So, you’ve survived the harsh winter. How is your skin? Well, you’re not out of the woods yet!

Springtime is when we set our clocks forward an hour. That means there is one more hour of sunlight each day for your skin to potentially be exposed to. UV radiation is generally stronger in the spring time. There is also the problem of pollen, for those of you who are sensitive to it.

In fact, the spring season is often attributed to:

• Acne breakouts/clogged pores
• Dermal allergy reactions
• Dry, rough, and plain old gross skin!

Hopefully we haven’t scared you off yet. There is hope for your skin this season. As you might have guessed, the tricks to keeping your skin healthy during the spring aren’t all that different from the rest of the year.

The Winning Formula

Cleanse…thoroughly!
Use a hydrating cleanser with mild acidity for your face as well as the rest of your body. When it comes to rinsing, only purified water or a very mildly acidic toner will do. This way you can avoid the drying that usually happens with chemically treated tap water.

Shed that snake skin
Spring is all about out with the old and in with the new, so shed that old skin. We recommend you enlist the power of a natural exfoliant about two or three times each week as it will help get rid of the dead skin cells. Try to avoid scrubs since they can irritate your skin, especially after winter when it is most sensitive. Also avoid chemical peels because they can disrupt the acid mantle of your skin and lead to all sorts of other problems. Pay attention to the parts of your skin that are generally the driest.

Replenish
Lots of moisturization is required to get back the oils your skin lost during the winter season. Twice per day is a good rule of thumb. Be sure to choose a quality moisturizer that won’t clog your pores. It is best to use your moisturizer right after toning while your skin is still wet. Don’t be afraid to do more than one layer.

Don’t neglect the sunblock
You didn’t think we were going to forget to mention sunblock, did you? As we mentioned before, UV radiation increases in the springtime, so you should protect your skin accordingly. We recommend a minimum SPF rating of 15, but don’t be afraid to go much higher than that. Look for sunscreen products that contain ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, raspberry oil, etc. They can help to replenish those oils your skin may be lacking after winter. Also, try to find one that smells good. Nobody likes smelling like sunscreen!

Now, go forth and frolic, little spring chickens. But please try to frolic in the shade.