Warm, chilly, sunny, rainy—this time of year, it seems like the weather can’t make up its mind. And when things get unpredictable, it’s best to have a routine you can still rely on. For your skin, that means a spring skincare routine that can weather all types of weather. Let’s get started.
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What might happen to my skin during spring?
The first thing you might notice is that your skin could use a reset. Months of cold, dry air can leave your complexion dull and dehydrated.
Fortunately, as temperatures rise and humidity returns, your skin tends to balance out its moisture levels naturally. Sebum (oil) production also increases.
But your complexion might need a helping hand to keep things in check. An uptick in oil production plus the pollutants, dirt, and pollen in the spring breeze can also make your skin feel a bit congested.
Sound like a balancing act? Add in the fact that sudden weather shifts can test your skin barrier’s strength, and you’ve got a lot to juggle. Not to worry—swapping out a few products in your spring skincare routine can help.
First things first: Spring Cleaning
Now’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your vanity table. Before diving into a new skincare routine—or continuing on with your favorites—it’s important to make sure they’re up for the task.
Here are a few expert tips for a spring cosmetic clean-out:
- Decide what’s worth keeping: Your skin knows what it likes, and it also deserves the best. Now’s the time to separate all your creams, serums, and gels into two piles: Yes and No. That serum you thought you’d love but instead never used? It’s more than OK to put it in the latter.
- Check smell, texture, and expiration: The next step is making sure that the keepers are still good to go. First, look for an expiration date or PAO symbol (Period After Opening) on the back or bottom of your skincare container. The PAO icon indicates how many months you can use the product after opening. If it’s still in the valid timeframe, apply a small amount of the formula to your hand. Then, evaluate the product’s smell and texture—it should be pleasant and just as you remember from your last use.
- Time to toss, give away, and store: Take time to do the check above on your No pile as well—that way, you can donate or give away the still-good items. Toss the expired ones and then gather up all of the keepers. Are you storing them away from heat, light, and humidity? Now’s the time to settle your skincare favorites into a cool, dry place that’s out of direct sunlight to help keep things fresh.
How do I change my skincare routine for spring?
Spring marks the time to focus on two things: resetting your skin after winter and prepping for the summer days to come. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
Step 1: Use a balancing cleanser
Starting with a fresh palette makes sure the products applied afterward work the way they’re intended to. Switch to a cleanser formula that removes impurities and makeup without altering the skin’s natural barrier.
AM: Ease into the day. Begin with a micellar cleansing water that’s hypoallergenic, suitable for sensitive skin, and fragrance-free.
Our recommendation: Micellar Solution
PM: Reach for an oil formula for a gentle yet powerful cleanse. Cleansing oil binds to unwanted oils to help eliminate them while adding some much-needed hydration and antioxidant support.
Our recommendation: Essential Cleansing
Expert tip: If you opt for a gel or foam cleanser instead, check the label. Some cleansers that give you that squeaky-clean feeling actually contain strong surfactants. These can irritate the skin and throw its pH off balance.
Step 2: Apply a refreshing eye contour cream
The skin around your eyes is some of the thinnest on your face. It can use a little extra love during this transitional season. Seek out hydrating, refreshing eye contour creams to blossom into your best look.
AM: Hyaluronic acid helps restore eye-area elasticity and moisture levels thanks to its high binding capacity to water. This hero ingredient can help combat the effects of constant temperature shifts.
Our recommendation:Hyaluronic Eyes or K-Ox Eyes
PM: Help the skin around your eyes start anew each day. Eye contour cream formulas with antioxidant melatonin can help combat oxidative stress caused by daily skin aggressors.
Our recommendation: Vital Eyes
Expert tip: Look for an eye cream featuring a cooling ceramic applicator for an extra feeling of freshness.
Step 3: Add in an antioxidant serum
Antioxidants work overtime to help restore and refresh your complexion. They can help protect against damaging free radicals caused by the sun’s UVA & UVB rays. Plus, many antioxidants help your skin recapture its brightness and elasticity, leaving it looking and feeling revitalized.
AM & PM: Start with a vitamin C serum morning and night. Look for formulas featuring ascorbic acid: the natural form of vitamin C and a potent antioxidant.
Our recommendation: Flavo-C Serum
Expert tip: Something to remember as the days get warmer—many vitamin C formulas can be especially vulnerable to direct light and excessive heat. Do your best to store them properly, even while traveling.
Step 4: Reach for a revitalizing moisturizer
Remember what we mentioned about your skin barrier? Just because winter’s (finally) over doesn’t mean it’s time to bench your moisturizers. Hydrating creams help boost your skin’s barrier function, right when you need it most.
AM: Better weather means more fun times spent out and about. Swap out your daytime moisturizer for a formula that both hydrates and helps protect against the damaging effects of pollution.
PM: When it comes to texture, now’s the time to listen to your skin. Spring can be both drying and cause more oil-production than usual depending on the weather and your skin type. Don’t be afraid to alternate between a lightweight moisturizer and a richer formula depending on your changing needs.
Our recommendation: Find out which moisturizer is best for you with our quick quiz.
Expert tip: Turtleneck season is finally over, so don’t forget about your neck and decolleté. Moisturizing these areas supports hydration and elasticity.
Step 5: Don’t forget sunscreen
Whatever the season, whatever the weather, sunscreen is essential. Especially as cloudy, temperate days can be deceptive in the amount of UV radiation that’s actually reaching your skin.
AM: As the last step in your skincare routine or first step of your makeup routine, apply a broad spectrum sunscreen (meaning the formula protects against both UVA and UVB rays). And look for a texture that you’ll be happy to apply every single day.
Our recommendation: Eryfotona Ageless
Expert tip: Sunny, spring days call for spontaneity! Keep a travel-friendly sunscreen in your bag to reapply throughout the day (at least every two hours).
A few more spring skincare tips
AM: Get your vitamins. A diet rich in seasonal fruits and vegetables gives you a boost of antioxidants that help prep your skin for the summer. You can also help keep your skin healthy in spring by adding an antioxidant supplement to your diet.
Our recommendation: SUNISDIN
PM: Add in exfoliation. Chemical exfoliants can penetrate the skin for deeper action than physical exfoliants like scrubs. Look for a gentle chemical exfoliant formula with glycolic acid. Swap out your nighttime serum step for exfoliation every so often to hit reset on skin’s texture and tone.
Our recommendation: Glicoisdin
Behind the blog:
Article written and reviewed by:
Amy is a content strategist who turned a part-time obsession with skincare into a full-time passion. Her experience as a creative storyteller includes a range of lifestyle and technology topics across Washington D.C. and Barcelona. What's in her travel bag? Eye contour cream and sunscreen, always.
