How Heat and Humidity Affect Skin: Adjusting Your Routine for Warm Weather

With more sun, heat, and humidity, summer quite literally changes your skin. If you’ve noticed oily, sweaty skin that doesn’t behave how it normally does, it might be time to adjust your summer skincare routine. 

Even beyond switching to a lightweight moisturizer, there are so many ways to support summer skin, and that’s exactly what today’s article will explore. Keep reading to learn more about what causes oily skin in heat and humidity and what you can do about it. Let’s discuss: 

• How warm weather affects skin physiology, including sebum production and hydration 
• Why your skin is oilier and more reactive in summer 
• How to adjust your summer skincare products
• The best moisturizer for oily skin, facial mist, and serums 
• Oily skin treatment ideas for summer
• A summer skincare routine from NassifMD® facial plastic surgeon skincare
• Skincare for summer FAQs

How Heat and Humidity Affect Your Skin’s Oil and Hydration Balance

Higher temperatures and humidity affect how your skin functions, including increasing sebum (oil) production and hydration. 

You likely already know that low humidity and cold, dry winter weather are associated with dry, itchy skin and a disrupted skin barrier. Yet, warm, and especially hot, weather also changes the skin as it responds to the environment. 

Hot summer weather increases sun exposure, sweating, and TEWL (trans-epidermal water loss). At the same time, external humidity affects the water content of the skin, including the stratum corneum, the outermost layer. Overall, summer is associated with better skin hydration than winter. 

Still, it’s possible to have dehydrated skin in the summer. And it’s more likely your skin will become dehydrated when the weather is hot and dry (as opposed to hot and humid) or if you are outdoors and experiencing increased sweating and TEWL. 

Hot environments are also associated with increased sebum secretion and more oiliness and greasiness in the skin. Oily skin is one of the top skin concerns in summer. Some will also experience oily skin and dehydrated skin at the same time. 

Why Skin Feels Oilier, Sweatier, and More Reactive in Summer

Your skin feels oilier and more reactive in the summer because of increased sun exposure, sweating, sebum production, and often additional irritants such as chlorine from pools. 

Sebum is the natural oil produced by the skin, and production increases in response to heat and humidity. More sebum production often means the skin will appear oilier than during other times of the year. Compound increased sebum with sweating, UV radiation, air pollution, chlorine, and other seasonal stressors, and you have a recipe for clogged pores, acne, irritated, and reactive skin. 

How to Adjust Cleansing, Hydration, and Moisturizing for Warm Weather

As your skin changes in summer, you can adjust your skincare routine to optimize skin health and keep your complexion clear and radiant. 

A skincare routine for oily skin can help manage the look of excess surface oil while keeping the skin hydrated. Here are some tips for adjusting your summer routine:

1. Cleansing - Cleansers for oily skin can be harsh, and over-cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier and decrease hydration. Instead, use a gentle, hydrating cleanser, with or without gentle chemical exfoliation, such as glycolic acid. Try: NassifMD® Pure Hydration Facial Cleanser or NassifMD® Purifying Glycolic Facial Cleanser

2. Balanced exfoliation and prep – Oily summer skin may require more frequent exfoliation and nourishment to balance and brighten the complexion. Try: NassifMD® Detox Facial Pads

3. Hydrating toner – Great for all seasons, a high-quality toner helps refresh, hydrate, and support healthy-looking skin. Try: NassifMD® Pure Hydration Replenishing Toner

4. Summer serums – Don’t forget serums! Hyaluronic acid supports lightweight hydration; peptides support skin structure and firmness; and niacinamide supports hydration while helping calm the look of redness. Overall, serums (and their active ingredients) help keep the skin healthy, balanced, and nourished amid the onslaught of summer stressors. Try: NassifMD® Hydro-Gel Serum, NassifMD® Pro Peptide Collagen Serum, and NassifMD® Niacinamide Biopeptide Serum

5. Moisturizing – Switch from thick, occlusive moisturizers you may love in winter to a lightweight moisturizer for summer. It doesn’t specifically need to be a moisturizer for oily skin, but look for active ingredients that support the skin barrier. Try: NassifMD® Soft Focus Hydrating Day Cream or NassifMD® Skin Barrier Protection Cream.

The Best Lightweight Moisturizers, Mists, and Toners for Summer

The best summer skincare is lightweight and features active ingredients that hydrate, exfoliate, nourish, and protect the skin for optimal skin health. 

Let’s explore how different products support healthy summer skin. 

How to Control Oily Skin and Excess Sebum During Hot Weather

Help control oily skin and excess sebum by adjusting your skincare routine to manage the look of excess surface oil while maintaining hydration.

Sebum production is a normal and healthy function of the skin. It helps maintain the skin barrier, prevent water loss, promote elasticity, and protects against environmental stressors. The goal isn’t to stop oil production, it’s to help manage excess surface oil brought on by hot summer weather.

Here are some tips for controlling excess oil:

• Cleanse the skin twice daily. 
• Exfoliation in moderation, and as your skin tolerates. 
• Choose non-comedogenic products that won’t clog your pores. 
• Rinse the skin after swimming in pools or salt water. 
• Wear sunscreen for UV protection. 
• Choose the NassifMD® Skincare products discussed in this article. 

Daily Summer Skincare Routine for Warm and Humid Climates

With a few tweaks, you can adjust your skincare routine for hot, humid weather. 

Here’s a simple daily routine for balanced summer skin:

Morning: 

1. Cleanse with NassifMD® Pure Hydration Facial Cleanser
2. Tone with NassifMD® Pure Hydration Replenishing Toner
3. Apply serums – Start with NassifMD® Niacinamide Biopeptide Serum or NassifMD® Pro Peptide Collagen Serum, and then layer NassifMD® Hydro-Gel Serum 
4. Moisturize with NassifMD® Soft Focus Hydrating Day Cream or NassifMD® Skin Barrier Protection Cream
5. Apply NassifMD® Shield & Smooth Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF40 or NassifMD® Protect & Hydrate SPF44 Tinted

Evening: 

1. Cleanse with NassifMD® Pure Hydration Facial Cleanser or NassifMD® Purifying Glycolic Facial Cleanser (or double cleanse)
2. Use NassifMD® Detox Facial Pads a few times weekly or up to daily as tolerated
3. Tone with NassifMD® Pure Hydration Replenishing Toner
4. Apply serums – Start with NassifMD® Niacinamide Biopeptide Serum or NassifMD® Pro Peptide Collagen Serum, and then layer NassifMD® Hydro-Gel Serum 
5. Moisturize with NassifMD® Skin Barrier Protection Cream

The way your skin behaves shifts with the weather and seasons, and so should your skincare routine. If you notice oilier, reactive skin when the weather is hot, adjust your routine to help manage excess surface oil while maintaining barrier health and hydration. NassifMD® Skincare can help you meet your summer skin goals!

Summer Skincare FAQs

How does humidity affect your skin?

Humidity in the air helps to maintain skin hydration by slowing water evaporation from the skin. At the same time, hot weather can increase water loss through sweating and sebum (oil production), causing oily, yet still dehydrated skin. 

Why does skin feel oilier in hot and humid weather?

Higher outdoor temperatures increase sebum production, so the skin becomes oilier. Sunscreen, makeup, and heavy skincare products can also contribute to oilier summer skin. 

Should you change your moisturizer in summer?

Yes. Often, it’s recommended to switch from thicker products geared towards dry winter skin to lightweight moisturizers in the summer. Moisturizing helps to maintain the skin barrier and hydration. 

What are the best lightweight products for summer skin?

Look for lightweight, balancing products with active ingredients such as glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and skincare peptides to hydrate and protect without leaving a greasy finish. 

Can humidity cause breakouts or skin irritation? 

While humidity doesn’t directly cause breakouts (the extra water in the air is helpful for hydration), the combination of increased sebum with sweating and environmental aggressors can contribute to breakouts and irritation. Counteract summer weather with gentle cleansing, balanced exfoliation, and hydrating, barrier-supportive skincare from NassifMD® Skincare.

References

1. Engebretsen, K. A., Johansen, J. D., Kezic, S., Linneberg, A., & Thyssen, J. P. (2016). The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 30(2), 223–249. 

2. Goad, N., & Gawkrodger, D. J. (2016). Ambient humidity and the skin: the impact of air humidity in healthy and diseased states. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 30(8), 1285–1294. 

3. Qiu, H., Long, X., Ye, J. C., Hou, J., Senee, J., Laurent, A., Bazin, R., Flament, F., Adam, A., Coutet, J., & Piot, B. (2011). Influence of season on some skin properties: winter vs. summer, as experienced by 354 Shanghaiese women of various ages. International journal of cosmetic science, 33(4), 377–383.

4. Kim, S., Park, J. W., Yeon, Y., Han, J. Y., & Kim, E. (2019). Influence of exposure to summer environments on skin properties. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 33(11), 2192–2196.