As the season changes, so does our skin－and while this changes, so should our skincare. Typically, we lose moisture when the climate gets drier and colder, but what does this loss of water mean for our skin, and how should we manage ‘seasonal’ skincare? Learn how CBD-infused ingredients can help your skin adapt to changes, all year round.

Now that it’s cooler, a lot of us might be feeling the drop in temperature simply from the texture of our skin. Although our skin type doesn’t actually change by season, it’s still not totally immune to environmental changes. If you’re acne-prone, you likely suffer the worst during the sweltering summer months. The explanation is simple: heat and humidity causes increased sweat and oil production, also meaning more reasons for acne to flare up. The transitional period into the colder days is hugely influential too. As your skin adapts to the changing season, your skin barrier can therefore get ‘confused’ or rather, disrupted. This means higher susceptibility to inflammation and irritation, which translates to drier skin, loss of hydration and even cracks on the outermost layer. If you’re younger, this disruption to the skin barrier will likely amplify your existing problems like acne or inflammation, while you’re still at the peak hormonal stages. As you get older, you’re likely to resonate more with aging-related problems such as texture, lack of suppleness from collagen, and dryness as it gets cooler.  

This loss of hydration is actually a more common issue than you think, affecting skin of all types and ages. Generally, loss of hydration is what we experience as ‘dehydrated skin’, rather loss of moisture causes ‘dry skin’ conditions. Dehydrated skin lacks water, whereas skin that are not moisturised lacks oil. And guess what? This means even oily skin can be dehydrated too! There’s a crucial difference in hydration and moisture, although both are equally important. As the season gets colder, oily skin can experience the brunt of it too, citing lack of hydration which signals the body to produce even more sebum. 

If hydration means you need more water, and dryness needs more oil, how do we translate these learnings to our skincare regimen? Typically, face creams are our go-to when it comes to anything dehydrated or dry-related. Although lots of moisturisers or creams do a bit of both, it’s important to note what you do need to treat. Hydrating ingredients are typically known as ‘humectants’, whilst moisturizing ingredients are known as ‘occlusives’. Simply using a hydrating lotion may not be enough, as water is easily lost to climate and environmental triggers such as low temperatures and even air-conditioning. This loss of hydration is what we call ‘transepidermal water loss’, also known as ‘TEWL’. Water will leave our skin when our skin barrier faces disruption, but ideally we can trap all this hydration through ‘moisture’: anything occlusive or thick enough to seal all the hard-promised hydration in. Generally speaking, the thicker the texture of your skincare, the higher the occlusivity, and the less likely your serums will end up being lost to air. This is why the steps of a skincare routine goes by texture: from lightweight hydration to creamy moisture. It’s also why choosing the right moisturiser or face cream is incredibly important! 

Seasonal and temperature changes can also be particularly troublesome for those with eczema and psoriasis. Some of us may have experience with steroid creams like hydrocortisone, widely used to treat conditions such as eczema. But for some, they could come with unwanted side effects, including dependence, addiction and withdrawal symptoms using topical steroids, taking weeks to years to resolve. It’s estimated about 12% of those prescribed with steroids suffer from topical steroid addiction in Japan. A study shows that 50-60% of people who tried using CBD cream for eczema relief reported symptoms improvement. Regardless, you may want to consult with a healthcare provider to explore this as a treatment option. 

Alternatively, CBD is a treatment option readily available without medical prescription. CBD plays an integral role in both hydration and occlusivity in our face creams. Not only does it provide moisture, it helps to regulate oil production to prevent excess by reducing inflammation. It also helps to repair the skin barrier function through localised interaction when applied on the skin, and is generally a non-irritating ingredient. On top of CBD, we incorporate additional phytochemicals from traditional medicine worldwide: babchi oil, acai oil, passion fruit oil, sunflower seed oil, and calendula oil for a plant-based approach to combating pollutants, seasonal dryness and aging. 

Whilst RESTORE has a CBD dosage of 300mg and REPAIR has a much higher amount of 1000mg, the choice is yours when it comes to approaching your own seasonal skincare routine. Find the one that works for you, as no skin is made equal!