Flawless Skin by Summer

Hey everyone, 

Happy Friday!!

For the most part I consider my self a planner, a list-maker, a generally-organised type of chick. The exception? Whenever the seasons change.

Chalk it up to living the majority of my life in Southern Africa (where we barely even have seasons), but I'm always caught off guard when the weather flips. And now that I live in the United Kingdom I typically don't get around to buying a new coat until February or a new bathing suit until July, and at that point it's a bit of a wash.

Same with my daily skin care routine. I'll find myself using my heavy winter creams in April and wondering why my skin is breaking out. So when the first hints of summer showed its cute little face I knew it was time to start tweaking my skincare routine - a must for spring. I considered it a chance to get myself in gear for the new season too. I looked to some of the experts for both the product swaps we should all be making, as well as the in-office and at-home skin care treatments that help get rid of dry, winter skin in time for shorts weather.

Now I've got a new daily skin care regimen and heck, I may even get a jump-start on buying a new bikini this year, too.

Enroll in body bootcamp

This is not a call to hit the gym (although that certainly doesn't hurt) but rather the derm and the spa. Spring is the perfect time to prep your skin for all that bikini- and shorts-wearing you'll be doing come summer. "If you wait until June it'll be too late," says London dermatologist Dr. Rebecca Baxt.

To start, take a look in the mirror and if there are any brown spots, spider veins, or other "distractions," then make an appointment to get them zapped. Baxt also suggests microdermabrasion (for your face and body), chemical peels, or intense pulse light treatment to help get rid of dry winter skin and even skin tone.

You can also start laser hair removal now (if you're into that), so you can get through the whole series of treatments before summer, Baxt says.

And even if you can't make it to a dermatologist or esthetician, Birmingham-based esthetician Gina Marí suggests using a body scrub regularly at home for softer skin (she likes Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish, £35.45). Baxt says adding products with vitamin C will help even skin tone.

Budget Friendly Scrub:  Soap and Glory's Sugar Crush Body scrub (100ml), £8.

Re-think your retinol

If you use retinol, whether for anti-aging or acne benefits, Baxt says you can go one of two ways come spring.

If you were using retinol less often (or not at all) in the winter because it dried out your skin, you can start using it again and increase the frequency, says Baxt.

However, she says some of her patients actually use retinol less often in the spring than they do in the winter. The reason? All that lovely sunshine. "The downside of increasing retinol is you become more sun sensitive, so if you know you'll be in the sun more and you know you won't be good with the sunscreen, then you may want to skip retinol in the spring."

Get the SPF out of hibernation

You know you're supposed to wear sunscreen all year long. But let's be real, when you haven't seen more than a sliver of sun in weeks, it's easy to justify skipping the stuff.

But now that it's spring and the sun is going from guest star to main cast member, it's time to reach in the back of your medicine cabinet and grab the SPF. Two important things to remember (aside from simply using it): reapply often and hit up all of your body parts that are going to see the sun.

"Sunscreen only lasts 2 or 3 hours at best, so keep a powder sunblock in your purse or car and swish it on your face," Baxt says. "It'll look like you touched up your makeup, and you've got more sunscreen on." One to try: BareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen, £21.25.

And when you're applying, don't forget these spots: your neck, chest, hands, the backs of your ears, and the back of your neck if you have your hair up.

Lighten up

Increased humidity means you can put down the heavy moisturising creams and switch to a lighter lotion, Baxt says. Just look to your complexion as a guide. If your skin still feels tight after putting on your moisturiser, try a slightly richer product; if you've got the afternoon greasies, use a lighter lotion.

Or, if you're really oily or acne prone, Marí says you can skip the moisturiser all together -- if you use a toner. "Toner, not an astringent, helps bring the pH level back to normal after washing your face," she says. "Washing your face strips your skin of it's natural moisture barrier, and it takes your body time to get that back. But toner can help you do this right away." Marí likes Dermatologica Multi-active Toner, £26.40.

Lay off your scalp

Dandruff is typically worse in winter thanks to dry heat indoors and extra-hot showers, but when the humidity starts rising in spring you can usually put down the Head & Shoulders, Baxt says. Obviously if your dandruff is severe there's no reason to stop using a medicated shampoo, but if you're dying to try a different formula Baxt says now is the time to do it.












These tips will be easy peasy and you'll be summer ready in no time!

Have a great weekend!

Stay sweet,