The question
What's the right time of year to switch to heavier facial moisturizer: when the cold weather comes or well before?
The answer
The best time to change products is when your skin calls for it, not necessarily when the temperature drops. Your skin will guide you best.
If you find that it is flaking around your nose or hairline, that's a sign of dehydration that calls for a richer moisturizer. If you're finding that your skin feels tight after cleansing and toning or halfway through the day, a more emollient-filled cream could also help.
Alternatively, you could try changing from a foam cleanser to a cream cleanser. You sweat less in cooler weather, so foam cleanser may be stripping your skin too much of its natural oils. You might be better off with a product such as Nivea Visage Gentle Cleansing Cream, which contains almond oil to help remove dirt without drying the skin.
You can listen to all of the advertisements out there telling you it's time to slap on something richer, but I suggest you listen to your skin instead.
Bahar Niramwalla is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty specialist who has appeared on The Marilyn Denis Show on CTV. Follow her on Twitter: @baharniramwalla. Have a beauty question? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.