Winter skin care for snowbirds on the Space Coast

What is a Brevard winter like, month by month?

The National Weather Service recalculated Melbourne's 30-year normals in 2023. These are the averages at Melbourne International Airport for the months most seasonal residents spend here.

Source: NWS Melbourne, update to the 1991-2020 temperature normals. The skin notes are general guidance, not weather data.

Why does my skin act up when I first arrive in Florida?

Many snowbirds land with skin that has spent months in heated indoor air. Heated air is dry, which is why the AAD's tips for dry skin include running a humidifier in the bedroom while you sleep. The flaking and itch you bring south often started up north, not in Florida.

Brevard's winter is the dry part of its year, but dry here is relative. The NWS office in Melbourne puts the median start of the dry season at October 17 and the start of the wet season at May 28. It describes the change as cold fronts pushing in drier air, often for a few days at a time before moisture returns. So the air swings between crisp and muggy, and your skin needs a routine that can bend with it.

A two-stage routine for the season

1. 1Weeks 1 and 2: keep the northern basicsBring your cream or ointment. The AAD says ointments and creams add more moisture than lotions. Shower for 5 to 10 minutes in warm water, not hot, and put moisturizer on while your skin is still damp. Choose fragrance-free cleansers.
2. 2Once your skin feels comfortableIf your face feels slick by midday or starts to break out, move to a lotion during the day and keep the cream for the arms, legs and hands. If you still feel tight, stay with the cream longer. There is no fixed date.
3. 3All season: sunscreenThe AAD says to wear sunscreen year-round on skin that clothes do not cover, such as the face, neck, ears and hands: broad-spectrum, water resistant, SPF 30 or higher. In winter it suggests a cream rather than a spray, for the extra moisture.
4. 4Lips and handsUse lip balm or petroleum jelly, and switch if one stings. Gloves for dishes and gardening keep hands from soaking and drying, per the AAD.

Do I really need sunscreen here in January?

Yes. The EPA's UV guide uses Miami as its Florida example: a midday UV Index around 4 in winter. On the EPA's scale, 3 and above already calls for protection. That is lower than a Florida summer, and it falls on skin that has been covered up for months.

Golf, tennis, pickleball, a morning on the Indian River Lagoon or a walk at Melbourne Beach all add up across a 5- or 6-month stay. Reapply after a swim or a sweaty round. For year-round habits, our Florida skin care guide covers salt water, sand and the summer months.

What changes for darker skin tones in winter?

Dryness shows more. The AAD says flaking, discoloration and rough texture are easier to see on darker skin than on lighter skin, which is the gray or whitish cast many people call ashy. It suggests a moisturizer with ceramides to help seal water in and reduce that look, and petroleum jelly or a thick cream for very dry skin.

Two more points from the same AAD page. Butters and oils tend to melt on the skin, so they are not the first choice for very dry patches. And if dryness stays after you have given these steps time, see a board-certified dermatologist, because it may be eczema, psoriasis or ichthyosis rather than winter.

Planning facials and body sessions around your stay

A season in Brevard is long enough for a real plan. A good first step is Karisma's free 30-minute consultation, or the Signature Facial at $125 for about 60 minutes with the consultation included. Bring the products you use up north, and Kay Woodson can tell you which ones to keep for Florida. The Advanced Facial, $225 for about 90 minutes, adds a superficial peel and microdermabrasion for skin that looks dull or rough. Cooler months suit that kind of work: a 2018 study of peels on darker skin found fewer side effects in winter, as our guide to peels on dark skin explains.

For the body, Karisma offers LPG Endermologie: $160 for the first visit with the consultation, then $150 a 60-minute session. Its FDA wording is to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite, and results vary.

The one rule seasonal clients should know: every prepaid package must be used within 6 months of the day you buy it, and unused sessions are not refunded or transferred. A stay from November 1 to April 30 is about 26 weeks, so buy in your first weeks, not your last, and pick a size you can finish before you fly home. A summer up north does not pause the clock.