Can Moving To A New City Affect Your Skin?

Updated 9/10/19. After moving to a new state or country, many can experience some changes in their skin and its appearance. This might include rashes, dryness, sensitivity, bumps, increased breakouts or oil production. Generally, these changes are influenced by three key factors: water, climate and food. I break down each one and why it might be affecting your skin.

Water

I’m not referring to the water you drink, but rather to the water you use when you shower and wash your face. The properties of this water vary place to place and can definitely have an effect on your skin. For example, if your skin has been used to hard water and now you’ve moved somewhere with soft water, something as simple as washing your face may impact your skin. Typically, this is because it’s harder to rinse off cleansers using soft water, so you may be left with a cleanser residue that your skin is not used to. (I never recommend using cleansing balms or cleansing oils for this very reason, regardless of the type of water. Read more about why you might be doing the double cleansing method all wrong.) Reversely, if your skin has been used to soft water and now you’re using hard water, it may be more dehydrating and can cause dead cell build up to occur faster, especially for those who already suffer from dry skin. Your skin’s pH can also be altered by water, so this can create a disruption.

Pro tip: always use an alcohol-free toner after cleansing to remove impure tap water and return your skin to a healthy pH.

Climate

It’s a fact that when seasons change, the skin is affected (be it negatively or positively). The nice things about a seasonal change is that it’s a slow transition, so your skin has some time to adjust. The challenge of moving to a new city, state or country, however, is that you are immediately thrown into a new climate and your skin may initially have a hard time adapting. This can create internal chaos for the skin and throw things off balance. There are specific products that are really good for re-setting the skin, and Rapid Response Detox Masque is one of them.

Food

Certain cities, states or countries will expose you to foods that you may, or may not, have had as much of when living elsewhere. For example, living in Texas, I know I eat far more meat (barbecue) than I did when living in Boston or Minnesota. In addition, I certainly eat way more Mexican food (cheese). Changing up the foods you consume may have an impact on your skin because of the hormones given to cows and other animals.

While it will always be difficult to determine the cause of a change in your skin, do know that anytime you make a change in your water, climate or food, a change is made to the body and your skin—which may be positive or negative.

If you are experiencing changes with your skin, the best place to start is to consult with a professional and adjust your skin care routine to fit your current needs. Simply put, if your products aren’t working, it’s time for a change. You might also consider keeping track of your every move with a calendar to look for any possible patterns that might allow you to determine what’s not working. Lastly, time heals all. Eventually, your skin should adjust to your new environment and things will normalize eventually.

Renée Rouleau

Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”