on June 29, 2026
Every summer, as temperatures across the UK begin to climb and the first heatwave arrives, many of us instinctively start thinking about changing our skincare routine. We swap richer moisturisers for lighter formulations, remember to apply sunscreen more regularly and spend longer outdoors enjoying the warmer weather. We naturally prepare our wardrobes for summer too, packing away heavy knitwear and reaching for lighter fabrics, sandals and summer dresses. Yet while we happily adapt what we wear to suit the season, we often forget that our skin needs to adapt as well.
For me, summer has always been a reminder that skincare should never remain the same throughout the year. The products, habits and rituals that support our skin during the colder months are not necessarily what our skin needs when temperatures suddenly rise above 30°C. Traditional Persian Medicine has understood the relationship between our bodies and the changing seasons for centuries, and it continues to shape the way I care for my own skin today.
As someone with a naturally Choleric temperament, which Traditional Persian Medicine describes as Hot and Dry, I know that prolonged periods of heat can quickly leave my skin feeling tighter, more reactive and more prone to dehydration if I do not make small but intentional adjustments. Rather than waiting for my skin to become uncomfortable, I have learnt to prepare it for the season ahead. That simple change in mindset has made one of the biggest differences to my skin over the years.
Beauty Starts Long Before Skincare
One of the principles I love most about Traditional Persian Medicine is that beauty begins long before you apply a cleanser, serum or moisturiser. Rather than viewing the skin as something separate from the rest of the body, it encourages us to see it as a reflection of our internal health and overall balance. How well we sleep, the foods we eat, how we manage stress, our digestion, our daily habits and even the changing seasons all influence the way our skin behaves.
Modern skincare often encourages us to treat whatever we see on the surface. If our skin feels dry, we buy a richer moisturiser. If it becomes oily, we reach for stronger cleansers. If we develop breakouts, we often assume we need harsher products. Traditional Persian Medicine asks a very different question. Instead of asking what your skin looks like, it asks why your skin is behaving that way in the first place.
That change in perspective completely transformed the way I approached my own skincare. Instead of constantly reacting to symptoms, I began looking for patterns. I started paying attention to my lifestyle, my digestion, my temperament and the way different seasons influenced my skin. The more I learnt, the more I realised that healthy skin is not simply created by products. It is supported by the way we care for our whole body.
Why Summer Can Challenge Your Skin
Although many of us associate summer with glowing skin, warmer weather can actually create a number of challenges. Increased temperatures, stronger sunshine, changes in humidity and spending more time outdoors can all affect the skin's natural balance. For some people this results in dryness and dehydration, while others experience excess oil production, congestion, irritation or heat-related rashes.
It is easy to assume that everyone should respond to these changes in the same way, but Traditional Persian Medicine reminds us that no two people are exactly alike. Our natural temperament influences how we respond to seasonal changes, which is why a skincare routine that works beautifully for one person may not be suitable for someone else.
As a Choleric temperament, I know that summer naturally increases qualities that already exist within my body. Because Choleric individuals are considered Hot and Dry, the additional heat of the season can sometimes exaggerate those characteristics, leaving my skin feeling more dehydrated and sensitive if I do not make conscious adjustments. Someone with a different temperament may experience the season very differently.
The practical advice around protecting your skin from excessive UV exposure, wearing appropriate sun protection and avoiding prolonged periods of direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day is well established. The NHS and the British Association of Dermatologists both provide excellent guidance on staying safe in the sun, and I always encourage combining this modern advice with the lifestyle principles of Traditional Persian Medicine.
Understanding Summer Through Traditional Persian Medicine
Traditional Persian Medicine recognises four natural temperaments: Hot and Dry, Cold and Dry, Hot and Moist, and Cold and Moist. Rather than placing everyone into broad skincare categories such as oily, dry or combination, it encourages us to understand the unique qualities we are born with and how these interact with our environment.
This is one of the reasons I find Traditional Persian Medicine so refreshing. Two people may both describe themselves as having dry skin, yet the underlying reason for that dryness could be completely different. One person may naturally have a Hot and Dry temperament, while another may have a Cold and Dry temperament. The symptom appears similar, but the body's needs are not necessarily the same.
Instead of chasing trends or copying someone else's skincare routine, Traditional Persian Medicine encourages us to understand our own bodies first. That philosophy sits at the heart of everything I teach through The East to West Lifestyle Co©.
Preparing Your Skin for Summer
As soon as the weather begins to change, I start making small adjustments rather than waiting for my skin to tell me something is wrong. I naturally drink more water, choose lighter meals, spend more time outdoors in the early morning or evening and simplify my skincare routine. Summer is not the time to overwhelm the skin with multiple products. Instead, I focus on supporting its natural balance.
One ritual I always return to is gentle exfoliation. Throughout winter our skin can accumulate a build-up of dead skin cells, leaving it looking dull and preventing skincare products from absorbing as effectively. Rather than using harsh scrubs that leave the skin feeling stripped, I prefer a gentler approach inspired by traditional Persian bathing rituals.
Sefidab® Face Detox Rice & Rose Skin Peel Powder has become one of my favourite ways to prepare my skin for the warmer months. Inspired by centuries of Persian beauty traditions, it gently exfoliates while respecting the skin barrier, leaving my skin feeling refreshed rather than irritated. I follow the same philosophy when caring for the rest of my body. Sefidab® Body Detox Calendula & Papaya Skin Peel Powder helps smooth and soften the skin, transforming body care into a mindful self-care ritual instead of something rushed between showers.
These rituals are not about chasing perfect skin. They are about creating moments of consistency, slowing down and caring for ourselves with intention.
Supporting Healthy Summer Skin From Within
Traditional Persian Medicine teaches that what we put inside our bodies is just as important as what we apply to our skin. During the summer months I naturally become more conscious of choosing foods and drinks that help me feel balanced and hydrated. I do not believe healthy skin comes from one miracle ingredient or one hero product. Instead, I believe it comes from the small daily habits we repeat consistently.
That philosophy is one of the reasons I created the Damnoosh™ Tea Tonic Collection. For me, these herbal teas are not simply beverages. They form part of a daily wellbeing ritual that encourages me to slow down, reconnect with my body and support myself from within. Combined with nourishing food, quality sleep, gentle skincare and seasonal lifestyle habits, they help me create the sense of balance that Traditional Persian Medicine has always valued.
Hydration also remains one of the foundations of healthy summer skin. Alongside drinking enough fluids, I encourage people to eat water-rich seasonal foods and to follow practical advice from organisations such as the NHS when temperatures are particularly high. Traditional Persian Medicine complements these principles by encouraging seasonal eating and daily routines that support the body's natural balance rather than placing additional strain on it.
Five Gentle Summer Skin Habits I Return To Every Year
Every summer I come back to the same simple principles because they consistently support my skin and overall wellbeing. I stay well hydrated throughout the day rather than waiting until I feel thirsty, choose seasonal foods that naturally contain more water, become gentler with my skin rather than exfoliating more aggressively and simplify my skincare routine instead of adding unnecessary products. I also try to spend a few moments each day checking in with how my body actually feels rather than following trends or routines that may not suit my temperament.
These habits may sound simple, but Traditional Persian Medicine has long recognised that lasting wellbeing is built through consistent daily rituals rather than dramatic overnight changes.
A Different Way to Think About Summer Skin Care
Every summer reminds me that healthy skin is not something we achieve by buying the latest trending product. It is something we cultivate through balance, understanding and consistency. Traditional Persian Medicine has taught me that beauty starts long before skincare and that our skin is often communicating with us rather than working against us.
When we begin to understand our temperament, pay attention to the changing seasons and build rituals that support both our body and mind, caring for our skin becomes far simpler and far more enjoyable. That philosophy continues to guide every product I develop and every piece of education I share through The East to West Lifestyle Co©.
If you are preparing your own skin for summer, my advice is simple. Do not just change your moisturiser because the weather has changed. Take a moment to understand what your skin is trying to tell you. Combine the timeless principles of Traditional Persian Medicine with sensible evidence-based advice from organisations such as the NHS, the British Association of Dermatologists and the Skin Health Alliance, and build a routine that supports your skin from the inside out. You may discover that the answers have been part of Traditional Persian Medicine for centuries.
Sherry x
Sources & References
Traditional Persian Medicine Reference Library
- The Yoga of Herbs — Dr David Frawley & Dr Vasant Lad
- An Introduction to Islamic Medicine — M. Salim Khan
- The Golden Key To Discovering Yourself — M. Salim Khan
- The Traditional Healers Handbook — Hakim G. M Chrishti
- Theoretical Principles of Tibb — Rashid Bhikha
- Temperamental Approach of Medical Disorders in UNANI Perspectives
- The Canon of Medicine Volume 2: Materia Medica — Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
- The Canon of Medicine Volume 3: Special Pathologies — Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
- Avicenna's Medicine
- Unani Dermatology — Dr Izharul Hasan
- The Wisdom of Temperaments — Hamid Eslamian & Persian Bell
