Kansas City Seasonal Skincare Guide: Treatments and Tips for Every Season
- klosik
- Nov 4
- 9 min read
IN THIS BLOG POST:
Why Kansas City Weather Affects Your Skin Health
As the seasons change in Kansas City, it's imperative to listen to your skin and adjust your skincare routine for the seasons accordingly. With all of the excitement around a season change, your skin is merely trying its best to keep up with lifestyle and weather changes. It’s essential to learn how to care for your skin year-round in Kansas City to maintain a healthy, radiant complexion. One of the most common conversations I have in the treatment room is about how weather and environmental changes can impact their skin.
Your skin acts as your body’s first line of defense against the elements, and shifts in temperature, humidity, and sun exposure can alter how it performs that job. In summer, increased UV exposure and humidity can lead to excess oil production and breakouts, while cold, dry winter air can strip away moisture and cause flaking or redness. Even transitions between seasons can trigger temporary imbalance. By understanding these environmental stressors, you can protect your skin more effectively and stay ahead of seasonal skin irritation, dullness, or dehydration.
Why should I adjust my skincare for the season?
Even if you’ve found a skincare routine that works well for most of the year, your skin’s needs will naturally evolve with the season changes in Kansas City. Heat, humidity, wind, and indoor heating all influence oil production, hydration, and barrier strength. Making small seasonal updates can prevent issues before they start.
Let’s break it down season by season, and look at some easy adjustments you can make to keep your skin happy no matter the forecast.
IN THIS BLOG POST:
Fall Skincare Tips: Rejuvenation Station
What happens to your skin in the fall?
As temperatures cool down in the fall, your skin starts adjusting to drier air and less sunlight. The fall season is perfect for undoing skin damage caused over the summer and strengthening your skin barrier in preparation for winter.
What are common skincare issues in the fall?
Dehydrated Skin as humidity drops
Flaky or uneven textures
Lingering sunspots or pigmentation
What are the best fall skincare products and treatments?
Switch to a richer moisturizer in the fall.
Look for nourishing ingredients like ceramides, squalene, or shea butter to support skin barrier health and prevent transepidermal water loss.
My personal favorite is Trio Luxe from SkinBetter Science. Another patient favorite is Obagi Hydrate Luxe. Both of these are available at our locations in Shawnee and at the Kansas City Plaza, as well as right here on our website.
Be sure to include a chemical exfoliant in your skincare routine.
Adding a chemical exfoliant into your skincare routine is a great step to introduce retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids. These will help lighten pigmentation and slough off dead skin, allowing you to protect and strengthen your new, healthy skin.
Always start adding exfoliants slowly to avoid irritation. I recommend AlphaRet Peel Pads for patients needing a strong chemical exfoliant. This formulation includes alpha-hydroxy-acids and retinoid, paired with an abundance of calming ingredients to help with tolerance.
Use 1-3 peel pads a week, and you’ll see a dramatic improvement in your skin.
Protect your lips, hands, and any area that is prone to significant dryness.
Protect your lips, hands, and any area that is prone to significant dryness. This may include the nasolabial fold or the corners of your lips. These areas tend to dry out quickly during the winter, so adding an occlusive barrier with an ointment can make a huge difference. These formulas help lock in moisture and soothe chapped or irritated skin.
Book a HydraFacial at Horizon Med Spa and Wellness.
Schedule one of our Hydrafacials for your in-office treatment when you are struggling with hydration or flaking skin. We offer Hydrafacials at both our Kansas City Plaza and Shawnee locations.
Featured Fall Skincare Products
Winter Skincare Tips: Combat Dryness and Sensitivity
What happens to your skin in the winter?
In the winter, cold air, harsh winds, and indoor heating strip your skin of moisture, often leading to tightness, redness, or flakiness. Even oily or acne-prone skin types can experience a lack of hydration in winter.
What are common skincare issues in the winter?
Dryness and flaking
Increased sensitivity and redness
Compromised skin barrier
What are the best winter skincare products and treatments?
Use a gentle, creamy cleanser with no active ingredients that may strip the barrier.
A cream cleanser will properly cleanse your skin without causing any further stressors from the environment. Good options for cleansing your skin in the winter would be the Adaptogenic Cleanser from Young Goose or Cleansing Gel from SkinBetter Science.
Layer hydration for maximum results.
Think of your skincare routine like layering clothes. In winter, you’ll add more layers as the temperature drops, and you need to be doing the same thing for your skin.
Add products into your routine that include humectants - ingredients that will search for and draw water in. Start adding in a hydrating serum, particularly one with Hyaluronic Acid or extra ceramides to support skin barrier function.
My favorite product to layer for enhanced hydration are the Obagi Medical Daily Hydro Drops. Layer these drops right under your moisturizer for enhanced hydration and flawless makeup application.
Introduce oils or occlusives.
An oil-based cleanser will help to gently bring balance and hydration to your skin in the winter. Paired with an occlusive ingredient, like vitamin E, it will help to protect hydration and ward off free-radical skin damage.
Don’t forget your SPF.
Yes, even in the winter, SPF is a must. SPF is just as important in winter as it is in summer, particularly because snow will reflect UV rays, increasing your risk of sun damage even though you may not be spending large amounts of time outside.
Check out Colorscience tinted and non-tinted SPF available at both our Shawnee and Plaza locations. The formulation is ‘chef’s kiss’ and will blend perfectly on top of your skincare routine.
Use a humidifier in your home.
Using a humidifier in your home can make a huge difference in keeping your skin hydrated during the winter, especially if you’re using indoor heating. A humidifier, even just at night, gives your skin a break from the harsh winter conditions and restores your glow to where it was.
Featured Winter Skincare Products
Spring Skincare Tips: Rejuvenate and Refresh
What happens to your skin in the spring?
Spring is a time of renewal, both in nature and within our bodies. Your skin is ready to shed the dullness of winter. However, as temperatures rise, allergens fill the air, causing increased oil production, congestion, or irritation.
What are common skincare issues in the spring?
Congested pores
Increased oil production
Sensitivity due to pollen and allergens
What are the best spring skincare products and treatments?
Exfoliate regularly.
In the spring, we recommend adding an exfoliant into your skincare routine. Use a gentle exfoliant 2-3 times a week to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Avoid harsh scrubs and opt for gentle chemical exfoliants like lactic acid or enzyme-based exfoliants.
Niapolish from Young Goose is one of my favorite enzymatic and physical exfoliants. Niapolish also has NAD+ precursors to further aid in anti-aging benefits.
Hydrate smartly.
Switch to a more lightweight moisturizer that keeps your skin dewey, without feeling heavy or clogging pores. Ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin are great for this transitional period.
Obagi Hydrate or Trio Luxe Moisture Treatment from SkinBetter Science are excellent options for this time of year.
Add antioxidants into your routine.
Spring is about more than protecting just your skin barrier. Allergens, increased sweat production, and lifestyle changes make it more important than ever to protect your skin from free radicals.
Obagi Vitamin C serum or Alto Advanced Defense & Repair Serum from SkinBetter Science are excellent options for protecting your skin.
Never skip SPF.
No matter the season, never skip SPF! Protecting your skin from the sun is important in the spring because as the weather warms, you're likely spending more time outside. Using a good sunscreen is one of the easiest ways you can protect your skin from skin damage and signs of aging.
Featured Spring Skincare Products
Summer Skincare Tips: Protect and Balance
What happens to your skin in the summer?
In the summer, warmer temperatures, high humidity, and increased sun exposure can wreak havoc on your skin. This is typically the hardest seasonal transition for your skin. My clients typically notice increased oil protection, breakouts, and sensitivity during the summer months, and changing up your skincare routine for the summer is a must.
What are common skincare issues in the summer?
Breakouts from sweat, oil, and sunscreen buildup
Sun damage or hyperpigmentation
Dehydration due to heat and UV exposure
What are the best summer skincare products and treatments?
Use a gentle foaming or gel cleanser.
A gentle cleanser helps remove buildup, sweat, dirt, and excess oil without stripping your skin. Being sure to double cleanse will help to further fight breakouts.
For your second cleanse, choose a lightly exfoliating cleanser with Salicylic, Glycolic, and Lactic acid to help exfoliate without stripping.
Daily Foaming Cleanser from Obagi (1st cleanse) and Refining Foam Cleanser from SkinBetter Science (2nd cleanse) are excellent choices to exfoliate while cleansing, without stripping your barrier.
Keep the lightweight moisturizer in queue.
Look for ingredients like aloe, green tea, or niacinamide in your moisturizer to help soothe your skin and restore balance.
Obagi Hydrate Light is our most light-weight moisturizer and is perfect for muggy and sweaty times of the year.
SPF – Always.
As an esthetician here in Kansas City, I cannot stress this enough! SPF should always be part of your skincare routine.
Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when outdoors, especially while swimming or sweating. Mineral sunscreens are an excellent option for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Hydrate internally and externally.
Drink plenty of water and use a hydrating mist or serum to maintain moisture in your skin.
Featured Summer Skincare Products
The Importance of Adapting Your Skincare Routine Seasonally
Your skin is constantly evolving with the environment, your lifestyle, and your age. What worked in July might not work the same in January, and that’s completely normal. Adjusting your skincare routine seasonally is one of the smartest things you can do to keep your skin healthy and vibrant.
Personalized Skincare with Horizon Med Spa
At Horizon Med Spa and Wellness, we are here to guide you through seasonal skincare changes with expert care, customized skincare treatment, and skincare product recommendations that are just right for you. Whether you are battling dryness, summer breakouts, or tightness, there’s a solution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Seasonal Skincare Tips
Why does my skin change with the seasons in Kansas City?
Kansas City weather changes impact humidity, temperature, and sun exposure, all of which affect your skin’s barrier function, oil production, and hydration levels.
What are the best skincare products for winter?
In winter, switch to creamy cleansers, rich moisturizers, and serums with humectants like hyaluronic acid or ceramides. Don’t forget to use SPF daily.
How can I protect my skin in the summer?
In summer, use lightweight gel cleansers, oil-free moisturizers, and broad-spectrum SPF. Reapply sunscreen every two hours and double cleanse at night to prevent breakouts.
What are the best skincare tips for fall?
In fall, switch to a richer moisturizer, add gentle exfoliation with ingredients like retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids, and book a HydraFacial to restore hydration and glow. Don’t forget to protect against cooler, drier air with barrier-repairing products and nourishing lip care.
How should I care for my skin in the spring?
In spring, exfoliate 2–3 times a week with gentle enzyme or lactic acid exfoliants to clear congestion, then switch to lightweight hydration with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Add antioxidants such as vitamin C to defend against seasonal allergens and environmental stressors while keeping your skin bright and clear.
About Kimberly Losik
Owner of Horizon Med Spa and Wellness
Kimberly Losik, a board certified nurse practitioner, is the Founder, Owner and Medical Director of Horizon Med Spa and Wellness. Kimberly has earned multiple degrees including a bachelors in Kinesiology, a bachelors in Nursing, as well as a Masters in Nursing. For over a decade, she has earned experience in Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Internal medicine, Medical weight loss, aesthetics and anti-aging medicine.
Her passion to help patients look and feel like the best version of themselves was the foundation of Horizon Med Spa, which began in early 2020. Since then, she has attended numerous trainings, conferences and seminars to continue to offer patients the best solutions Additionally, she is a clinical trainer for the company Inmode, an internationally recognized leader in the aesthetic industry.
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