Heaters, Air Conditioning and Your Skin: The Indoor Humidity Problem
Share
New Zealand winters mean heat pumps at home and air conditioning at work. Both make the air drier, and your skin notices before you do.
What the research shows
A review of the research on climate and skin describes how low environmental humidity affects skin barrier function, with drier conditions linked to reduced skin hydration and a less resilient barrier (Engebretsen et al., 2016, PMID 26449379). Indoor heating and air conditioning both lower the humidity of the air you sit in for hours at a time.
What that feels like
Skin in dry air loses water to the room faster than usual. Over a day that can read as tightness after cleansing, flaky patches around the nose and brows, makeup sitting unevenly, and fine lines looking more obvious by the afternoon.
What helps
- A hydrating serum with humectants, applied to damp skin, gives the barrier water to hold onto.
- A moisturiser on top slows that water from escaping into the dry room air.
- Richer textures earn their keep in winter, especially on the body, where heating dries skin you cannot see in the mirror.
- If your bedroom runs a heat pump overnight, a bowl of water near it, or a humidifier, keeps the air less punishing.
At Verdo we stock the Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense hydrating serum, Medik8 Total Moisture, and the Pure Fiji Body Butter for winter body care.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. The studies cited are from peer-reviewed journals and are provided for educational context. Individual results vary. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional or dermatologist before changing your routine. Verdo Cosmetics makes no therapeutic claims about the products or services mentioned.
