New season, new skincare routine!
Winter is notoriously harsh on the skin. We’re constantly shifting between cool outdoor environments and heated indoor spaces, and the cold winter air carries less moisture and is harsher on our skin. A lot of us adapt our skincare routines for winter which means that as the weather heats back up and becomes more humid, we need to consider how we’ll modify our habits again. Here are some of our top tips, and the products that’ll keep you glowing throughout spring!
1. Cleanse
Cleansing your face everyday is a must! This process gets rid of all the toxicants, dirt, and makeup you come into contact with in everyday life. Cleansing helps your skin to be clearer, healthier, and shinier and also prepares it for the rest of your care routine, making sure your other products can sink in and helping you to get the most out of them.
In winter a lot of people prefer oil-based cleansers, which can help to lock moisture into your skin. As we shift into warmer temperatures though, your skin is likely to produce more of its own natural oils so we recommend a light, gel cleanser like the Refresh Gentle Gel Cleanser from Organic Formulations. This Australian-made, vegan product is enriched with organic aloe vera and marshmallow extract, to leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed.
2. Exfoliate
Scrub-a-dub-dub those dry winter layers away and let your supple spring skin shine through! Many people avoid exfoliating in cooler months for fears of it drying out their already-dry skin. As the weather warms back up though, our skin is better equipped to tolerate exfoliation processes and the more active ingredients in a range of our products.
Why not give the all-natural, all-organic Tasmanian Sand Scrub from Three Warriors a go? Or, if you’d prefer not to use a physical exfoliant, try Derma E’s Vitamin C Instant Radiance Citrus Face Peel—natural, vegan, sustainably-made, and blended with glycolic and lactic acids to get your skin smooth and glowing in no time.
3. Water-based serum
After you’ve cleansed away the impurities of the day, and exfoliated off your dry or dead skin cells, you’re ready to start adding all the helpful goodies back into your skin!
We recommend getting yourself a water-based serum, to give your skin a boost of hydration (particularly important in summer when you’re sweating more and losing your fluids). A water-based serum—lighter and easier to absorb than its oil-based counterparts—will return a concentrated dose of nutrients and antioxidants to your skin, brightening, colour-correcting, and firming-up the skin.
Try something like the Transformative Eye Serum from The Jojoba Company. It’s Australian-made, natural, organic and vegan, and is best applied around your eye, eyebrow, and under-eye area.
4. Moisturise
Okay … so we know we’ve reiterated the higher humidity levels of spring. But you still need to moisturise to lock in the benefits of your serum and other active products, if you use them, and to keep your skin hydrated and supple.
In winter plenty of us switch to a thicker, creamier moisturiser which, come spring or summer, can feel a little heavy on the face and neck. We recommend getting your hands on something a little lighter and thinner, like Natio’s Antioxidant Face Moisturiser, infused with natural plant extracts and key essential oils. Like all skin-products, you need to opt for something that works for you, so other alternatives you could try include the Lilly Pilly and Omega 3 Face Moisturiser by Rohr Remedy, or Derma E’s Radiant Glow Face Oil.
5. Sunscreen
Last, but certainly not least in your spring skincare routine, is sunscreen! While it’s recommended that you keep up with sun safety throughout the winter months, those UV rays are about to get a whole lot more powerful so it’s incredibly important, at this time of year, to build failsafe slip, slop, slap habits.
We stock a range of sunscreens for face and body, so you can find your favourite amongst our extensive selection. Be sure to use a product that’s at least SPF 50+, and offers broad-spectrum protection such as We Are Feel Good Inc’s Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion.
Always remember to read the label of your favourite sunscreen and follow the directions for use and application. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection. Wear protective clothing, seek shade and avoid prolonged sun exposure. Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming and perspiring, in accordance with directions.
Skincare is ultimately about finding what works best for you, but the turn of the seasons offers a great opportunity to consider how you’re caring for your skin, what you might do differently, and how you can ensure your face is kept bright and glowing all throughout the coming warmer months!
