Spring is in the Air: How to Transition Winter Skin to Warmer Weather

When it comes to maintaining healthy and hydrated skin, winter is no cake walk. So many of us are pumped for spring's warmer temperatures, but surprisingly, this seasonal transition can be just as irritating on your face. Acne, eczema, and rosacea are all conditions that can flare due to temperature changes, increased sunlight, and a number of other factors.

5 Tips for Your Skin from Winter to Spring

You're coming out of a season where the skin is quite compromised, and the barrier is very fragile, and then spring is quite volatile. You’re getting those warmer to hot temperatures, which boosts oil flow, and also sweat, which is a huge irritant after your skin has just been parched dry for months on end with the cold.

Seasonal allergies come into play as well. As plant life comes up, allergens and pollen are being released into the air, which can trigger histamine reactions that present in the skin as rashes, irritation, and rosacea. Our bodies reflect nature, so when nature goes to sleep for the winter, our oil production slows down, our hair growth slows down; and when everything comes to life in spring, our skin kind of does the same.

So, what's the solution?

Making small changes to your skin care routine and even your diet can help. In traditional Chinese medicine, tweaks in our skin care should be considered according to different seasons. Spring is about soothing and calming and awakening your skin. Repairing your skin's barrier, which was likely compromised over the winter, is also key for preventing and minimizing seasonal breakouts and irritation.  

Here, we share some simple strategies for keeping skin clear, calm, and happy this spring and beyond:

1. Hydrate (but don't suffocate) Your Skin

One of the most obvious ways to transition your skin care routine for spring is by lightening up your moisturizer or face oil. You still want to maintain moisture levels, but you don't want to suffocate skin with heavy products like balms since your natural oil production is also increasing. So, using a hydrating facial mist after cleansing followed by a lighter moisturizer or a face oil that absorbs really well into the skin is a good move. 

Opt for a moisturizer during the day for an added layer of protection against pollution and irritants and whatever is lingering in the air, then an antioxidant-rich face oil at night. But try to avoid anything that's too stimulating. You want to calm and soothe the skin. Anything with a stronger acid, like glycolic acid, should be put aside for now, especially if you experience eczema or rosacea flare-ups.

2. Layer on the Protective Antioxidants

Soothing botanicals and antioxidants can not only help repair and restore your skin's barrier, but many have photoprotective properties as well. Meaning, they may minimize sun-induced damage to the skin and boost the effectiveness of your sunscreen. While synthetic vitamin C can make skin more reactive, we actually have the opposite effect with natural forms of vitamin C. It acts as a protectant against UV damage, and if you use it regularly in the form of something like a weekly vitamin-C-rich mask, your skin starts to store it up so you have more protection.

Some ingredients high in vitamin C and a variety of other antioxidants include manuka honey, aloe vera, and cehami flower extract. In addition to using an antioxidant-rich mask, you can also layer on an antioxidant-rich facial serum or oil.

3. Repair and Soothe with a Manuka Honey Mask

For skin that's really cranky and irritated come spring, a barrier-restoring mask can do the trick. A Manuka honey mask for any kind of skin irritation, whether it's acne or any type of rash. It's just really calming, helps to restore the skin, and it's super-antibacterial and healing. A probiotic-rich yogurt mask would be great, too, because it helps strengthen the skin's microbiome, so it can heal itself.

4. Choose Your Sunscreen Wisely

Increased sun exposure is unavoidable come spring, which means incorporating your daily facial sun protection is crucial. However, acne and rosacea—two conditions that tend to flare in spring—often don't respond well to sunscreen. While sunscreen is definitely necessary, a lot of acne sufferers find themselves breaking out from sunscreen because it tends to be pore clogging. Same goes for rosacea or any sensitive skin prone to redness and irritation.

Therefore, choosing the right sunscreen product is key. For acne sufferers, that means opting for something with non-comedogenic oils and non-irritating, preferably hypoallergenic ingredients and without fragrance.

5. Invest in a Good Air Purifier

With spring allergies come plenty of facial irritation. You might notice a lot of puffiness and red, dry patches on your skin, which is why an air purifier to rid the home of airborne irritants like pollen-laden dust can be very beneficial. You can also incorporate more of these houseplants that have been shown to naturally purify indoor air.

Wild Naturals Skin Care Products

For your best options of gentle yet intense ingredients to take care of your face, Wild Naturals is your go to brand! With manuka honey as the key ingredient for Wild Naturals, you will see the ideal transition from winter to spring skin without any of those uh-oh days. Visit our online store today!