Dry air, strong sun and hard winters shape how South Dakotans care for their skin. The same climate that tests South Dakotans also sends them looking for ways to slow down.

Estheticians tailor routines to the region's dry, windy climate.

What sets it apart

Sun protection is stressed given the high-plains elevation. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on locals and visitors alike.

Hydration-focused treatments peak in the cold winter months.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about South Dakota itself — a place where the old and the new sit close together. For a growing number of South Dakotans, that kind of reset has become part of the routine.