I come bearing good news for our lovely Who What Wear readers. Spring is officially here and I am so unbelievably ready for it. My arms are fully outstretched and running at speed towards longer days, warmer weather, al fresco lunches, midi dresses, floral prints, fresh white trainers, lightweight layering, bare legs…I could go on.
And around this time of year, it isn’t just my wardrobe that gets a little seasonal upgrade. I take the concept of a good spring clean to my skincare stash and swap out certain products for their more timely counterpart––as the days get longer and, it’s important to focus on a lighter yet more protective routine. "You may notice that your skin doesn’t feel as dry and brittle as the environment becomes less harsh on your skin barrier,” explains Ana Mansouri MD, aesthetic doctor & SkinCeuticals brand expert.
Sasha is my skin-spiration...
"As your skin barrier starts to improve you may not require as aggressive moisturising but instead more lightweight hydrating ingredients. The increase in humidity may present as increased oil production and congestion potentially leading to breakouts while the brighter weather calls for an optimisation in your antioxidant use. You may also notice that redness is starting to worsen by the increased sun exposure and change in environmental factors, therefore increasing your anti inflammatory agents is important during this time of year", explains Mansouri.
The good news is that you can keep your skin looking tip top by making a few small and simple changes to your routine. Keep scrolling for 6 skincare switches to make this spring, recommended by myself and Mansouri.
1. Level Up Your SPF
The best piece of skincare advice I could give to you as a beauty editor? Wear SPF every single day of the year—even when the weather is overcast, up to 80% of the sun's rays are still being absorbed by our skin. If you’re currently using an SPF 30, it’s worth noting that it allows about 50 percent more UV radiation onto your skin than an SPF 50.Mansouri suggests opting for a higher sun protection factor at this time of year.
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This is my current daily SPF. It's super lightweight, sits well under makeup and gives a nice glow to the skin.
My favourite drugstore SPF. It absorbs into the skin quickly without any white residue making it another great pick to wear under makeup. A good option if you have sensitive skin.
The perfect pick for normal to dry skin as it's super hydrating with a gorgeous satin-finish.
2. Give Skin a Vitamin Boost
Pairing an antioxidant-infused serum or cream with an SPF maximises your skin’s protection against sunlight, free radicals and other skin-damaging environmental factors––look for formulas containing vitamin A, C and E. Niacinamide is also great at supporting and strengthening your skin barrier as well as reducing inflammation, dark spots and oil production.
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A cult product for a reason, the powerful blend of of vitamins C, E and ferulic acid brightens the skin while complimenting your sunscreen for advanced protection.
Infused with vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum, it fights the damaging effects of free radicals and pollution, helps to visibly reduce fine lines, and soothe irritation and redness.
In my opinion, Dr Barbara Sturm products are worth investing in. This serum protects against the hyperpigmentation and premature ageing caused by environmental damage and helps reduce the appearance of pores.
3. Say Hello to the Glow
It’s time to say goodbye to dry winter skin. "Introduce or increase your chemical exfoliation gently to achieve glowing and radiant skin just in time for summer,” explains Mansouri. "Oily skin types will benefit from gently implementing a salicylic acid for chemical exfoliation 1-2 times per week. Normal and combination skin types will benefit from implementing an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) 1-2 times per week.”
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I'm pretty sure you would have seen strong praise for this product all over social media in the last year or so. A leave-on exfoliant for congested, oily and combination skin, the gentle formula stars BHA (beta hydroxy acid) salicylic acid to help reduce breakouts and blackheads.
The glycolic acid molecules in Sunday Riley's formula break apart pore-clogging debris, gently exfoliating away dead, dull cells to reveal bright and glowing skin.
This gentle exfoliant helps to smooth and brighten skin, while also soothing and hydrating to maintain a calm and healthy complexion. Win, win.
4. Choose a Lighter Cleanser
"Another thing to consider is swapping your cream or balm cleanser to something lighter like a gel based formula,” says Mansouri. Winter skincare is all about locking in as much moisture as possible, but as it starts to warm up our skin produces more natural oils. For those with combination or oily skin, it will no longer need as much additional moisture making a water-based gel or foaming cleanser a great option to switch to.
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A daily jelly cleanser jelly that removes makeup with ease while soothing and hydrating the skin.
A fresh cleansing gel that rids the skin of impurities such as pollution particles, dust and excess sebum. Clean complexions FTW.
I always recommend Avène to anyone with very sensitive skin. The gentle and airy foam combines the brands hero Thermal Spring Water ingredient and glycerin to help protect against dryness while removing all traces of the day.
5. Don't Go Heavy on the Moisturiser
Mirroring the sentiment above, a lighter cream or lotion will help to keep pores clear to avoid overloading spring skin with excess oil as the weather warms up. You may notice that your skin barrier starts to improve and therefore you may not require as rich creams but instead more lightweight hydrating ingredients.
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I love love love this stuff. More of a milky lotion than a cream, it has a cooling and calming effect on the skin while the natural milk proteins work against signs of inflammation.
The 100% plant-derived squalane delivers and locks in essential moisture, while the probiotic soothes redness-prone skin.
Infused with Hyaluronic Acid and deep-sea algae, the lightweight, fast-absorbing gel-cream formula helps to moisturise the skin’s natural barrier.
6. Essence It Up
My top tip would be to keep a lightweight essence or mist to hand––whether that be on your desk at work or in your handbag. You can spritz them on-the-go to immediately bless the skin with a hit of hydration (plus other benefits depending on the product) without clogging pores.
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By now you can you tell I'm a SkinCeuticals fan girl. "The phyto corrective mist is an excellent option for sensitive, redness and inflammation prone skin, which can be layered with hydrating serums and moisturisers," says Mansouri.
Tatcha's glow giving mist can be used to set makeup or applied whenever the complexion needs a hydrating boost.
Enriched with antioxidant-rich coconut water, rooibos tea and vegan kefir ferment, this soothing spritz tones, primes, sets make up and refreshes skin throughout the day.
