Update Your Skincare Routine for Spring

As winter turns to spring, you may want to make some small adjustments to your skincare routine to prepare for the sunny, warmer months ahead. You should always consult with a dermatologist before making dramatic changes to your skincare routine, but some small changes can be beneficial for just about anyone who wants to improve their skincare routine this spring. You can learn more about our dermatologist recommendations for your springtime skincare routine in this blog.

Prepare for Increased Humidity

With warm weather and spring showers, the weather is likely to be warm and humid. Your winter skincare routine focused on counteracting dryness from the weather and moisture-stripping heaters by using thicker moisturizers and gentle cleansers. In the springtime, you may need to incorporate a stronger face wash, or it may be more beneficial to switch to an exfoliating cleanser. The goal is to help fight excess oil production that may occur when the weather is warmer and more humid. Additionally, you should switch to a lighter moisturizer that will help restore your skin’s protective barrier and promote moisture retention without making the skin feel greasy or clogging pores.

Fight Sun Damage

As the days grow longer, sun protection becomes even more important. Two main components of your skincare routine will keep you safe from sun damage. The first is antioxidants. The sun damages the skin due to a process called oxidation caused by free radicals. Other types of oxidation include rotting fruit and rusting metal, so as you might imagine, oxidation is not great for your skin. To prevent this free radical damage, you should use an antioxidant, like a vitamin C serum, every day. You should also wear sunscreen on any part of the skin that’s exposed to sunlight. Combined with an antioxidant serum, sunscreen will provide further protection against the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Spring Clean Your Skincare & Cosmetics

If you’re the type of person who does a good, thorough spring cleaning of your home every year, don’t forget to include your skincare products and cosmetics on your to-do list. Check your cosmetics and skin care products for expiration dates. Throw out anything that is expired, looks dirty, has oil or other residue present, or otherwise just doesn’t seem to have the same consistency. You should also check your cosmetic brushes and other applicators. Throw out any that are damaged. You can deep clean any brushes you're keeping. Simply put a few drops of shampoo or dish soap in a glass of water. Swirl each brush in the soapy water mixture. Then, rinse it under running water. Once they're clean, let them dry completely before storing them.

Revamp Your Skincare Products

If you’re looking for some skincare products to incorporate into your daily routine for the spring, you can explore some of our top-recommended springtime skincare products below:

Cleansers

Getting a slightly deeper clean during the spring to ensure your skin doesn't get too oily is important. Increasing skin cell turnover can also help fight acne flare-ups and oiliness. Below, we’ve included links to some of our top-rated cleansers that are beneficial for use during the spring and summer:

Revision Skincare Papaya Enzyme Cleanser – This unique cleanser uses minimally abrasive ingredients to exfoliate. It’s gentle enough for morning and evening use by most people, and it leaves skin looking and feeling healthier and improves skin tone and texture.
MD Skin Essentials Cleanse It – This unique facial cleanser combines colloidal sulfur and salicylic acid to reduce oiliness, minimize the appearance of pores, and decrease inflammation. While these ingredients reduce oiliness, the combination isn't drying or harsh to the skin.
ALASTIN Skincare Gentle Cleanser – Foaming cleansers are ideal for spring and summer. When cleansers foam, they penetrate deep into pores, removing impurities. However, unlike cleansers that remove the oil with harsh ingredients, the ALASTIN Skincare Gentle Cleanser is effective without irritating the skin.
Skinbetter Science Oxygen Infusion Wash – This product combines alpha hydroxy acids with an oxygen infusion. Most alpha hydroxy acids are harsh, but this product includes a slow-release formulation of alpha hydroxy acid that minimizes any irritating effects. The oxygen purifies and refreshes skin for increased health and brightness.

Serums

Choosing the right serums is all about determining what skincare goals you want to meet. Some of our top serums to incorporate into your springtime skincare routine include:

Hydrating Treatments – While you may be toning down your moisturizer, you can boost hydration, by using a lightweight, easily absorbed hydrating serum like one of these:
Skin Brighteners – We all want to achieve a sun-kissed glow for the spring and summer. Rather than exposing skin to damaging sunlight, achieve more luminous-looking skin with a brightening serum like these top products:
Tone Correctors – The spring and summer sun can damage skin, leading to an uneven skin tone. You can correct skin tone and improve appearance using one of these serums:

Moisturizers

As spring begins, you may want to find a lighter moisturizer. You don’t want your skin to become dry, but you may not need to add the same amount of moisture during the spring. Look for moisturizers with lighter textures and more easily absorbed formulas. If your skin is naturally drier, you can use a thicker moisturizer at nighttime and a lighter daytime moisturizer. Some of our most recommended springtime moisturizers include:

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 –This is an anti-aging cream that helps to repair the skin’s natural protective barriers, smooth skin, and increase hydration.
ALASTIN Skincare Ultra-Light Moisturizer with Trihex Technology – This product is designed for damaged and post-procedure skin, so it is filled with healing and soothing ingredients. The lightweight formula is gentle and effective for all skin types, including sensitive skin during any season.
Revision Skincare DEJ Face Cream – The dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) is where the surface layer of the skin meets with the deeper layers. In many cases, damage at this level is the reason that skin doesn't retain moisture well. The Revision Skincare DEJ Face Cream helps to hydrate skin and strengthen the protective barrier, so skin stays hydrated.
EltaMD AM & PM Renewing Moisturizer Kit – This three-step moisturizer system is great for year-round usage. It includes a morning moisturizer, an evening moisturizer, and a moisturizing eye gel that can be used in the morning and evening.

Sunscreens

There are some basics to look for when buying sunscreen. You should always choose a product that is broad-spectrum. That means the sunscreen protects against both types of harmful UV rays (UVA and UVB). You should also choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Below, are some of our most-recommended sunscreens for everyday use:

Revision Intellishade Original Broad-Spectrum SPF 45 – This is a great moisturizing sunscreen that leaves skin looking flawless and hydrated. It’s lightweight and safe for any skin type, including aging and sensitive skin.
ISDIN Photo Eryfotona Actinica – This unique formula was developed to protect against sun damage and repair existing damage. It’s also water and sweat resistant, so it’s great for a day on the beach or at the pool.
ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight Emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 – This is a great anti-aging sunscreen that repairs photoaging from sun exposure while protecting against new damage.
MD Skin Essentials Tone Shield – This is a dermatologist-developed sunscreen that is free of fragrance, dyes, and other harsh ingredients that can be damaging to the skin. Because of the gentle formula, MD Skin Essentials Tone Shield is safe and effective for any skin type.
MD Skin Essentials Tone Shield Matte – This is a very similar formula to the original, but it has a matte finish to decrease shine. Like the original formula, this sunscreen is safe for all skin types, but this product is ideal for darker skin tones.
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Production Face Shield Flex SPF 50 – Sunscreens available in four tones mimic a range of natural skin tones. Once applied, this sunscreen creates a more even skin tone while providing effective sun protection.

Learn More About Skincare

If you’re interested in learning more about skincare, take some time to explore the DermSkincare site. You’ll find numerous dermatologist-recommended products for every skin type and skincare need. You can also visit our blog regularly to get more recommendations for skincare products to keep your skin healthy and beautiful.