Take Care of Your Skin in Spring with this Daily Skincare Routine
Winter, with its colder temperatures, dry air and frigid winds, can be a cruel enemy for your skin. Harsher weather and constant exposure to heaters suck the moisture from your skin, and strips off oils that are essential for building and maintaining a healthy skin barrier function. These weather conditions can also cause skin sensitivity, redness and irritation. This is why when spring approaches, we must shakeup our skincare routine.
Keep reading to find out which are our favourite steps and products to integrate into your best Spring Skincare Routine!
MORNING ROUTINE
STEP 1 - CLEANSE YOUR FACE WITH A NOURISHING CLEANSER
When the weather starts to change, transition your cleanser to a balm, oil or cream to effectively wash the skin without disrupting the skin barrier, while still keeping it well hydrated.
STEP 2: APPLY A SERUM
Apply an antioxidant serum to calm inflammation and brighten your skin. Opt for a Vitamin C serum as it helps to promote collagen formation and repair skin damage.
Step 3:TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES
The thin skin surrounding your eyes area is particularly vulnerable during winter months, so you should use a specific eye-cream daily during the transition of seasons, from Winter to Spring, as your eyes will result particularly dry. If you want to opt for a natural remedy, place some cooled green tea bags on your lids for 5 minutes.
Step 4: EXFOLIATE AND HYDRATE YOUR LIPS
Lip balm can often not be enough if your lips are already chapped. To exfoliate your lips quickly and easily, use a clean and dry toothbrush. Right after, apply a nourishing lip balm, to lock in moisture.
Step 5:NOURISH YOUR SKIN WITH A RICH MOISTURIZER
In humid months, it is sufficient that your moisturizer contains humectants (i.e. hyaluronic acid and glycerine) to hydrate your skin. In Spring time, an ideal moisturizer should contain the following ingredients: humectants, emollients and occlusives.
Humectants are substances of low-molecular weight that extract water from air and bring it into the skin. Emollients, often presented in the form of a lotion or a cream, help the skin barrier function. Finally, occlusives are oils and waxes that form a layer on the skin and physically block water from escaping. The combination of the three is the strongest way to protect your skin from different weather conditions and any external damaging skin barriers.
Step 6: DO NOT FORGET YOUR SPF!
Although UV light is stronger during the summer months, it can cause damage all year round. Therefore, also in early Spring days, make sure to use a tinted moisturizer or to add SPF after your moisturizer application in the morning.
EVENING ROUTINE
Step 1: NOURISHING CLEANSER
Skin hydration levels start to decline in the afternoon and continue overnight. Cleansing your skin properly every day, especially before going to bed, will allow the skin to remove dirty external toxins, that can cause pimple formation and general inflammation.
Step 2: APPLY A SERUM or A FACE OIL
You can apply the same serum that you used used in the morning, or you can alternatively use a natural face oil (around 3 times a week) to reduce dullness and replenish the top layers of your skin.
Step 3: APPLY AN OVERNIGHT MASK
An overnight mask helps to lock in all the serums, creams and oils that were applied before and it is extremely helpful to keep the skin hydrated overnight.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
INVEST IN A HUMIDIFIER: Indoor heating or air conditioning, sucks out all of the moisture in the air, worsening your skin condition. Investing in a good humidifier, and leaving it on overnight, will allow you to breathe a clearer and better air quality, while simultaneously improving your skin’s texture.
CUT DOWN ON SHOWER TIME AND TEMPERATURE: prolonged contact with hot water can strip the skin of its natural moisture. Take a shower with lukewarm water and immediately after the shower, while your skin is still damp, proceed with your skincare routine to lock in hydration.
EXFOLIATE ONCE A WEEK: Exfoliating can significantly help to brighten your skin up by removing dead and damaged cells. However, bear in mind that overdoing it, can disrupt your outer skin layer, causing dryness and irritation. This is why, especially in winter, you should exfoliate your skin once a week.
And, lastly, but most importantly, no matter the season, always remember to DRINK PLENTY OF WATER!
