Your skin from winter to spring

Your skin from winter to spring

After months of frigid temperatures, spring is finally on the horizon. Winter has left the building (well, almost), taking with it our dreary moods and dry, itchy skin. And while we’ve spent the first part of 2017 layering serums, balms, and oils, warmer air and increased humidity mean our skin is about to be in for a shock. How, then, to prep the face for sunnier days ahead?

Swapping your moisturizer for something a little lighter is key. Our skin tends to hold more water in the spring and summer, so you won’t need as much protection. While using a moisturizer with an SPF 30 is fine for winter, the importance of a sunscreen—separate from your lotion and makeup—that’s at least SPF 50.

The next step in the glow game is exfoliation. Contrary to popular belief, we actually need to exfoliate when our skin is extra dry. Slough off dead skin and unblock pores with a gentle exfoliating cleanser rather than with harsh scrubs, and says a formula with a small amount of glycolic acid will do the trick.

Quite possibly the most important piece of the puzzle is spring-cleaning. Throw out anything over six months old.  Old products can host a build-up of bacteria, leading to clogged pores and dull skin. Makeup brushes, too, are often overlooked and can store unwanted germs and viruses. Wash brushes at least once a week with regular hand soap and drying them with a blow-dryer. Something that’s so simple can have a huge impact on the overall health of the skin.

Luckily, summer’s makeup routine is perennially simple, and tinted moisturizer makes a perfect substitute for a heavy foundation. Carry makeup wipes everywhere you go.  Here’s hoping the chance to do so will come sooner rather than later.