This is when my friends, loved ones and clients ask me what I suggest they do with their skincare regimen when Spring hurdles on in. I only have 2 words for them: "Spring Cleaning"!
Our bodies go through more or less 4 harsh transition periods in the span of 1 year (especially here in Montréal!). Therefore, every season, we need to offer our skin the right products and care to make it look its best.
For Spring time, I recommend the following steps to ensure a smooth transition to healthy and glowing skin:
1- Get a facial! If you can stand it and afford it, a good facial is the ideal first step to getting skin prepped and ready for Spring! I'm a firm believer that high quality, skin purifying facials make a world of difference when seasons change. You will instantly see great improvement in your skin's texture, clarity and tone.
2- Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! After months on end of being subjected to these brutal Winter colds, our skin needs to renew itself. Exfoliation should be done year round on a weekly basis (1-3 times depending on your skin type), but in this particular transition period, our skin needs some crucial TLC. So scrub away (gently) and you will notice that your skin slowly gets renewed and rids itself of old, dead and flaky skin.
3- Quench it! Skin tends to be exceptionally dry during Winter, but even more so toward the end of the season. Hence the importance of giving it some shock hydration therapy! I recommend a hydrating mask. It will instantly give your skin a nice glow. Personal favorites are: Caudalie, Moisturizing Cream Mask, 42$ and Origins, Drink Up 10 minute mask, 28$.
4- Swap that face cream! We use thicker, more soothing creams during Winter months, but as Spring unfolds, our skin will need something lighter and fresher to better adapt itself to environmental changes. I'm a big fan of gels or fluids and when the mercury starts rising, I instantly make the swap! Personal favorites are: Clarins, HydraQuench Cream, 49.50$ and Ole Henriksen, Sheer Transformation, 48$.
5- Protect it! We all know how the Sun can wreck havoc on our skin and how essential it is that we protect it. Use a product with a minimum SPF 15 . I hear my ladies with oily and oily/combination skin screaming "breakouts" here, but try one of these: Bliss, Fabulous Face Lotion with FPS 15, 36$ or Clinique, Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 20, 54$. I also recommend Murad products for those with acne prone skin. Personal favorite: Clarins, HydraQuench Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15, 49.50$.
I hope these tips were helpful!
Warmly,
Alexandra xo
P.S.: To all my fabulous clients wanting a glow without the damaging effects of UV rays, I recommend trying new Organic Spray Tans. Service available as of May 2014 from yours truly (Certified Spray Tech!).
