The sunshine, 50-degree weather, and the first sight of tree blooms may have you putting away your winter sweaters, but let’s also rethink your spring skin care routine. Think of it like lightening up on the layers of your clothes—by adjusting your skin care routine, you can become a little more relaxed.
If you’re leery of overcomplicating your regimen or switching out a solid lineup unnecessarily, I get it. While this hesitancy is healthy (generally speaking, it’s not always the best to reimagine your daily routine as often as social media encourages), it turns out there’s real value in adapting your offerings as the seasons change. “Changes in temperature and humidity can greatly impact the skin’s hydration and barrier function,” board-certified dermatologist Dara Spearman, MD, tells us Fashion.
fashion magazine Favorite skin care products for spring
We all know that cold, dry climates evaporate moisture, causing dry, irritated skin, but did you know that the transition from winter to spring can also worsen your complexion? Board-certified nurse practitioner Tama Tran explains it this way: “As spring temperatures become milder and humidity rises, sebaceous glands tend to become more active,” Tran, NP-C, tells us. Fashion. “This can lead to increased oil production, clogged pores, or breakouts. The skin is essentially readjusting, which is why adjusting hydration levels and going back to gentle exfoliation can help maintain balance.”
Look at it this way, it makes sense that my oily skin was absolutely dry from November to early March and is only now starting to return to its usual high-shine territory. “Skin may appear dull in the winter and brighter or more radiant in the spring as circulation and environmental exposure improves, but it still requires ongoing barrier support and hydration to maintain elasticity,” says Dr. Spearman. Ahead, our experts break down how to perform a spring cleansing skin care routine in 5 easy steps.
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Step one: Use gentle gel and foam cleansers
As the humidity increases in spring, skin tends to become oilier, so a thorough cleansing is crucial. In these cases, thick, creamy formulas can be swapped out for gentler gel and foam cleansers. “Cleansing should remove dirt and excess oil without disrupting the skin barrier,” says Dr. Spearman. For example, La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Purifying Cleanser offers a gel alternative to its popular creamy moisturizing formula. Blue Lagoon Skin Science’s Gentle Foaming Cleanser is enriched with microalgae, Icelandic seawater, and silica to provide antioxidant protection and hydration. As for my current vanity, Dieux Skin and Sofie Pavitt Face are also two of my all-time favorite cleansers, each with simple, non-comedogenic formulas packed with gentle surfactants and soothing ingredients.









