It’s that time of the year—dry air, cracked skin, and bleeding lips.
As harmattan visits again, many are beginning to feel and remember the harsh effect this weather has on the skin. Harmattan can introduce changes to many things around us, including our skin. It often shoulders the presence of dry air, dust, and less humidity, all of which turn into dehydration and irritation.
But fret not—all you need is extra care and attention mixed with the right habits and products. Your skin will be safe from dryness, and you won’t have to worry about losing your glow. Without further ado, let’s dive into these essentials below.
What Harmattan Can Do To Your Skin
Let’s begin by educating you on this season’s effects on your skin. Harmattan is known for harbouring dry and dusty winds that cause significant reductions in humidity levels. In light of this. The dry air removes all moisture from your skin, leaving you feeling dehydrated. For Wendy of @flawlessbyyuyu, harmattan is a dreadful season for her skin. “The wind is dry, the weather is hot and sunny, and all these tend to dry out the skin,” she explains.
Cr.: Wendy of @flawlessbyyuyu/Instagram
There’s also the possibility of rough patches, ashy skin, and flakiness. The dust harmattan brings can also cover your skin pores, irritating it. People with sensitive or dry skin may also experience conditions such as eczema
Oma of @omaskin_ has dry skin, and itchiness, dryness, and textured skin are some of the challenges she faces during harmattan. “Harmattan is the driest time of the year and as someone who has really dry skin, this season makes my skin extra itchy and textured and as such, I have to pay extra love and attention to my skin,” she says.

For my face, it often remains the same because I have combination skin which includes oily t-zone and dry cheeks. So during harmattan, I focus more on my dry cheeks.
Oma, Beauty Influencer
There’s no doubt that your natural skin glow will come under serious threats in harmattan. However, the good news is that you can avoid all these with the right skincare tips and tricks.
Tips and Tricks To Maintain A Natural Glow During Harmattan

- Never Stop Moisturizing
Hydration is the cornerstone of any successful Harmattan skincare regimen. According to Bryan of @kezich_, getting a hydrating and moisturizing body lotion for your skin is key in harmattan.
Pair your hydrating and moisturizing lotion with a body oil or body butter like shea butter to seal the moisture. Vaseline also works great in this case to protect my skin during harmattan.
Bryan, Beauty Influencer and Pharmacist
Harmattan sucks all the natural moisture from the skin, resulting in dryness and flakiness. Because it helps to retain moisture, the best approach to prevent this is to use a decent moisturizer that contains hydrating elements like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Use a generous amount, particularly after cleansing, to maintain the suppleness and nourishment of your skin.
Wendy mentions that hydrating and moisturizing products are her secret for glowing through harmattan. “Recently, the weather has been so hot that it makes one sweat easily. I’d recommend that for the face, hydrate properly by applying milky toners, which also tend to be moisturizing,” she says.
- Hydrate Often
Harmattan is the ideal season to actually drink water and mind your business. Hydrating your skin from the inside out is as vital as hydrating it outside. You must drink more water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. During the harmattan season, maintaining enough hydration helps fight dryness and moisturise your skin.
- Engage in Gentle Cleansing
Anytime you take a bath, use a gentle, moisturizing cleanser to prevent drying your skin of its natural oils. Since hot water tends to bring dryness, use lukewarm water to cleanse your face.
“For body, avoid showering with very hot water, use lukewarm water instead,” says Wendy.
Apply body lotion or cream on damp skin, go over it with a body oil and then seal it all in with Vaseline. This keeps my body well moisturized, glowing and ashy skin far away.
Wendy, Beauty Influencer
Cleaning twice daily during harmattan helps remove pollutants without sacrificing your skin’s moisture barrier.
I always go for cleansers that leave my skin with a silky hydrating finish rather than ones that leave a squeaky clean finish.
Oma, Beauty Influencer
- Don’t Discard Sunscreens

Cr.: Oma of @omaskin_/Instagram
It’s easy to think you won’t need sunscreen during the harmattan. But that’s not true. UV rays can still reach you through the chilly haze during the harmattan season, so applying sunscreen daily is still as important.
For Wendy, it’s important to keep your sunscreens close. “Make use of moisturizing sunscreen and keep sunscreens with matte finish till summer,” she advises.
If you’re always outside, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and reapply it at different times throughout the day.
- Show Your Lips Some Love
We’ve all had to lick our lips several times during harmattan, and the after-effect isn’t pleasant. Contrary to moisturizing the lips, licking it makes it drier. You should avoid having dry, parched lips, so use a nourishing lip balm to keep your lips hydrated and supple.
“It’s very important to carry a lip balm everywhere you go”, Bryan recommends. To guard against the dry spell of harmattan, look for lip balms that contain shea butter, beeswax, or coconut oil.
- Make Sure You Eat Skin-Friendly Foods
During harmattan, what we eat plays a vital role in maintaining the health of our skin. Add foods high in vitamins, antioxidants, and vital fatty acids into your diet. Also, eating more fruits and vegetables improves the health of your skin from the inside out, and your skin will thank you.
Essentials You Must Have Every Harmattan
- Moisturizer
When it comes to your Harmattan skincare regimen, moisturizers are the most important item. A decent moisturizer will relieve the tightness and dryness that the dry air might cause in your skin. Select a soothing, rich moisturizer made specifically for dry skin.
Oma advised going for products with a thick, creamy consistency that adequately moisturizes your skin. This way, you don’t necessarily have to follow up with body oil.
Look out for moisturizers that can’t be used for both face and body, are thick and creamy, and are suited for dry skin types; this would ensure you won’t have to use a body oil to add more moisture to your skin.
Oma, Beauty Influencer
However, if you need body oils, shea butter, cocoa butter, and ceramides are excellent for retaining moisture and hydrating your skin throughout the day. You can also look for products that contain these components. After cleansing, be careful to moisturize right away to maintain your skin’s smooth and soft texture.
- Lip Balm
As mentioned above, licking your lips during harmattan does more harm than good. Always carry a nice lip balm with you to keep your lips hydrated and protected.
Look for lip balms with moisture-retaining components like beeswax, coconut oil, or shea butter. To remove dead skin cells and maintain the softness of your lips, it’s also a good idea to lightly exfoliate them sometimes.
- Hydrating Products
Seek out skincare products with hydration-specific formulations. These could include hydrating toners, serums, and masks that have aloe vera, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid.
However, harmattan is also a great time to layer your hydrating products and use your moisturizers,” Oma mentions. “You can also use a vaseline or oil to seal in moisture.”
Because of these substances’ amazing ability to draw in and retain moisture, your skin will remain smooth and soft.
- Cleanser
Use a mild, moisturizing cleanser to keep your skin clean and fresh. Since harmattan dust accumulates on your skin, you must carefully cleanse it without removing any moisture. Choose a moisturizing or cream-based cleanser that isn’t made with harsh chemicals. This preserves the natural moisture barrier of your skin while assisting in removing dust and other contaminants.
- Sunscreen
UVA and UVB radiation paired with dry, dusty air isn’t best for your skin. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 each day is important. This helps shield it from these dangerous rays. Even on cloudy days, you need sunscreen to have a healthy skin.
- Hand Cream
During harmattan, your hands are among the first areas to become dry. Because your hands’ skin is thinner and more sensitive, it can easily become rough, cracked, and irritated.
Your hands can stay nourished and silky with a rich hand cream. For the best moisture, use a hand lotion that contains glycerin, shea butter, or vitamin E. Remember to use it often to avoid dryness and cracks, especially after washing your hands.
As much as many people say that harmattan isn’t as cold as it used to be, there’s no doubt that it still affects our skin. When you know your skin is well-protected, you can go about your daily life confidently. All you have to do is to include these effective skincare techniques and products in your routine. To keep your skin healthy and radiant all season long, remember that the secret is to be gentle with your routine, hydrate well, and pay attention to your skin needs.