How to Prepare Your Skin for Spring
It can be hard to feel our best in winter. Whether we’re suffering from the lack of sunlight, or struggling through our new year’s resolutions, the world, in general, can seem a duller place – and to make matters worse, our skin seems dull too.
A combination of Christmas indulgence, central heating, and cold wind was never going to be good news for our skin, with dryness, tightness and even acne amongst winter’s least welcome guests. But as the days start to lengthen and the seasons start to change, it’s time to treat your skin to the spring clean it deserves.
Moisturiser
Winter can wreak havoc with our moisture levels. Cold air and central heating can both be incredibly harsh on our skin, resulting in dry patches and sensitivity. It might sound perverse, but this in turn actually increases our oil levels – when skin dries out, it tries to compensate by overproducing sebum, leaving it flaky and greasy.
To combat this, many people switch to a thicker, creamier moisturiser during the winter months. If you struggle with dry skin all year round, you may be able to stick with the same moisturiser as the weather becomes warmer. But Irvetta suggests using a lighter, water-based moisturiser during spring and summer.
La Mer’s Moisturizing Cool Gel Cream, for example, is perfect for oilier skin. The brand doesn’t just take its name from the sea – its restorative sea-sourced ingredients are formulated to soothe, moisturise and renew.
SPF
We all know that we should wear SPF, whether it’s a separate product we layer under our primer or a foundation with SPF in-built. It’s perhaps easier to remember in summer when we’re relaxing by the pool in our Arabella one piece, but it’s just as important to wear a facial SPF in winter and spring. Think of that crisp winter sunlight – the chill in the air doesn’t stop it from affecting your skin.
If you have been skipping the SPF since last summer, now is the time to reach for it again. A facial sunscreen like Sisley-Paris Super Soin Solaire is suitable for all skin types and will protect your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays. With a non-greasy and quick-drying formula, this SPF 50 is fully water-resistant, making it ideal for the poolside or down by the beach.
Exfoliation
If you’ve been battling winter skin over the last few months, it may have seemed that no facial scrub or chemical exfoliant was heavy-duty enough to buff away dryness completely. But it can be easy to overdo it – and as spring approaches, now is a good time to adjust your exfoliation routine.
Regular exfoliation unclogs your pores, brightens your skin and keeps its tone fresh and even. In the warmer months, exfoliation is more about clearing your pores from a build-up of sweat or grease than it is about removing dry skin. Look for a light exfoliator that won’t be too abrasive on your face – over-exfoliation can strip your skin of its protective barrier, leaving you vulnerable to sun damage.
Lancer’s The Method: Polish is a walk along the beach in a bottle. Containing a cocktail of pure quartz crystals, sea minerals, and brown sea algae, this polish gently exfoliates and even boosts skin’s oxygen levels from within.
Mid-Air Skincare
Have you booked a spring holiday to wave goodbye to the winter blues? If you’re longing for a time when the temperature was higher than 10 degrees Celsius, a week in the sun could be just what the doctor ordered – but travel can pose a whole host of problems for our skin.
Due to the extremely low humidity, the air in an airplane cabin is stale, dry and impure. On long-haul flights, this can, unfortunately, leave your skin feeling flaky and sallow – hardly ready for the holiday glow we were hoping for.
The good news is you can help to prepare your skin in the days leading up to your trip. Focus on gentle but effective exfoliation, as this will leave your skin in optimal condition for absorbing moisturisers and serums (such as Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma Day Serum; the brand’s ‘clean-clinical’ products are full of antioxidants, making them perfect for travel).
When it comes to skincare in the air, the main problems we’re likely to experience are impurities and poor circulation, as blood flow decreases at high altitudes. Try packing a hydrating facial spray to quench your skin throughout the flight, and regularly massage your skin using clean fingers or a jade roller.
Steeped in history, jade stone – which signifies grace, balance, and vitality – has been used to keep skin supple ever since it first appeared on dressing tables in ancient China. Its naturally cool temperature helps to tighten pores, stimulate skin, soothe puffiness and tone your facial muscles. Gently use the roller over your under-eye area during the flight, and you’ll land looking (almost) as refreshed as you will when you leave.