Spring is time for renewal — and that includes our skin. In the winter, we prioritize hydration, but as March rolls around, we start looking for lightweight options as many of us venture back into a sunny civilization. 

At a recent brunch, my 40-something girlfriends chatted up their skin care routines, asking me about the best simple switches as we roll into warmer weather. Like most of us, these GALs don’t have time to deep dive into research and reviews nor trial and error: They want bona fide recommendations without paying the price, literally.

So, as requested, here’s a promising list of four spring skin care must-haves, which I personally recommend — and that won’t demand you to sacrifice your afternoon lattes.

1. Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells

Have you noticed how your face can become dull and dry in the winter? That’s our skin’s showing dehydration due to the lack of humidity outside and from indoor heating. To sloth away this layer of dead cells and reveal healthy-looking skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends exfoliation. 

Exfoliation can be mechanical (like a brush or scrub) or chemical (like retinoids and alpha andbeta hydroxy acids) and can improve the appearance of your skin in several ways: Exfoliation can make your skin look brighter, unclog pores for fewer breakouts, and increase collagen production to up elasticity and minimizes lines. Plus, this routine also improves the absorption of your topical skin care products.

Några Coola Advanced Sonic Face Brush ($40) has proven to be an absolute gem for both me and my preteen son’s T-zone acne. The vibrating, silicon brush works gently enough for daily use (I prefer nighttime to assure the day is washed away) with a gentle soap like CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. 

Ok, this product might cost a few lattes, but its cult following says it all. The Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment ($85) is a lactic-acid and alpha hydroxy acid serum that targets large pores, hyperpigmentation, dark spots and wrinkles, and leaves the skin with a gorgeous plumped look that’s addictive. 

2. Apply daily sunscreen to prevent wrinkles

Wearing sunscreen every day is one of the easiest ways to prevent wrinkles. (Read that again, sis.) In 2013, a popular Australian study determined that regular use of SPF 30-50 sunscreen protects against photoaging — the wrinkles, spotting (your skin’s way of protecting itself) and loss of elasticity caused by UV radiation. The key message to prevention here is daily: This includes overcast days and window exposure (think car rides), and should be a part of your morning routine just like brushing your teeth.

After writing about peri-menopausal skin care, I became fond of No7 Menopause Skincare Protect & Hydrate Day Cream ($23). This SPF 30 lotion is my go-to for work, weekends and whenever because it’s lightweight, has zero fragrance nor sensitivity issues, contains antioxidant vitamin C (more on that below) and comes in a squeeze bottle that makes application easy.

For the not-average day, when I know I’m getting more sun or sweat in, I opt for more protection with Supergoop! Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion ($34) because it has a higher SPF of 50, and is water- and sweat-proof. Plus, as its name suggests, Watery Lotion is super lightweight and almost gel-like, which is the feeling you want when you glisten beachside.

3. Antioxidants for protection

Heart health research in the ‘90s made antioxidants popular in what we eat, but how about what we put on our faces? Antioxidants are hard-working substances that protect against UV rays, free radicals, and other environmental pollutants that can damage your skin. In fact, according to a 2017 review, vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant in human skin. It makes sense, then, that so many skin care products source this powerful vitamin to promote photo-protection, anti-aging, and anti-pigmentation. 

With a plethora of effective vitamin C serums available, my preference is one that’s pure, gentle and affordable, so I opt for Mad Hippie Vitamin C Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin E ($28). While its brightening effects and protective qualities are impressive, I also love that this brand is vegan and cruelty-free.

One of my all-time favorite products is the renowned Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Recovery Complex ($64). My auntie gifted this to me when I turned 30, and it improved my skin so much — including my acne — that I always found a way to keep it on my vanity (even if that meant asking for samples). According to the brand, “During the day, this serum helps defend skin against the visible effects of free radical damage from environmental sources like pollution, ozone, blue light, infrared and micro dust, and provides 8-hour anti-oxidant protection.” Amen.

4. Light-weight moisturizer for hydration

Spring offers more hydration to our skin, so we need less of that protection from occlusives — oily substances like petrolatum that create a physical barrier to block the evaporation of water, and instead reach for humectant — ingredients like glycerin which pull moisture from the air and deeper layers of the skin. But don’t worry about the terms for these moisturizers: you’ll know it when you feel it.

Gush! Clinique Moisture Surge Gel Cream ($54) is oh-so-lovely, like a soft gel cushion on your skin. This oil-free formula contains aloe and hyaluronic acid and “delivers a 174% immediate moisture boost and keeps skin hydrated for 100 hours.” Plus, I love that this gel has zero parabens, fragrances, sulfates, talc, oil nor alcohol for my sensitive skin.

For nighttime, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($14) is a dream. This lotion contains niacinamide to help calm the skin along with hyaluronic acid to help retain skin’s moisture. And like all CeraVe products, it’s very gentle — fragrance free, paraben-free, oil free, non-comedogenic, and allergy-tested — so anyone can use it.

Now as you venture into this season of newness, I hope you make time to get rid of what weighs you down — and your skin care is a good place to start.

Sources:

healthline.com

betterhealth.vic.gov.au

health.harvard.edu