Winter always seems to last forever. We've gone through months of cold temperatures, gray skies and this year, a lot of cold rain. Your skin has probably been dry and irritated and in need of extra moisture. During the winter, it is recommended that you avoid very hot showers, which sadly dries out skin.
With warmer weather right around the corner, it’s time to bring your best skin out of hibernation. Is your skin flaky, dry, irritated or a combination? Let’s hop right into spring by spring cleaning your skincare regimen!
Spring Cleaning First, make sure your products are ready for spring. While you’re spring cleaning your home, spring clean your makeup and skin products as well. Throw out anything expired, obviously, but some things should be tossed more often.
Eye products especially, should be cleaned out every three months or so, because the eyes and everything in the area are very sensitive. This includes eye creams and mascara. Foundation, moisturizers and sunscreen should last between six months to a year unless they smell off or change in texture. Lip products and nail polish can last longer, up to 2 years, as long as the color and texture doesn’t change.
Now that all your products are set, let's work on your skin. First of all, make sure you’re wearing sunscreen on your face. Many products like BB cream and some moisturizers and serums come with SPF included. It’s easy to forget sunscreen during the winter, even though it’s just as dangerous, but once it warms up, getting that SPF on your skin is a must. Keeping your skin protected from sun damage lowers your risk of skin cancer as well as keeps your skin looking young.
"Sun damage is one of the major causes of wrinkles and dark spots."
A New Fresh Routine Make sure you have a good skincare regimen with appropriate products for your skin type. I am happy work with you one-on-one to customize a regimen that is perfectly suited for your unique skin needs if you need help!
STEP 1. Start with a mild facial cleanser good for dry, oily, sensitive or combination skin, whichever one you have. Harsh cleansers can dry your skin out and strip the natural oils, and if your skin is painful, irritated or flaky after use, it’s too harsh for your skin. That goes for all products. Wash your skin in the morning if you have dry skin, and morning and night for oily skin.
Exfoliating is a great way to refresh your skin for spring and throughout the rest of the year too! As skin cells replace themselves every month or so, the new cells push the old ones up out of the way. They can stay on your face though, blocking pores and causing acne and irritation. A regular exfoliation will remove them, and keep your pores clear. Removing dull, dry, old cells also brightens the skin surface, giving you that healthy glow that the winter air often steals. If you have dry skin, 1-2 times a week is sufficient, with 3-4 times a week if you have oily skin.
OR. Use a gentle exfoliating scrub on your face, rubbing it in gentle circular motions. For a more thorough exfoliation, you can get treatments such as microdermabrasion or chemical peels. There are also enzyme peels which work beneath the skin to refresh the skin cells and have a more gradual effect. I perform all of these here at The Salt Oasis.
STEP 2. After cleansing and/or exfoliating, use a toner on your face. This is sometimes optional, depending on your skin and the other products you use. A toner dries the skin, removing any leftover oil or dirt, as well as closing up the now-cleaned pores, prepping your skin for anything else you will be applying after. Toners also tighten up the skin a bit. Be sure to look for a Toner that is free of alcohol which is harsh on the skin.
STEP 3. This is now the time to apply any serums or specialty creams. There are serums for any skin care concern you may have, such as anti-aging treatments, vitamins, brightening treatments and more. Vitamin C serums give the skin a boost of brightness, protects collagen, as well as imparting special antioxidants to protect the skin from damage. Also apply eye creams, such as for dark circles or puffiness, at this time.
STEP 4. Follow up serums with moisturizer. These can help vitamins and nutrients penetrate the skin layers, as well as add healthy hydration to the skin. Moisturizing is very important for skin, even if yours is oily. Dry skin alerts the oil ducts to produce more oil, adding moisture signals that no more oil production is needed.
If any of your products contain SPF, you’re now set to put on makeup or all ready to go. If not, make sure you apply a layer of sunscreen now. Regular sunscreen application will keep your skin looking young. Your sunscreen should be formulated for face use, otherwise it might cause breakouts.
Change It Up Your foundation shouldn’t be the only thing to change from winter to spring. Not only might your skin start to darken a little after being indoors all winter, but it’s time to lighten up a bit. Switch your heavy moisturizer for a lighter one. Break out your lighter lipsticks and eyeshadows. Change up your typical blush for a spring-inspired coral shade.
"Start using a little bronzer and highlighter for a dewy 'just came from a relaxing vacation’ look. Embrace the change in seasons!"