How to Spring Clean Your Skincare in 7 Simple Steps

As Spring comes around, with all its pretty pink blossoms, birdsong and longer, brighter days, we can’t help but feel revitalised. Spring brings with it a freshness and burst of energy that injects itself into every area of our lives, from our work to our wardrobes (hello S/S 19 fashion!). But have you also found that your skincare regime is crying out for change? You might notice that your skincare needs change throughout the year and as the weather warms up, your your complexion is faced with new challenges.

You may have been putting off spring cleaning your bedroom, but one easy way to feel your best this season is to spring clean your skincare regime. And the good news is, Spring cleaning means simplifying…

1. Clean your makeup brushes

We all know we’re supposed to regularly cleanse our tools, but how often do you actually get around to it? We bet it doesn't happen as often as it should! Makeup applicators are a breeding ground for germs and not washing them regularly can cause skin problems. Treat all you brushes to bath-time to prepare them for Spring. You can use normal soap or  your favourite cleanser combined with hot water, then leave them to air dry. Set a reminder in your phone to repeat the process in a week's time. And make it a recurring reminder!

2. Check expiry dates

Lay out all the skincare products you’ve been using recently and one by one, reassess whether they’re appropriate for Spring. If not, store them away for later in the year (providing they’ll be within their use by date when Autumn comes). You should throw away anything that has passed its expiry date. For makeup and applicators, throw out anything that is over six months old. Using expired products can lead to infections and breakouts, so this is an important bi-annual task.

3. Swap for Spring skincare

Nourishing creams, serums and oil-based moisturisers are a savour for locking in hydration in the colder months but these products can cause breakouts when the weather heats up. The thick, heavy-duty moisturisers we relied on in Winter are no longer suitable now that Spring is here. Your heavier creams can be switched for light, water-based products. This includes your foundation: full coverage isn’t always necessary in Spring! Switch to concealer only to give your skin a break.

4. Check the labels

In addition to checking for any products that have expired, you might like to use your skincare spring clean as an opportunity to learn more about the skincare products you use. Check the ingredients list for nasties such as parabens like methylparaben, propylparaben and ethylparaben. You can also check which of your products contain skin-drying alcohol (‘fatty’ alcohols that don’t destroy your skin’s natural barrier, such as  cetyl, stearyl, and cetearyl are fine). It's so important to be aware of the ingredients you're using!

5. Step away from the scrub

Exfoliating makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so try to avoid any intense treatments like microdermabrasion during Spring and Summer. Instead, make sure you double cleanse using a water-based product every night to rid your face of any lingering grime caused by the heat, and gently exfoliate once per week. After you've exfoliated, try to avoid sunlight for at least 24 hours to minimise UV damage.

6. Amp up the SPF

You should be wearing an SPF on your face every day no matter what time of year it is, but it’s important to use a higher level of protection now that the sun is actually shining. Even on cloudy days, those sneaky UVA and UVB rays can cause damage to your skin. You should also boost your skin’s immune system with products containing Vitamin C, which protects against allergens that are rife this time of year.

7. Brighten things up

Over Autumn and Winter, you probably turned to a darker colour palette when it came to getting dressed and doing your make-up. But now that the sun is (almost) shining, why not play around with some brighter, lighter shades?! For a simple, Spring-ready flush, try our Blush Serums in Sunrise and Sunset. They provide a gorgeous pop of colour that will really get you in the Spring spirit.

With a few intelligent tweaks, you can refresh your skincare regime so it’s suitable for Spring. Now, you just have to tackle your wardrobe…