Can I skip moisturizer in summer?

Author: Miss Carole Grady  |  Last update: Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Summer heat is often coupled with humidity and heavy sweating, which can increase sebum production, leading to oily skin and breakouts. However, skipping moisturizers in such weather can aggravate your symptoms.

Is it necessary to apply moisturizer in summer?

Yes, it's absolutely fine and necessary as well. When the skin is exposed to the sun, it is stripped off of natural oils. Also, if you are constantly in air-conditioned spaces, it can also dry your skin. So, using a moisturizer can help your skin lock the moisture in and prevent your skin from drying.

What happens if you skip moisturizer?

Dry and dehydrated skin lacks moisture which makes your skin tight, itchy, and uncomfortable, causing the urge to scratch. Scratching can further irritate the skin and cause damage to it, leading to redness, dry patches, and even infection. To avoid all of these, simply use a moisturiser that suits you!

Do you need moisturizer in hot weather?

The short answer is yes! Using a moisturizer in warm, humid weather is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. The humidity can actually help to lock in moisture, but it's still important to use a moisturizer to ensure that your skin stays hydrated and protected.

Is it good to let your skin breathe without moisturizer?

Letting your skin breathe can bring numerous benefits. Some of which includes: When the skin pores are less clogged, they can absorb skincare products in a better way leading to better results. Your skin gets the opportunity to return to its natural pH levels, which can assist with dryness or oiliness issues.

7 Moisturizing Mistakes

Can skin survive without moisturizer?

Your skin is a homeostatic organ which means it is clever at producing enough hydration from the inside. If you give it external hydration when it's not needed, your skin stops producing its own moisture, and you end up in a cycle of dull, dry and irritated skin that you need to keep applying moisturiser to.

Is it OK to let your face dry naturally?

Yes, that's right. Air-drying your face and body is a step you may not have considered adding to your skin care routine, but it's definitely one worth considering. Air-drying might just help address quite a few skin care concerns you're dealing with, so why not learn more?

Can oily skin people skip moisturizer in summer?

YES, you need to moisturize your skin, even if it is oily and acne-prone. To understand why, let's take a closer look at what a moisturizer really does. Moisturizers don't add water to your skin, but rather help hold the water in the outer layer of your skin to keep it hydrated.

Is it mandatory to use moisturizer?

Moisturizing Reduces Skin Problems - Moisturizing everyday can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Both extremes are harmful for skin and cause common skin conditions like acne. Conceals Other Skin Blemishes - Using a daily moisturizer ensures that the skin's blemishes are camouflaged.

Do I need moisturizer if I sweat a lot?

Hydration is key to keeping skin healthy, but on sweatier days, heavier moisturizers can be switched for serums like Vitamin C or hyaluronic acid and lighter moisturizers, such as water-based gel or oil-free products, to prevent clogging pores.

Is it OK to not use moisturizer?

Some people can get away with using little to no moisturizer because of their skin type or genetics. Experts say facial moisturizers have benefits beyond hydrating skin regardless of skin type, but try to stay away from additive ingredients such as fragrances, parabens, and alcohol.

Why does my skin look better when I don't moisturize?

He says that dead skin cells “stick” back onto your complexion when you apply a moisturiser, which prevents them from exfoliating and shedding like they would naturally. “The thick layer of dead skin cells stuck to the skin will make your complexion look dull,” he says.

Is it good to take a break from moisturizer?

Some doctors believe that skin is able to maintain a moisture balance on its own when you don't stimulate it with outside hydrators. This comes from the idea that pausing the use of an external moisturiser can retrain the skin to up its natural sebum balance. In this case, skin fasting cannot hurt.

What is a natural moisturizer for summer?

Basic Lotion Moisturizer
  • 3/4 cup aloe vera gel.
  • 1/4 cup filtered water.
  • 1/2 cup beeswax (grated or pellets)
  • 1/2 cup jojoba oil (or sweet almond oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil.
  • 15 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)

Can we skip moisturizer before sunscreen in summer?

For instance, regarding short-term impacts, using sunscreen without moisturizer won't cause any harm. However, experts advise not to skip the use of moisturizer when applying sunscreen in the long run, as it can affect the skin. The use of moisturizer will improve protection and assist in delaying the aging process.

Do you need body lotion in summer?

A: Yes. No matter what the season is, you do need summer body lotion. For example, summer is the season of heat, sweat, and severe irritability for the skin. A summer body lotion helps keep the skin fresh and moisturized, and free from rashes, pain, and irritation.

Is it OK to skip moisturizer?

Oily skin is characterized by excess sebum production, which can lead to a shiny appearance, clogged pores, and a higher likelihood of developing acne. While it may be tempting to skip moisturizers to reduce perceived greasiness, this can actually do more harm than good.

Why do dermatologists say not to use moisturizer?

Dr. Zein Obagi, a Beverly Hills-based dermatologist and founder of ZO Skin Health, says that using moisturizer could actually be detrimental to skin. “When you use moisturizer every day, you run the risk of making your skin older, not younger,” he said to Refinery29.

What happens to your skin if you don't moisturize?

The real issue is discomfort — dry skin can be sore, tender to the touch, and often itchy (although not all itchy skin is dry). There's also the red, rough, scaly appearance lamented in many advertisements for moisturizers.

Do I need moisturizer during summer?

No, you should never skip moisturizers in summer. They hydrate, calm, and soothe your skin. They also preserve your skin barrier function and control excess oil. If moisturizers make your skin feel greasy, opt for gel-based ones.

Does skipping moisturizer cause acne?

Without water content, the sebaceous gland will produce even more oil as a result, creating a cycle. Using a moisturizer for oily skin allows the regulation of oil production based on ensuring adequate hydration. It causes a lot of problems such as increased sensitivity, acne, and breakouts.

Does oily skin age slower?

Our data suggest that skin type may be associated with the skin aging to some extent, and the results reveal a relatively delayed tendency of facial aging in the oily skin subgroup than in the dry skin subgroup.

Why shouldn't you use a towel to dry your face?

According to consultant dermatologist Dr. Jinah Yoo, hand towels in the bathroom "can harbor dirt and natural skin bacteria." People often wash their face and then dry it with the same towel that's hanging up in the bathroom, but Yoo implored people to use a separate towel just for their face.

What is the best natural moisturizer?

You might already have some of them in your pantry!
  • Shea Butter. It's common knowledge that shea butter is one of the best natural skin moisturizers available to us, but do you know why? ...
  • Coconut Oil. ...
  • Honey. ...
  • Olive Oil. ...
  • Beeswax. ...
  • Oatmeal. ...
  • Squalane. ...
  • Essential Oils.

Is vaseline good for your face?

The frequently asked question has a simple answer: Yes! Vaseline® products, including Vaseline® Original Healing Jelly, are absolutely safe for your skin. The Vaseline® Jelly is non-comedogenic, which means it does not block or clog your pores.

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