Skincare for Cool & Very Dry Weather

Cool temperatures combined with very dry air can leave skin increasingly tight, rough and dehydrated during a long outdoor day. Dry wind and dust may make the cheeks, lips and area around the nose particularly uncomfortable. Apply a hydrating serum followed by a richer barrier-supporting moisturiser, and use balm on vulnerable areas. Choose a creamy or low-foaming cleanser and comfortable broad-spectrum sunscreen. Avoid frequent exfoliation when the skin already feels tight. Hair may become dry, dull, static-prone and easily tangled in the wind. Use nourishing conditioner, leave-in hydration and a small amount of smoothing serum. Protect longer hair from wind and avoid repeated clarifying washes.

Replenish, Repair and Protect

Cool temperatures combined with humidity below 30% can dry the skin more quickly than travellers expect. During four to five hours outdoors, dry wind, dust and limited water intake may leave the face feeling increasingly tight, rough or uncomfortable. Because the weather is not hot, dehydration can develop without obvious sweating or a strong sensation of thirst.

Low humidity removes water from the outer layers of the skin. Controlled studies have found that even short exposure to dry surroundings can change stratum-corneum moisture and make dehydration-related surface lines more noticeable. Repeated exposure to low humidity may also interfere with normal barrier differentiation and contribute to dry skin.

What may happen to your skin:

• Rapid but less visible moisture loss: Water can leave the skin without creating noticeable perspiration.
• Pronounced tightness: The cheeks, lips, eye area and sides of the nose may feel dry or stretched.
• Rough or flaky texture: Very dry air may make the skin’s surface appear uneven.
• Sensitivity to wind and dust: Environmental exposure may leave the skin feeling irritated or reactive.
• Reduced tolerance for harsh products: Strong cleansers, scrubs, acids or frequent washing may intensify discomfort.

The right approach:

The priority is to restore water, support the skin barrier and reduce further moisture loss. Choose:

• A hydrating serum containing glycerin, panthenol, beta-glucan or hyaluronic acid
• A moisturising cream containing ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids or squalane
• A richer balm for the lips, cheeks and other particularly dry areas
• A gentle cream or low-foaming cleanser used with lukewarm water
• Broad-spectrum sunscreen with a comfortable moisturising texture
• Regular water intake and physical protection from dry wind and dust

Apply hydrating serum immediately after cleansing, while the skin remains slightly damp. Follow promptly with moisturising cream rather than allowing the serum to dry completely. Avoid relying on facial mist alone, because water may evaporate rapidly unless it is followed by a protective lotion or cream. The ideal mantra for this weather is: Replenish, Repair and Protect. In very dry, cool air, the skin needs both water-based hydration and a barrier-supporting moisturiser to remain comfortable throughout the journey.

Skincare Ideal for These Climates and Countries

Winter / cooler months:

• December-February: Las Vegas, USA; Phoenix, USA; Tucson, USA; Tehran, Iran; Isfahan, Iran; Yazd, Iran; Kerman, Iran; Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
• June-August: Cusco, Peru
• May-August: Mendoza, Argentina
• November-March: Lhasa, China; Albuquerque, USA; Santa Fe, USA; Denver, USA; Reno, USA; Salt Lake City, USA; Boise, USA
• Cool-season days: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
• Cool-season nights/days: Calama, Chile
• Cooler dry-season days: Arequipa, Peru

Shoulder months:

• April & October: Urumqi, China
• April-May & October: Leh, India
• April-May & September-October: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
• March & November: Cappadocia (Göreme), Türkiye; Yerevan, Armenia; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Bukhara, Uzbekistan
• March-April & October-November: Hohhot, China; Lanzhou, China
• September-November afternoons: La Paz, Bolivia