5 ways to prep your skin for the spring
We are almost there! As spring approaches, it's time to say goodbye to dry winter skin and hello to a fresh new complexion. Your skin can feel dry and dull after the dark winter months and you might be wondering how to bring life back to your complexion.
With 5 easy steps, you can prep your skin for spring and summer. Let me tell you how!
Why should I prep my skin for the spring?
Why should you prepare my skin for the spring? Is it necessary to tweak the skincare routine to match the seasons? The good news is, that taking care of your skin in the spring and summer is more straightforward than during the cold winter months. Skin usually loves the spring as much as you do!
Your skin will appreciate the milder, more humid weather. This means you can simplify your skincare ritual even more! You can really make it work with just a couple of preparatory steps before entering your new minimalist skincare ritual for spring.
How to get started
Assess your current skincare ritual
Start with a spring clean in your bathroom. Check the expiry dates of your products and dispose of the ones that have expired. Your skincare product may have an expiry date on the side of the packaging, or a PAO (period after opening) sign. The PAO sign is a small jar with a number inside it. The number indicates how many months the product is good to use after opening the package for the first time.
Are you using heavy balms and creams to combat the dry winter weather? See how your skin feels as the weather starts to warm up - maybe you can swap these balms into lighter ones. Look for products that are non-comedogenic and won't clog your pores.
Exfoliate to brighten the skin
Get rid of all the dead skin cells that have built up over the winter by exfoliating your skin. Opt for a gentle acidic exfoliator. Both AHAs and BHAs have been found to diminish the number of dead skin cells, which allows your skin to reflect more light and look more radiant. This will also help your skin to better absorb moisture and other nutrients and even out the skin tone.
If you are using an acidic toner or essence on a daily basis, exfoliating may not be necessary and can irritate the skin. You can check if your skin feels rough or looks dull - if yes, go ahead and exfoliate!
Moisturize to keep your skin glowy
Winter weather can leave our skin feeling dry and dehydrated. Use a hydrating serum and face oil to replenish the moisture levels and to lock in moisture and keep your skin looking healthy.
As summer approaches, you may get away with just massaging a couple of drops of facial oil on damp skin depending on your skin type - skincare won’t get any simpler than that!
For dry, dehydrated or mature skin adding a hydrating toner or an essence under the oil can be beneficial.
Don’t forget the sunscreen!
Applying SPF becomes even more important during the spring and summer. The UV radiation tends to be stronger - and you'll be spending more hours outside enjoying the lovely weather. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can penetrate through the clouds and damage your skin.
Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, no matter what the weather is like outside. SPF should be applied as the last step of your AM skincare routine, but before make up and foundation.
Water & the greens
Keeping your skin hydrated from the inside out is important for maintaining healthy, glowing skin all year round. Make sure to drink plenty of water every day – aim for eight glasses or more. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and good fats provide skin with nutrients that are essential for healthy, glowing skin.
DIY Brightening face mask for spring
You’ll need
- 2 tablespoons of oats, coarsely grinded
- 4 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon of Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- You can substitute one tablespoon of water with one pipette of your favourite face oil for extra nourishment.
Method
- Mix everything until you get a creamy consistency.
- Apply on the face immediately and leave it on for up to 20 minutes.
- Rise off with lukewarm water
