Though it’s been a long and cold winter, the weather is finally starting to change for the better, and I, for one, am so excited for the days of shorts and T-shirts to return. Your clothing, however, shouldn’t be the only thing you swap out once the sunshine makes its reappearance – we have to talk about your beauty routine.
Even though most people have their holy-grail products and favorite makeup looks that they stick with through every season, your skin will thank you for adding and removing specific products from your daily lineup. Using your winter/spring skincare or makeup products in the spring can lead to some pretty uncomfy situations; you’ll be sweating more often, most likely, so you don’t want to clog your pores up even more with heavy creams or foundations.
Here are the main swaps you should be making when summer begins.
- Add sunscreen.
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Let me be your protective mom friend for a second—you need sunscreen. I don’t care if you’re only outside during your walk to class or work, or if you claim to never get sunburnt, or if you don’t like spending more than five minutes on your beauty routine. You. Need. Sunscreen.
Audrey Lent, a senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, agrees. “I use less moisturizer and more sunscreen,” she says, “since my skin isn’t as dry and I’m out in the sun more!”
It’s a common misconception that you don’t need to slather up until the super-hot months, but don’t be fooled by that. The June sun may not have as much heat, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t UV rays you need to protect yourself from. So, make sure you’re getting your daily dose of SPF, and make sure that old bottle you used last year hasn’t expired yet!
Some great sunscreen options include Coola’s Full Spectrum 360° Mineral Sun Silk Crème Organic Sunscreen SPF 30, which has “supercharged antioxidants,” or Sun Bum’s SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Stick, which you can apply without getting your hands covered in goop.
- Try a light-weight moisturizer.
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One of the reasons that people everywhere are happy to kiss the cold goodbye is that they can also bid adieu to flaky, dry skin. Moisturizer is always an essential product, of course, but you should consider putting down that heavy-duty cream in favor of something a little lighter.
Patricia Wexler, M.D., told Vogue that something water-based or with hyaluronic acid makes a better moisturizer for warmer days. Makes sense: Without the cold relentlessly stripping moisture from your skin, you don’t need to take as many drastic measures to keep your skin hydrated.
The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel or Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream are great options. They may be on the pricier side, but they’re tried and true, and you should be able to get your money’s worth out of them, since they’re so hydrating you can use them pretty sparingly day-to-day.
While some of these moisturizers likely have SPF in them, though, don’t get too comfortable with that. Make sure you’re using sunscreen in addition to moisturizer to make sure you’re getting the full amount of sun protection you need.
- Start exfoliating.
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You may have heard that exfoliating in the wintertime is a no-go, mostly because your skin already has the potential to get irritated from harsh winds or cold, and you don’t want to worsen the problem.
Now that summer has arrived, it’s time to do some damage control on all those dry skin cells. Using a gentle exfoliator a couple times a week will slough those away and leave you with a fresh, smooth complexion so you can achieve the glow you’ve been missing during those dreary winter months.
I am personally in love with the Origins GinZing collection for the products’ fantastic smell and refreshing feel, and their Refreshing Scrub Cleanser is no exception. If you’re looking for something on the cheaper side, however, the Simple Skincare Kind to Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub is also a great option to get the most bang for your buck.
- Switch up your foundation.
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Yes, full-coverage complexion products are a godsend, but wearing heavy foundation in warmer weather might not fare so well for you, since you’re likely to sweat more this time of year, a thicker base could leave you feeling cakey, oily and clogged the more time you spend in the sun.
Opt for a tinted moisturizer or the K-beauty staple BB cream instead, as these lighter formulas are designed to help your skin in the process (BB cream moisturizes, rejuvenates, and provides coverage all in one). Some crowd favorites include the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and the Stila Lingerie Soufflé Skin Perfecting Color. They may not be as matte as your favorite foundation, but honestly, why not embrace the glowing dewy look?
Related: Full-Coverage Concealers So Good They’ll Rival Your Foundation
A good practice to get in the habit of as the season changes, too, is to throw out old, expired makeup. Even if you use certain products every day of the year, you can combine your spring-centered skincare shopping with the opportunity to replace that year-old concealer you probably shouldn’t be putting on your face anymore in the first place. Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to try out new brands you’ve been hearing good things about if you want to switch things up. Head into summer with a new and improved beauty routine, and enjoy the sunny days!