Skincare for Moderate & Dry Weather

Moderate temperatures can disguise the drying effect of low humidity. After several hours outdoors, skin may begin to feel tight around the cheeks, lips and eye area even without obvious sweating. Apply a hydrating serum followed by a light moisturising lotion containing ceramides, squalane or other barrier-supporting lipids. Avoid strong foaming cleansers and very hot water, and use broad-spectrum sunscreen during outdoor activities. Hair may become slightly dry, static-prone or flyaway, particularly if it is fine, coloured or chemically treated. Use conditioner regularly and apply a small amount of leave-in serum to the ends. Avoid excessive shampooing when the scalp does not feel oily.

Hydrate - Then Seal Lightly

Moderate temperatures can make dry air feel deceptively comfortable. During four to five hours outdoors, travellers may not sweat heavily or feel particularly thirsty, yet dry air, breeze and limited water intake can gradually reduce moisture within the skin’s outer layer.

The cheeks, lips and area around the eyes may begin to feel tight, while the forehead and nose remain normal or slightly oily. Moving into heated rooms, aeroplanes, vehicles or air-conditioned spaces may intensify this dryness. Research indicates that even relatively short exposure to a low-humidity environment can alter moisture levels and the surface pattern of the stratum corneum.

What may happen to your skin:

• Gradual moisture loss: Dry air can reduce skin comfort without producing obvious sweating.
• Tight cheeks and lips: Naturally drier areas may feel stretched or uncomfortable.
• Combination behaviour: The T-zone may remain slightly oily while the outer face becomes dry.
• More visible dehydration lines: Temporary fine lines may appear more noticeable when the outer skin layer lacks water.
• Sensitivity to harsh cleansing: Strong foaming cleansers and hot water may make dryness worse.

The right approach:

The priority is to add water and follow it with a light layer that helps retain moisture. Choose:

• A hydrating serum containing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol or beta-glucan
• Application of serum while the skin is slightly damp
• A light lotion containing ceramides, squalane or barrier-supporting lipids
• A mild cream or low-foaming cleanser used with lukewarm water
• Broad-spectrum sunscreen in a lotion or cream-gel texture
• Lip balm and additional lotion on areas that become particularly dry

At night, apply hydrating serum first and follow promptly with lotion. Using a facial mist alone may provide only temporary relief because the water can evaporate without a layer to help retain it. The ideal mantra for this weather is: Hydrate - Then Seal Lightly. Moderate dry weather usually needs more than water-based serum alone, but it may not require the richness used in extremely cold or desert climates.

Skincare Ideal for These Climates and Countries

Year-round:

• Year-round: Arequipa, Peru 

Winter / cooler months:

• December-February: Phoenix, USA
• May-August: Johannesburg, South Africa; Pretoria, South Africa
• November-February: Las Vegas, USA; Tucson, USA; Mexico City, Mexico
• November-March: Marrakech, Morocco; Ouarzazate, Morocco

Shoulder months:

• April & October: Tehran, Iran; Isfahan, Iran; Shiraz, Iran; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Samarkand, Uzbekistan; Bukhara, Uzbekistan; Granada, Spain
• April-May & September-October: Albuquerque, USA
• March & November: Seville, Spain
• March-April & November: Madrid, Spain
• May & October: Yerevan, Armenia; Ankara, Türkiye; Cappadocia (Göreme), Türkiye
• May & September: Salt Lake City, USA; Reno, USA; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Summer / hotter months:

• June-August: Calgary, Canada; Edmonton, Canada
• May-June & September: Denver, USA; Santa Fe, USA