6 Ways To Spring Clean Your Beauty Routine

Tis the season for spring cleaning. It’s a time where we toss out the old to make room for the new. We shake off the symbolic layers of winter and get ready to bloom.

You don’t have to stop with dusting and purging your house to reap the full benefits of spring cleaning. Your skin care and make-up regimens need a boost, too. But how do we know which products to prioritise for the new season? And what should be banished?until winter rolls around once more? Here’s how to transition from winter to spring with fresh, fabulous skin and spring-ready make-up.

Exfoliate

The cold, dry days of winter may (hopefully) be soon over, but your dry, flaky skin remains. Spring is a good time for deep exfoliation and cleansing. During winter, much of our skin is completely covered so we may have forgotten to give it extra TLC. Tights, long sleeves, and fluffy socks may have prevented you from seeing the rough, dry skin building up on your feet, knees, and elbows.?A decent body exfoliator will do the trick and you’ll need a separate one for the delicate areas on your face. We love?Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Skin Brightening Exfoliator, €29 and?No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Body Exfoliator, €16.?If your lips are lacklustre, we love?Clinique Sweet Pots, €17. A cute combo of a scrub and one side and a balm on the other, these add instant polish to your lips and keep them flake free.

Change Moisturisers

Your skin shouldn’t be as dry now that temperatures?are changing. If anything, it’ll be oiler than before so you don’t want to weigh it down with a heavy cream. The Clarins Multi-Active Jour, €57 is an IMAGE favourite. It has a lightweight, yet nourishing consistency?that instantly absorbs into and softens the skin. It’s a perfect base for foundation, too.?Facial oils are another great option and Creme De La Mer’s Renewal Oil, €180 will be your skin saviour if it needs an extra boost.

Clean Out Your Beauty Bag

Skin care and make-up products do have a shelf life. Old, outdated products can harbour bacteria and lose their effectiveness.

Check the dates on your products. You may want to toss the following:

• Anything past the expiration date
• Products that appear dry or crusty
• Anything that has changed consistency, colour, or smell
• Anything with an SPF older than one year (SPF loses its effectiveness over time).
• Mascara older than three months. (Always toss it after three months, regardless of how much there is remaining Some only last weeks before drying out.)
• Old, dirty make-up brushes and sponges (again, these harbour bacteria. If you’re not replenishing them on a regular basis, they’ll wreak havoc on your skin, especially if you’re prone to blemishes).

Switch Foundation

It’s time to confine that thick winter foundation to the back of the press and let your skin breathe again; a dewy and natural look is what you’re aiming for. If you still require more coverage, resist the urge to add another layer and opt for a concealer?instead. You can go for a BB Cream – any of these options are ideal – or if you want to meet halfway, we love Bourjois City Radiance?Foundation, €12.95. The finish is light; skin is glowing and it offers you more coverage than a tinted moisturiser.

SPF Should Be A Priority

SPF should always be a must-use product, but even more so when the sun starts to shine. If your daily moisturiser doesn’t contain a sufficient level of SPF, then you’ll need to apply sunscreen to your face and neck. Studies also say UV rays are responsible for about 70-80% of skin ageing and wrinkles, so there’s no excuse not to use the stuff. If you’re going to be spending time outside (no matter what the weather), be sure to slather on a sunscreen with SPF 30 or above to all patches of skin that’ll be exposed. We love?Cr’me de la Mer SPF 50 UV Protecting Fluid, €90 and Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+, €20-?25.

Brighten Up Your Palette

Ease yourself into a summery mood by brightening up your make-up palette a little at a time if you’re not prone to brighter shades; maybe with a coral blush or?pink lip gloss and a hint of shimmer on your nails. Start soft and take it from there.