Cape Town's climate is beautiful and it is also demanding on skin and hair. The south-easter — the strong south-easterly wind that blows through summer — is drying, gritty, and relentless. The UV index at this latitude is consistently high. The winters are mild but wet. If you've moved here from a northern hemisphere city and your skincare routine worked there, there's a decent chance it needs adjusting.

This is what I've found actually works — based on years of trial and error and conversations with friends who've had the same questions when they arrived.

Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable, Year-Round

The UV index in Cape Town frequently hits 10 or above in summer — that's in the "extreme" band. It drops in winter but not as much as people expect. Daily SPF is not optional here, and the number matters: SPF 50 PA+++ or above, every morning, regardless of cloud cover. The light on overcast Cape Town days still delivers enough UV to damage skin over time.

The local market has improved significantly for sunscreens. ISDIN Eryfotona, Skoon's tinted options, and Lamelle's SPF range are all good locally available choices that don't leave a white cast. For sport and hiking, the Anthelios spray-on formats hold up better than creams in wind.

Moisture, Especially in Summer

The south-easter is dehydrating in the same way air conditioning is — not overtly drying like a cold wind, but the cumulative effect on skin after a day outside is significant. A good hyaluronic acid serum applied to damp skin before moisturiser makes a noticeable difference. Cetaphil and CeraVe are both available at most Clicks and Dis-Chem stores and do what they're supposed to do without the markup of prestige brands.

For lips, the combination of wind and UV means most people need a balm with SPF — plain petroleum jelly does nothing against UV damage. Nivea's SPF 30 lip care is widely stocked and one of the more practical options.

Hair in the Wind

The south-easter and salt air combination is genuinely challenging for hair texture. Frizz-prone hair amplifies; fine hair gets stripped. A leave-in conditioner applied before going outside on windy days makes a meaningful difference — Cantu's range is widely available and works across hair types. For days at the beach, a product with UV protection in it (rather than a separate sunscreen on hair) is more practical.

The chlorine from the Sea Point Pavilion tidal pool and the salt from Muizenberg surf sessions both affect hair texture over time. A clarifying shampoo once a week and a deeper conditioning mask prevents the gradual dulling that salt water exposure causes.

Where to Buy

For pharmacy brands (CeraVe, Cetaphil, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena), Dis-Chem is more reliably stocked than Clicks and often runs better promotions. For local brands, Faithful to Nature ships nationally and has a genuinely good selection of South African clean beauty products. For prestige skincare, Woolworths stocks a surprisingly good curated range that includes some international names that aren't in the major pharmacy chains.