The Ultimate Spring Beauty Guide

The only good thing about Daylight Savings Time? It means spring is actually, finally happening. It might take Mother Nature a few weeks to figure that out, but at least we’re on our way. Your skin, too, will be overjoyed by this milder weather. But, it’s going to need a helping hand—with every seasonal shift your skin needs a new game plan, as things like more humidity and longer sun exposure require a new routine. Not to mention undoing the damage that a harsh winter may have inflicted.

Even something as simple as switching out your daily moisturizer can have a big impact on your complexion. To help your skin have its own spring awakening, we’ve put together this easy guide. Follow these steps to upgrade your routine and you’ll have a complexion that’s as fresh, bright, and petal soft as a blossoming flower.

Keep It Light

The last thing you want to do when the weather starts warming up is slather heavy creams on your face. In all honesty, you don’t really need to use heavy creams, period — Korean skin care is full of super-hydrating picks in gel, essence, and serum formats that have some serious moisturizing benefits that and won’t ever feel spackled on to your skin. Sweet Chef’s Beet Serum Shot is a mega-moisturizer hidden inside a gel essence that makes skin feel supple, smooth, and practically poreless.

While you’re at it, take it easy on the layering. Spring is the perfect time to try out a Skip-Care routine, so look for products that perform double (or triple!) duty. Blithe’s Tundra Chaga Pressed Serum is hybrid serum and moisturizer that hydrates and treats skin, protecting it from premature aging as it soothes, moisturizes, and nourishes all skin types.

Easy On The Exfoliation

While it might be tempting to do a full resurfacing to blast those dead skin cells and flakes into next year, resist the urge. Over-exfoliating can damage the skin and cause increased sensitivity, redness, and ruin your skin barrier. Instead, opt for gentle alpha-hydroxy acids, like those found in Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask. The beloved formula features a mix of gentle AHAs that soften texture, smooth fine lines, and buff away dead skin cells while you sleep. Goodnight dullness, hello natural glow.

C Brighter

One of the most powerful antioxidants in the world, vitamin C has major brightening, anti-aging, and collagen-boosting properties, and it also provides protection against future damage by fighting off free radicals from UV rays and the environment. Our Pineapple-C Bright Serum features three potent forms of vitamin C, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid. It helps fade dark spots, increase brightness, even skin tone, hydrate, and gently exfoliate.

Refresh On The Regular

Since your skin is recuperating from its time in a cold-weather hellscape, it needs as much moisture as it can get. Multiple applications of face cream throughout the day isn’t exactly practical, so instead get your hands on a super-fine fog mist. The Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist is an innovative bi-phase with a top layer of nourishing oils and a bottom layer of hydrating and treating actives. Shake it up to blend the two, then spritz on your face whenever the mood strikes you. Made with hyaluronic acid to hydrate, amino-acid rich watermelon oil, hibiscus-based AHAs to brighten tone, and apple cider vinegar to refine pores, it’s the perfect way to revive your complexion. If that wasn’t enough, it also sets and refreshes your makeup, making it a true multi-tasker.

Sun’s Out, SPF’s On

It should be second nature at this point but if for some inexplicable reason you still need motivation to wear SPF, we’ll let the stats speak for themselves: An estimated 90% of premature skin aging comes from sun exposure. That damage takes the form of sagging skin, deep wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and rough skin. Not to mention, you know, skin cancer. There’s a reason dermatologists harp on you about wearing it.

The good news is that it’s ridiculously easy to adhere to that golden skin-care rule. Make P:rem’s UV Defense Me Blue Ray Sun Gel is an SPF 50+ PA++++ skin protector with a milky texture so light and smooth, it feels just like your regular moisturizer. It goes on clear, doesn’t feel greasy, and makes a great makeup primer — meaning no more excuses about SPF being a drag to wear.

So, ditch the tights, bust out your pastels, and swipe on some bright gloss — spring is here and you (and your skin) are ready to celebrate.