How do you achieve that lovely springtime glow? Treat your skin right. As you discard your bulky woollens, transition from a heavy winter routine to light cleansers, moisturisers and of course, sunscreen.
The best skincare advice anyone can give you is to eat right. A balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veggies is a key building block to healthy skin (and a healthy body). The warmer weather also means that your body needs more hydration so remember to keep a bottle of water on hand.
Here comes the sun
You can finally enjoy those postcard-perfect days outdoors and bask in the lovely sunshine – but not without your SPF sunscreen for protection. You should be wary of UV-A and UV-B rays despite it being the beginning of the sunny season. These can affect your skin even through cloud cover and glass. You may have switched to using a moisturiser that has an SPF component in the winter but for spring, it’s best to use a separate sunscreen with adequate SPF. It’s needed especially in NZ, giving you better coverage and protection.
Moisturise for spring
Cold winters dry your skin out more than you may realise – especially in spots that have stayed snuggled under scarves and woollens, away from your immediate attention. The friction from the winter woollens could also make these areas irritated – especially around the neck and ear regions.
One of the key features of your skincare routine is to moisturise these areas well to restore them. Switch to a lighter, natural moisturising lotion though, because you will be sweating more in the warmer weather. Your skin may be secreting more oil as well, and a heavy moisturiser could clog your pores.
Find a light cleanser
The warmer season calls for light cleansers that can effectively remove your make up without leaving your pores clogged and skin sticky. A light but thorough cleanser and a consistent routine are your best bet against unexpected (and frustrating) breakouts. The beginning of spring is also a great time to transition to lighter shades of make-up – light pinks and warm peaches rather than heavy burgundy.
De-clutter your dressing table
Brushes caked with old make-up, dusty bottles with a few vestiges of cream at the bottom and those rarely used shades of lip colour that you bought years ago – these can all cause skin irritation now. Like most products, cosmetics have a sell-by date after which they should be disposed. Take this opportunity to clear out old products that could harm rather than help. Remember to clean your brushes routinely – at least once a month.
What are you exposing yourself to?
Your skin is the largest organ of your body and it tends to absorb things that you expose it to. Besides your cosmetics, inspect what goes into the other products you use on a daily basis. What’s in the cleaners you use at home or at your place of work? What’s in your laundry detergent? Are your clothes made of natural fabrics? Some components could be causing irritation and some toxic ingredients could have a big impact on your skin over time.
Exfoliate
Remove dead, flaky, dry winter skin by exfoliating and give it new life. An exfoliating mitt or lush body scrub is excellent for the body, and for the face use a gentle exfoliant. Always follow up exfoliation with a good moisturiser. Moisturise when your skin is still a little damp to give it a boost of hydration.
Get moving
Sitting is the new smoking. We’re not insisting on rigorous gym sessions but get outdoors and get moving. This encourages blood circulation to your face that definitely helps flush out toxins. Sweating is good for the skin, it opens up pores and lets all the dirt out. If you enjoy sports, make some time to have a round of touch, go on day tramps, cycle with friends – whatever floats your boat. Remember to shower and cleanse well after a sweat session.
Your mental health matters too
What’s on your mind is important, strive to find balance in your routine and lifestyle. Keep checking in with yourself to see if you’ve been overworking for too long. Stress has a huge effect on the state of your health and your skin as well. A lot of our ‘glow’ comes from within and how content we are with our lifestyles.
Spring clean your skin routine and keep it fun
Everyone’s skin is different, but if you love your skin and treat it right, it will love you back. You’ll soon develop a skincare routine that works for you but be wary: if it seems like a chore then you’ll probably be tempted to stop altogether. Instead, try switching it up every now and then to keep it interesting. Maybe add a popular face mask or a foot peel (spring is jandal season, after all) – try whatever appeals to you and has to looking forward to a nice self-care sesh.
