Spring is a season of renewal – and cleaning. It’s a time for washing away the winter doldrums, clearing out clutter, and refreshing our surroundings. But spring cleaning isn’t just for your attic, yard, or garage. Your skin can also benefit from some seasonal adjustments in how you treat and care for it.
As you welcome the warmer temperatures and longer days, keep these easy spring cleaning tips in mind for your skin:
Let the Sunscreen In
More sun and more time outside mean it’s time to get back into the sunscreen habit. But to maximize the effectiveness of your sun protection and keep your skin safe from the sun’s harmful rays, you need to use the right kind of sunscreen and apply it frequently and correctly.
Make sure that any sunscreen you purchase protects against all the damage that the sun’s rays can cause, not just sunburn. Many sunscreens feature only a Sun Protection Factor (SPF). While SPF blocks UV-B rays and prevents sunburns, it does not protect you from UV-A rays that can damage the skin below the outermost surface.
Look for sunscreen which blocks these harmful UV-A rays. Dr. Mariano Busso recommends Blue Lizard Sunscreen products from Australia which offer proven and robust protection.
Lighten Up Your Moisturizer and Foundation
You can soothe dehydrated winter skin with heavy moisturizers, like body butter, heavy creams, oils, and serums. For spring’s warmer weather, you’ll want to lighten up your moisturizers to allow your skin to breathe. Look for moisturizers with higher water content. Similarly, ease up on the heavy foundation as it can lead to clogged pores as the weather warms up.
Clean Out Your Makeup Bag
As you’re dusting, sweeping, and clearing out clutter from your house, including your makeup kit in your cleaning frenzy. Through regular use, bacteria can develop in your products, and that bacteria can make its way to your face when you apply makeup. This leads to inflammation, clogged pores, acne breakouts, and dullness.
Dispose of any products you’ve had for over a year. Replace mascara and liquid eyeliners every three months, and throw away lip gloss and lipstick every six months. Foundations applied with a clean brush or sponge (and not double-dipped) can last for up to a year. Once you’ve cleaned out your makeup bag, soak your makeup brushes in warm, soapy water to remove product and bacteria buildup. Clean your tweezers and scissors with antibacterial soap, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide.
Exfoliate
Winter’s colder temperatures can cause dead skin cells to accumulate on the surface of your face start to accrue and elicit dullness. The buildup of dead skin cells also can clog your pores, putting you at a higher risk of blackheads and acne flare-ups.
Not only does clearing the skin and uncovering the youthful cells below the surface create a fresher appearance, but it also helps your topical treatments reach their target easier. A few times a week before bed, use a mildly abrasive exfoliant to remove sloughs of dead skin cells and reveal brighter skin below. For a deeper clean, microdermabrasion is a minimally-invasive treatment that uses tiny particles to renew and brighten appearances.
Dr. Mariano Busso: Healthy Skin for All Seasons
No matter what the season, Dr. Mariano Busso can help you keep your skin healthy. For more information on protecting your skin from the damaging effects of the sun or to book your next cosmetic dermatology appointment in Miami, contact us at 305-857-0144.
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