5 Tips on Spring Skin Care
1. A light cleanser
Your skin is less dry in spring, so try a light-weight foam cleanser that leaves your face smooth and refreshed. My go-to cleanser is La Roche-Posay Toleriane Gentle Dermo-Cleanser (200ml, $19). Its texture is between gel and foam and it glides so smoothly onto your face. Moreover, it is fragrance-free, paraben-free, preservative-free, and surfactant-free. Your face will feel baby soft and all pores are cleaned to the deepest!
2. An oil-free moisturizer
Moisturizing is a must all year round, but for spring you need an oil-free one to keep you both moisturized and not greasy all day. You can use crème for night time, but for the morning routine a light moisturizer works better. I personally recommend EltaMD AM Therapy Moisturizer (1.7 ounce, $25). It is so light and a little amount goes a long way. Moreover, it enhances skin color and tone, especially for sensitive skin.
3. Exfoliate!
Now is time to get rid of the dead skin accumulated during the long gloomy winter. If you have oily and trouble skin, it is better to exfoliate 2 to 3 times a week. If you have dry or sensitive skin, then exfoliate once a week. I recommended two products: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Intensive Exfoliating Treatment (0.5oz, $15) and Skin Food Black Sugar Mask Wash Off (100g, $11). Apply it before sleep and you will wake up with baby soft skin the next morning. If you have more time, try an easy DIY scrub recipe. Mix up an easy concoction of sugar, salt, or oatmeal together with your face and body wash. If you have dry skin, add honey, olive oil, or milk to your mix for a dose of lasting hydration.
4. Sunscreen
Though you may feel like spending as much time as possible in the sun after a long winter, keep in mind that UV rays are doing serious damage to your skin. Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion+ SPF50 ($39) has been rated the best sunblock. It is long-lasting, light-weight and will not make your face greasy or shiny. Moreover, it brightens your skin tone. Remember the smaller the SPF, the more frequent you need to apply the sunscreen. For example, sunscreen with SPF 50 should be applied every 5 hours in general, and sunscreen with SPF 20 should be applied every 2 hours.
5. Water
Drinking water is the easiest thing but people forget its importance all the time. It helps keep your body and skin hydrated. Drinking water can even aid in a reduction of the winter comfort food pounds that snuck up on you. Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. An easy way to break it down is to drink an 8 ounce glass first thing in the morning, mid-morning, late afternoon, and before bed. Then, have a glass of water before each meal or snack. You'll likely see an increase in your energy levels and an improved mood, along with improved skin, so get drinking.
