Spring Is Truly Skin-Deep
By Caitlin Brown
Spring is the time of year to turn over a new leaf. The warmer months promise flowers blooming, knees peaking, colors popping, and all that is fresh, this includes our best face Girls.
So, it’s time to do some spring cleaning, and perhaps a little buying; streamline our beauty cabinets and switch out winter products for the new season.
Water-based moisturizer
Switch from your heavy, oil-based moisturizer to a water-based serum. Skin can get oily a lot quicker during the warmer months. A great way to combat this is to ditch the moisturizer, which can leave your skin a bit greasy, and use a lighter serum. It penetrates the skin better than a moisturizer, and still hydrates.
Lighter weight cleansing
Replace the cleansing face oils that keep hydration in through the wintry cold months for a cleansing foam.
Fewer retinoids
If you are a big fan of retinoids, as I am, you’ve probably seen the benefits over time. However, these products are photosensitive and can damage skin if exposed to the sun, even with a good sunblock. Spring is a good time to taper off these products, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors.
Exfoliate, but be conservative
Since exfoliating makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight (after all, you are turning over new skin), try to get a good product that washes off, instead of a scrub that breaks capillaries, and do it sparingly. (I use Sukari BabyFacial once or twice a week… it’s awesome). The ones to look for are packed with AHAs (alpha hydroxy acid) and BHAs (Beta hydroxy acid) to smoothen, brighten, and generally just fix your skin; give your best, fresh canvas.
Use primers
They are a must! If you are wearing makeup, they help it adhere to your skin longer and blur out imperfections. This helps when it comes to coverage.
Tinted moisturizers or BB creams
Foundations can be a bit heavy in late spring and summer. When it comes to coverage, it’s best to stick with lighter products, to avoid greasy skin and to achieve a better makeup application, and also, give a dewier look that glows spring fresh. Going lighter is good, but make sure to layer on SPF. Even if your foundation/BB (blemish balm) cream/tinted moisturizer claims it has SPF, it’s not as effective as layering it on. One more step, yes, but your skin will thank you later.
Keep your foundation in rotation
One way to lighten up the heavier coverage products (foundations) and get them spring-ready is to mix it up! Try taking a little bit of light moisturizer, a serum, or even a few drops of illuminator and mixing them. This will give a tinted-moisturizer look and effect.
Keep blotting sheets in your bag
We are aiming for dewy skin, not greasy skin, Girls! Keep these handy. They get rid of the grease in warm weather.
SPF
Wear it! Always. Always. Always.
