanced skin. Soft hydration. A fresh, healthy glow—without stripping.
Original price was: $21.95.$13.15Current price is: $13.15. · save 15% with Subscribe & Save
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Calm & Moisture Duo
Cool it down, then moisturize: a silky cooling gel and an intense body moisturizer for skin that’s had a long day.
Original price was: $44.90.$26.94Current price is: $26.94.
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