Spring is in full swing, the birds are returning after a long winter and all those dormant plants and flowers are rising to greet the warm sun. After a long winter it’s time to rejuvenate, refresh and awaken that healthy glow to your skin! Harsh winter winds and freezing temperatures can often leave your skin feeling dry and tight. Taking proper care of your skin during winter can minimize damage, however, your skin care routine may need to be updated as the weather warms and turns toward summer. Take these valuable spring skin care essentials to help you achieve a radiant, fresh complexion befitting this season of change!
Skin tends to get oilier as temperatures rise. Even if you have dry or combination skin, you might need a lighter moisturizer or you may even consider ditching the moisturizer for a serum. Serums are a good alternative to moisturizers. They deliver a powerful dose of nourishing ingredients. Serums are a top pick of many skin care pros including Essential General Manager and Esthetician Laura Badcock. “Serums work better for nourishing my skin in warmer weather and because I drink plenty of water, the barrier formed by using moisturizers isn’t really necessary during mild spring days to keep my skin healthy.” Jessica Wu, MD, a Santa Monica, Calif., dermatologist, and author of Feed Your Face: Younger, Smoother Skin and a Beautiful Body in 28 Delicious Days, recommends serums to many of her patients. “They’re great for people with oily skin,” she says, “or those who prefer a weightless feel to their skin care products. Serums have a non-greasy finish and they don’t leave behind a sticky residue.”
Serums aren’t for everyone however. Some need the hydration that a rich day or night cream provides. If you have mature or very dry skin, you may not be able to get away with using just a serum. Instead, we recommend a serum as an add-on to your skin care regimen, layered under your moisturizer.
The top tip to a glowing complexion? Drink water. Hydration is the least expensive and one of the most effective ways to improve your complexion. So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) per day. The adequate intake for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) a day. In addition to drinking plenty of water, consider a deeply hydrating masque. Yes, this will add time to your skin care regiment but it is 15 minutes well spent to get that spa facial healthy glow.
Finally and most importantly, be diligent about sun protection. Sunscreen is extremely important. Even if you spend most of your day indoors, apply sunscreen to your skin 20-30 minutes before going outside. Choose at least 15 SPF and be sure that it also protects against UVA and UVB rays. During the spring season, applying sunscreen in the morning should protect you for the day. However when the temperatures become higher, you may want to apply it more than once. High temperatures cause the product to wear off or be sweated off. If you spend more time outdoors than the average person, sunblock may be a better option for you. Sunblock is more protective than sunscreen because it is made from a dense substance that blocks the sun’s rays. When shopping for sunblock notice the color. The whiter the cream or lotion, the more effective it is.
Taking time to care for your skin as the weather changes will ensure that your complexion is as bright and beautiful as possible. It’s good for your body, mind and spirit so indulge in pampering your skin, you deserve it!
