So we are just rolling into spring! I am so excited because it means a bit of rain, lots of flowers, and, of course, that summer is just around the corner. To get into the spirit, and start prepping and prettifying my skin now, I thought I'd do a run down of my "must have" spring skin care products.
Since we're (hopefully) moving out of those cold, awful dry months that require heavier make up and (mostly) clothing that covers up 90% of our skin, it's time to talk about what we need to get our skin into tip-top shape for all the exposure to come.
In the warmer months, I've found, most people want to have less make up on their skin to avoid a)melting, drippy, runny foundation/eyeliner/mascara, and b) to let their skin "breathe," which, let's face it, is hard to do under a full face of war paint. The key to having beautiful skin you're dying to show off is an idiot-proof, simple regimen. The absolute basics you will need are:
-a cleanser that does not strip oil from your skin, but also does not increase oil production or leave your skin feeling just as oily as it was before you washed it. For some of us, (myself included!) this may mean switching from a cream cleanser (like Clean and Clear Deep Action Clean Cleanser) to a gel formula (like Neutrogena Fresh Face Wash). For acne prone skin, it is really important to pick a face wash that won't overly dry the skin around blemishes (to avoid peeling) but will help keep pores clear and break outs at bay.
-a moisturizer with SPF that also addresses any major skin concerns you might have, like acne, fine lines and wrinkles, hyper pigmentation, etc. I love the Murad Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30, PA +++. If you have true oily skin (not oily-combination), like I do, and you live somewhere that is really humid, this may not be the best option for you out there. It's not a heavy moisturizer, but I've found that it can contribute to shiny-ness and oil slicks on the face on a particularly humid day. The protection is great and with a primer, 98% of the time, it's great. Vitamin C is a great anti-aging ingredient that helps brighten the skin, keeping it glowy and luminous. Another great option is the Neutrogena Soothing Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, which is fantastic for irritated, sunburned, or just generally sensitive skin.
-a "spot" treatment to layer under a moisturizer or to use at night to assist in dealing with those lovely skin demons. This can be a mask you do at night, a spot treatment for blemishes, an AHA serum or retinol based cream for wrinkles and fine lines...(***) the list goes on and on. Make sure it's something that your skin tolerates well, since the last thing you want is a breakout or rash from something that's supposed to be helping you!
-a light, but very moisturizing eye cream. In the spring and summer, we don't want anything greasy or that has the potential to turn greasy around our eyes, otherwise it's "bye bye eye liner!", and that's all bad. In the fall and winter months I tend to gravitate toward Clinique All About Eyes Rich, but in the summer-y months, I love the Origins GinZing Refreshing eye cream, which has brightening, luminous properties and is great for combatting dark circles under the eyes.
-one great mask/deep pore/pampering treatment. It can be moisturizing, it can be to treat acne, it can be a chemical peel, whatever you feel you need every once in a while to get that truly glowing skin we all know and see far too infrequently to totally enjoy. I personally love the Queen Helene Mint Julep mask or the Ole Henricksen Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask. The Mint Julep is a clay based mask that pulls all that gunk out of your pores and leaves you feeling smooth, soft and totally bump free. The Blue/Black Berry mask is a clear, jiggly, jelly like consistency that you slather on in a thick layer all over your face. It's moisturizing but also does some light chemical exfoliation or resurfacing. It has a strong lavender-herbal scent that can be quite intense, and the texture is just weird enough that it almost put me off using it. Once I tried it, I was hooked, however.
Last, but not least:
-a lip balm with some SPF. Your lips need sun protection, too! And there are so many options now, tinted, not tinted, all natural, high end, drug store, yaddah, yaddah. I love the Sugar Fresh Lip Treatments... all of them. The tinted ones have just enough color to be viable evening options, but are also totally appropriate for day. My personal favorites are Sugar Plum and Petal. They have a color for every look and two non-colored options to choose from. If you're looking for a drug store option, check out Nivea's A Kiss Of.. line, or Burt's Bees, which has some incredible tinted options!
I hope this post was helpful in getting you thinking about whipping your skin into tip-top shape for summer. These are just my opinions and personal experiences, so if something I mentioned doesn't work for you, I'm sorry, all skin is different and unique, just like we are, and everyone has different needs.
Stay Pretty!
***It's so important to remember that certain ingredients in some skin care products actually make the skin more susceptible to sun damage, making you more likely to get burned and opening the door to fine lines, freckles etc. The three really big ones (that I know of) are: benzoyl peroxide, retinol and alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids. Benzoyl peroxide and AHAs/BHAs can be used to treat acne as well as fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol is generally used to treat wrinkles and help "resurface" skin or promote skin cell turn over. If you read the fine print on any of these products, there are advisories warning against too much sun exposure or the need for vigilant sunscreen application. In other words, don't use these without a really good SPF if you're out in the sun all day. They are all great to use at night, which actually gives the skin more un-interrupted time to absorb all the great-for-you ingredients and respond to the treatment. Be aware that benzoyl peroxide is also known to have bleaching properties, so if you are using it at night, make sure you have a white pillow case or a white towel or something to go over your pillow case. If you're using benzoyl peroxide to treat acne on your body (back, chest etc) make sure you are wearing light colored or old clothing that you don't mind potentially bleaching or staining.
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