Spring Skincare Tips: Refresh Your Routine

 

As winter fades and spring blossoms, your skincare routine deserves a seasonal refresh! Warmer temperatures and higher humidity call for lighter products, targeted treatments, and a renewed focus on protection. Here’s how to transition your skincare for glowing, balanced skin this spring.

 

Tip 1: Lighten Up Your Moisturizer

Swapping thick winter creams for lightweight, water-based formulas is a cornerstone of spring skincare. As temperatures rise, humidity levels climb, and our skin naturally produces more oil, heavy occlusive creams can trap sweat and sebum, leading to clogged pores or breakouts. 

Our skin tends to hold more water in spring and summer, so you won’t need as much protection. We recommend hyaluronic acid-based moisturizers, which act like a “moisture magnet” by drawing water into the skin’s deeper layers without leaving a greasy residue. These breathable formulas provide essential hydration while allowing your skin to breathe—a must for balancing spring’s unpredictable mix of humidity and lingering dryness.

For those with oily or combination skin, gel-cream textures (look for keywords like “water gel” on labels) offer a cooling, mattifying effect. Dry skin types can layer a lightweight lotion with a nourishing serum containing ceramides or squalane to reinforce the skin barrier. 

 

Pro Tips:

• Double-check labels: Opt for “non-comedogenic” and “oil-free” lotions to avoid excess shine. If you’re acne-prone, avoid pore-clogging ingredients like coconut oil or heavy silicones.
• Layer smartly: Apply moisturizer to damp skin after a hydrating toner or essence to amplify absorption.
• Don’t skip moisturizer altogether: Even oily skin needs hydration—dehydration can trigger more oil production as your skin tries to compensate.
• Patch-test new products: Spring allergies can make skin sensitive, so introduce one product at a time to avoid reactions. 

 

Our Spring Moisturizer Pick: SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish Hydrator

This lightweight hydrator attracts water into the top layers of skin, providing immediate hydration and plumping that lasts up to 24 hours. Advanced VITISENCE technology helps replenish skin's natural humectants, leading to dewy, plumped skin with less visible lines.

 

Tip 2: Exfoliate Gently (But Consistently)

Spring’s warmer weather and increased humidity can leave skin feeling congested, making gentle exfoliation essential for a radiant glow. Contrary to popular belief, we actually need to exfoliate when our skin is extra dry. Dry, flaky patches—common after winter—are often a sign of dead cell buildup, which can trap oil and dull your complexion. 

However, beware of harsh scrubs with abrasive particles (like walnut shells or sugar). Those can cause microtears, especially on sensitive or dehydrated skin. Instead, opt for chemical exfoliants with gentle acids like glycolic acid or lactic acid (milder fruit-based AHAs that hydrate as well as exfoliate). These work by loosening the “glue” between dead skin cells, revealing smoother texture and unclogging pores without irritation. 

For acne-prone or oily skin, salicylic acid (a BHA) is ideal—it’s oil-soluble, meaning it can dive into pores to clear excess sebum and prevent breakouts.

How to Exfoliate Smartly:

• Frequency: Aim for 1–2 times weekly. If you’re new to chemical exfoliants, start once weekly and gradually increase.
• Timing: Exfoliate at night, as AHAs can increase sun sensitivity. Always follow with SPF 50+ the next morning.
• Application: Use a pea-sized amount of exfoliant after cleansing, rinse, pat dry, and wait 5–10 minutes before layering serums or moisturizers to avoid neutralizing the acid’s effects.
• Soothe Aftercare: Pair exfoliation with a calming moisturizer containing ceramides or centella asiatica to reinforce your skin barrier.

 

Our Spring Exfoliator Pick: Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm Forte

This lightweight exfoliating lotion features glycolic and lactic acid to remove old, dull skin while promoting natural skin turnover for a smoother, brighter complexion. Perfect for normal, dull, combination and oily skin types.

 

Tip 3: Upgrade Your Sunscreen Game

As spring brings longer days and stronger UV rays, your sunscreen routine needs a major glow-up. While SPF 30 might suffice in winter’s weaker sunlight SPF 50 is the spring/summer gold standard. A separate broad-spectrum sunscreen—not just the SPF in your moisturizer or makeup—is non-negotiable. Moisturizers with SPF often lack sufficient coverage because most people don’t apply the recommended ½ teaspoon needed for full protection (about the size of a nickel for the face alone).

Why SPF 50?

SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks 98%—a small but critical difference during peak UV hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). Opt for broad-spectrum formulas that defend against both UVB (burning) and UVA (aging) rays. For sensitive or acne-prone skin, mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sit on the skin’s surface, reflecting light without clogging pores. Chemical options like avobenzone or octinoxate absorb UV rays and are ideal for dry skin, as they often have a more hydrating finish.

Pro Tips for Flawless Application:

Layer Correctly: Apply sunscreen after moisturizer and antioxidants (like vitamin C) but before makeup. Wait 5 minutes between layers to prevent pilling.

Reapplication Hacks: Use a SPF 50 setting spray or tinted powder over makeup for midday touch-ups. For outdoor workouts, try a water-resistant formula (reapply every 40–80 minutes if sweating or swimming).

Don’t Forget These Spots: Ears, neck, décolletage, hands, and even your hair part line—these areas are often overlooked but prone to sun damage.

Double-Duty Products: Pair sunscreen with a blue light-blocking formula if you’re outdoors and scrolling—HEV light from screens can worsen pigmentation.

Spring-Specific Risks:
Pollen and higher humidity can make sunscreen feel heavy or trigger breakouts. Look for non-comedogenic, fragrance-free labels, and avoid oxybenzone if you have sensitive skin (it may cause irritation). For a dewy finish, try hybrid formulas with hyaluronic acid or niacinamide.

Our Spring Sunscreen Pick: Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

This oil-free, all-mineral SPF helps calm and protect sensitive skin types prone to breakouts, rosacea and discoloration. It contains niacinamide (vitamin B3), hyaluronic acid and lactic acid, ingredients that promote the appearance of healthy-looking skin.