The shift in seasons means change in more ways than one. Now that spring has officially sprung, we’re tucking our 40 denier tights away at the back of the drawer and switching our morning flat white for an iced latte. Just like you wouldn’t want to step out in a big teddy coat on a fine spring day, your skin needs to be treated a little differently in the warmer months. The longer days and balmier evenings mean festivals, after-work Pimm's and more BBQs than you can shake a skewer at – but that also means more sun exposure, humidity and the only greens you’re getting being the cucumber in that Pimm's.
It’s all about making subtle tweaks to tailor your routine to your skin’s needs. Want to know more? Click through to see our five must-try products to get your skin ready for spring…
The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your whole body, so you need to be extra careful when applying products. It’s just as susceptible to burning and UV damage as the rest of you, so add this concealing and sun-shielding hybrid into your routine, stat. With high protection against the sun’s rays and vitamin C to minimise the appearance of dark circles, it’s the perfect spring skincare swap.
The mercury rising makes you want to have as little on your face as possible. Want to perfect that no-makeup-makeup look? A smooth canvas is the best place to start. Buff a little bit of this gentle scrub onto a damp face before applying your hydrator (see next slide) to remove any dead skin cells or impurities lingering post-cleanse. Not only will it slough away any debris, it’ll kickstart your cell turnover for brighter, clearer skin.
**PROMO FEATURE**
Spring is a funny old time for your skin. Between the sudden super warm days and the odd chilly breeze (or dare we say, drop of rain), your skin has a lot of switching it up to do. That’s the beauty of Clinique's new Moisture Surge 72-Hour Hydrator: as well as the caffeine and activated aloe water, it uses hyaluronic acid to bind in moisture and keep it there, without feeling heavy or sticky. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body and can hold 1,000 times its own weight in water, but few of us produce enough of it to have skin as soft as we want. The HA fused into this lightweight gel makes it ideal to use before makeup, as a mask, or even lightly dabbed over makeup for a quick refresh. Tired, dehydrated 4pm face? Not anymore. Pop one in your holiday bag to use on your cuticles and keep your hair frizz-free, too.
Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, £24, available at Clinique
You should be wearing sunscreen all year round (just because it’s not hot, doesn’t mean UV rays aren’t still reaching you and causing damage), but it’s all the more important to wear it consistently when you’re outdoors. Choose something super lightweight like this fluid and avoid that uncomfortable ‘sticky-face’ feeling. With low viscosity but high sun protection, this is an ideal companion to the upcoming warmer days.
NeoStrata Sheer Physical Protection SPF50, £34, available at Dermacare Direct
Balmy spring days and radiant skin go together like strawberries and cream. Give yourself a natural-looking glow with this organic coconut oil-based highlighter. Suitable for all skin tones, the creamy texture melts into skin and beautifully reflects hazy sunshine for a lit-from-within glow. Dot all over the high points of your face (cheekbones, tip of nose, Cupid’s bow, temples) and blend with fingers.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
I'm An Interior Designer & I Spend £5,000 A Year On Skin Care