Spring is officially here, and one of the most important ways to prepare for warmer weather is to make a few changes to your daily hair and skin routines.
As you throw your warm woolens to the back of your closet and bring your lighter, airier clothes to the front, it’s also time to make a few beauty product swaps to deal with the changes in temperature. Even the toughest hair and skin types need help adjusting, after all!
Here are the top tips you must follow to get your hair and skin ready for spring:
Springtime Tip #1: Toss Out the Old and Expired
Spring cleaning is not just about getting rid of the clutter in your home—it applies to your beauty products as well!
Look through your makeup, skincare, and haircare stash and throw away all products that have passed their expiration date. Using expired products can damage your skin, hair, and scalp—think breakouts, allergies, hair fall, dandruff, and other issues.
Most cosmetic products expire after six months to one year. The exceptions are dry powders, lipsticks, and lip glosses that can last up to two years.
Springtime Tip #2: Check Your Skin and Hair Type
You likely already know your skin type, but did you know that it tends to change slightly in different temperatures and weather conditions?
For example, some people with dry, flaky skin in the winter often have more oily or acne-prone skin in the spring and summer.
The same principle applies to hair. In the cold months, people with dry hair may experience oilier strands in warmer weather due to the buildup of sweat, dirt, and grime. Others may have oily hair in the winter and dry hair in the spring and summer.
Your skin and hair regimen must adjust accordingly. When warmer weather arrives, carefully reassess your skin and hair type. This will help you determine what you need to care for them.
Springtime Tip #3: Exfoliate
When we emerge from our cocoons in the spring, it’s vital to give our skin a good scrub. This sloughs off the dead skin cells and allows the new, healthy skin cells beneath to emerge.
It’s best to exfoliate using natural scrubs that contain sugar, salt, coffee grounds, rice powder, or other such finely ground plant-based powders.
For your delicate facial skin, use a gentle exfoliant that contains AHAs like glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, or malic acid. They gently scrub away the dead skin cells and give you a healthy glow.
Don’t forget to exfoliate your scalp as well. Use a good scalp scrub or use any of the natural exfoliants mentioned above, such as coffee grounds or sugar. Coffee grounds contain caffeine, which is good for your hair and skin. Meanwhile, sugar—besides working as a physical scrub—contains glycolic acid, which acts as a chemical exfoliant.
Discover Our Exfoliating Shampoo
Springtime Tip #4: Moisturize
While your skin does not require the thick, heavy creams to beat the dryness of winter, it still needs consistent hydration. In the warmer months, opt for lightweight serums and creams to moisturize and keep your skin soft, supple, and healthy.
The best time to moisturize is immediately after cleansing your skin. Use a hydrating face mist and serum that contains humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients attract moisture from the environment and hydrate your skin.
Then, lock in the moisture by using a lightweight, non-comedogenic cream that contains emollients and occlusives such as jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, rosehip oil, shea butter, mango butter, and so on. These ingredients help maintain your skin's elasticity and keep it supple and glowing.
Shop Our Hydrating Serum
Hydrating your hair and scalp is important, too. When you shampoo your hair, you need to lock in the moisture by applying a lightweight hair serum. If you have curly hair, use a leave-in hair conditioning cream and lightweight hair oil to keep it soft and hydrated.
Discover Our Hair Conditioners
Springtime Tip #5: Protect
Regardless of the season, it’s crucial to protect your skin from the sun's harsh rays by using a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Use oil-free, water-resistant sunscreen on your face and body, and apply SPF lip balm to keep your lips hydrated and protected from the sun. Note that even if you will spend most of your day indoors, it’s best to apply a light layer of sunscreen. Hours of exposure to direct sunlight through windows can still cause damage.
Nowadays, many hair serums and leave-in hair conditioners contain sun protection factor (SPF). These hair products that moisturize and protect the hair and scalp are must-haves for your daily routine.
Protect Your Skin and Hair With DS Laboratories
The Takeaway
Switching up your haircare and skincare routines for the springtime should not take too much work.
By making a few tweaks to your product choices and remaining diligent about moisturization and protection, you can sail through this beautiful season with supple skin and healthy hair!