If you live in a warm, humid place like Dubai but travel to colder countries (or the other way around), your skin can feel like it’s on a rollercoaster. One week it’s dewy in the heat, the next it’s tight and flaky in dry, cold air.
The goal isn’t to reinvent your whole routine every time you move. It’s to know which steps to dial up or dial down depending on the climate.
What changes when the climate changes?
Hot & humid climates (think Dubai in most months):
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Skin can feel oilier or more congested
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Sweat + SPF + pollution = more buildup on the surface
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You might prefer lighter textures
Cold & dry climates (winter holidays, mountain trips):
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Skin loses water much faster
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Fine lines and texture look more visible
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Redness and sensitivity are more common
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Lips and hands dry out quickly
Your skin’s basic needs stay the same – cleanse, hydrate, protect – but the way you do each step can shift.
Your base routine: 3 steps that don’t change
Wherever you are, keep this structure:
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Gentle cleanse
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Barrier-supporting moisturizer
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Daily SPF in the morning
If you already have those three in place (for example, RiceWhip → CloudBarrier → Glow Veil), you’re 80% there. The tweaks are mostly about how often and how much you use, plus a few lifestyle habits.
When you leave a humid climate for a cold one
A lot of people notice that their usual products suddenly “aren’t enough” when they land somewhere colder and drier. A few small shifts help:
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Don’t over-cleanse
Once in the evening and, if you like, a gentle cleanse in the morning is plenty. Double cleansing is fine if you’re removing heavy makeup, but avoid harsh foams. -
Use a bit more moisturizer
Cold, dry air and heating pull moisture out of your skin, so don’t be afraid to apply a slightly thicker layer at night. -
Layer hydration under your cream
If your routine includes a hydrating toner or serum, this is the time to actually use it consistently. -
Protect your lips and hands
Keep a lip product and hand cream in your pocket and reapply throughout the day – these areas get exposed first. -
Stick with your SPF
Even if the air feels cold, your skin still meets UVA. Keep your sunscreen in the routine just like at home.
When you go from cold back to heat & humidity
Coming back to a hot, humid climate can bring a different set of issues: congestion, shininess and more sweat.
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Stay gentle, but cleanse well
A milk/cream cleanser that rinses clean is ideal – enough to remove SPF, sweat and city air without stripping. -
Lighten the layers
If you used a heavier layer of cream on your trip, you might dial back to a thinner layer at home so your skin still feels comfortable. -
Watch heavy makeup
In humid heat, thick foundation + SPF + sweat can clog pores more easily. Lighter bases and good cleansing make a big difference. -
Don’t drop SPF
Back in the sun = back in higher UV overall. Keep your sunscreen as your non-negotiable last step.
Packing without overpacking
A simple rule when travelling between climates:
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Keep your core 3 steps the same (cleanser, moisturizer, SPF).
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Adjust texture and amount, not the number of products.
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Add only 1–2 “nice to have” extras (like a hydrating serum or lip treatment) instead of a new routine.
This way your skin recognises your products, even if the weather is new.
Final thoughts
Our skin doesn’t love sudden changes, and travel is full of them: new water, new weather, new sleep schedule, new food. A calm, consistent routine that can flex between climates is one of the kindest things you can give it.
Whether you’re going from Dubai to snow, or from cold back to the GCC, think less “perfect routine” and more “steady anchor.” Gentle cleanse, cushioning moisture, daily SPF – adjusted a little for wherever you are.
