A new season brings changes for everything from activities to wardrobe and even skincare. The changes in temperature and weather during the warmer months can all affect your complexion, just as the cold and dry air of winter do. Unfortunately, you may find that the products you have come to rely on during the cooler months aren’t helping as much as they once did. Some may even seem to be causing a number of issues with your skin.
That’s why it’s important to adjust your skincare routine when the weather changes. There are various products designed to keep your skin healthy in the summer that, likewise, would not help as much during the winter. If you’re not sure what goes into a spring skin care routine, you may not know what changes you need to make. Here are some simple tips from trusted Loveland skin doctors to freshen up your skin and brighten up your complexion for the sunny months ahead.
Feel That Sunshine on Your Skin….With Sunscreen
Warmer weather inevitably leads to longer time spent outdoors, so make sure to always apply sunscreen before enjoying that sunshine. Even if you don’t plan on being outside much, it’s always best to put on sunscreen or a moisturizer with sunscreen before you leave. Applying sunscreen in the spring and summer every day is the best form of protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays. It will guard your skin from sun damage, signs of aging, hyperpigmentation and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Dermatologists recommend broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapplying every two hours. For those inevitable moments in which you realize you forgot to reapply, make sure you apply a soothing, after-sun moisturizer with aloe vera to help rehydrate and recover your skin.
Spring for a Lighter Moisturizer
In order to combat the dryness of winter, you’ve probably been using a heavily hydrating moisturizer to help trap in moisture. During the spring and summer, however, skin tends to retain water better, making thick creams unnecessary. A lighter, water-based lotion will provide the right level of moisture for warmer weather without clogging pores and causing breakouts. You might want to look for a moisturizer that includes sunscreen in it, allowing you to use one product for two needs.
Moisturize Overnight, Too
While putting on moisturizer before you leave for the day is a good idea, you also need to moisturize at night. An overnight hydrating cream works while you sleep, so you’ll wake up with firm skin and a fresh feel. It also helps removes wrinkles and signs of poor sleep and fatigue. Hydrating masks are a good option if you’d rather not put cream on right before you go to bed. It all depends on what you’re most comfortable with since you do need to get a good night’s sleep regardless of what type of product you use.
Exit Winter With Exfoliation
Dry skin is a common side effect of winter, but the dull appearance from a buildup of dead skin cells does not have to follow you into spring. Removing this dead skin via exfoliation will make you look younger and healthier, plus it will help your skin absorb other products. As the colder days grow shorter, make it a priority to gently exfoliate on a regular basis.
Be careful not to over-exfoliate as this can create more problems than the ones it solves. Start with only once or twice a week using gentle products with smaller and smoother exfoliating components, remembering to carefully monitor how your skin responds. If you notice any redness or other signs that your skin is irritated, consider changing products.
Change Up Your Cleanser
At the end of any warm day spent out in the sun, you’re likely to have a shinier complexion from extra perspiration. Before oil, dirt, and the residue left from sweaty makeup can clog your pores be sure to cleanse your skin with a different type of cleanser. A gel cleanser, for example, is an effective product for removing dirt and impurities without over-drying your skin. For people who need a greater level of control overshine and sweat, a slightly more acidic cleanser could be beneficial for skin care in the spring.
Easier Breezier Makeup
Thick heavy foundations and concealers can lead to a buildup, clogged pores, and breakouts, particularly during sweatier summer months. Consider using lighter products such as a CC cream, tinted moisturizer, or a mineral powder foundation to counteract those extra oils. Also, never sleep in your makeup. Always take the time to remove all of it using the proper products and tools before you go to sleep.
Do a Little Spring Cleaning
While you are busy cleaning out closets and getting rid of unwanted belongings, take some time to clean out expired beauty and skin care products and thoroughly clean makeup brushes and applicators. Expired products and dirty brushes can increase the risk of bacteria buildup and cause a number of unwanted skin issues. In addition to old products, look at products you don’t use often or you decided you didn’t like. There’s no reason to keep these products since they will likely simply sit on your counter until they expire. Brushes and other applicators that are worn down should also be tossed and replaced.
Refresh Your Skin With a Facial Mist
A good facial mist can help to fight the bacteria that builds up throughout the day refreshing your complexion without requiring you to wash your face before the day is through. Rather than wiping off drops of sweat with dirty hands, try a facial mist with antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Use this mist regularly as a part of your routine for skin care for the spring season to ensure that your face is always fresh and clean.
While there’s nothing wrong with using a cloth to clean your face, towels and washcloths can quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria. They also collect dust, dirt, and debris. Unless you’re using a fresh towel every time you wash your face, you run the risk of putting some of this dirt back on your face. A mister is a contactless way of keeping your face clean, and it’s also non-abrasive.
Go for Faux Glow
Your spring and summer wardrobe of shorts, tank tops, dresses, and swimsuits undoubtedly make you anxious for that golden bronze of a good tan. In order to protect your skin, consider a self-tanning mist or lotion rather than spending hours laying out in the harmful rays of the sun or risking the harmful side effects of a tanning bed.
Make sure to thoroughly cleanse and exfoliate your skin first in order to get better results. Check with your dermatologist to see which self-tanner they recommend. As the spring and summer move forward, you may need to use less and less of this product as you naturally tan.
Prevent Dark Spots
If you have blemishes that often appear or become more pronounced when you tan, try using an overnight leave-on treatment to help even out your skin tone. These products may not necessarily make those blemishes invisible, but they can make them much harder to see. Look for products that make use of Vitamin C and glycolic alpha hydroxyl acid.
Exercise Helps with Your Skin, too
While it’s not a product or other type of treatment, your skincare routine should include exercising. Exercising helps improve your circulation and blood flow, which in turn transports more nutrients to the skin and pushes toxins out. When you sweat, the pores in your skin open more. The sweat pushes out some of the oils, dirt, and debris that has built up in them, so exercising can act like a facial in that regard. Once you’re finished with your exercises, be sure you wash thoroughly to remove the sweat.
Get a Professional Peel
Many people like to start the season off with a fresh face, literally. They book an appointment for a professional chemical peel. This treatment removes the outer layer of skin cells, clearing away the dead skin, dirt, and other debris. Once finished, your skin will feel fresh and rejuvenated. Of course, you’ll then need to make use of a number of the products and treatments on this list to keep your face looking its best.
Now that you have an idea of what you need to do for skin care in the spring, it’s time to implement this new routine. Once you have, you can relax, indoors or out, knowing that your skin is protected and looked amazing. If you’re not certain what skin care products you need or what routine is best for you, you should consider consulting a dermatologist. These experts can help you learn how to best take care of your skin during the spring and summer months.