Spring has officially sprung. As part of your annual commitment to spring cleaning, you’ve likely added a few extra housekeeping tasks to your monthly to-dos. Why not carry this tradition to your skin care routine? Not only does your body’s largest organ need extra TLC after the winter, but skin has a different set of priorities when the temperatures shift.
Consider the following seasonal skin care routine transition tips:
Light Moisturizer
Dehydrated winter skin can be soothed with heavy moisturizers, like body butters, heavy creams, oils and serums. For warmer weather, lighten up moisturizers in your skin care routine to allow skin to breathe. You should also boost your sun and ultraviolet (UV) protection in spring and summer. Consider swapping out your winter SPF 30 for a face moisturizer with at least SPF 50, depending on the climate you live in or how much time you spend outdoors. For the body, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection to shield skin against damage, skin cancer and premature aging. Remember to apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you head outside. Don’t forget to protect your lips with a balm containing SPF 15 or higher.
Professional Exfoliation
Your skin is not fully recuperated from parched indoor heating and low outdoor humidity just yet. To remove the dull or flaky cells resting on your skin’s surface, treat yourself to a professional microdermabrasion treatment. Microdermabrasion is a minimally-invasive spa treatment that does not require anesthesia or recovery time. Unlike mild scrubs that you might use in your at-home skin care routine, professional exfoliation is medical-grade. The treatment is done in two steps. First, a handheld device disperses tiny particles across your target area and to scrape off dead or damaged cells. Then, the particles and dead skin are suctioned off with a vacuum tool. Patients are left with a refreshed and renewed complexion.
Clean Your Makeup Bag
The biggest hazard of using old makeup products is bacteria. Every time you swipe your lashes with mascara or dip your fingers into a foundation pot, you introduce bacteria into your products that you later re-apply to your face. This leads to inflammation, clogged pores, acne breakouts and dullness. As a rule, dispose of any products you’ve had for longer than a year at most. Mascara and liquid eyeliners are best replaced every three months, while lip gloss and lipstick can be swapped every six months. Foundations applied with a clean brush or sponge (and not double-dipped) can last about a year. Powders can last up to two years. Once you’ve cleaned out your makeup case, let makeup brushes soak in warm, soapy water to remove product and bacteria buildup. Clean tweezers and scissors with antibacterial soap, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
For more information on Dr. Busso’s recommended skin care products for spring, or to book a microdermabrasion appointment, call us at 305-857-0144.