Prep Your Skin to Spring Ahead

We are one step closer to the Spring season, when we moved our clocks ahead an hour.  Which means it’s also perfect time to start prepping our skin for the warmer season, by incorporating  a skin-brightening exfoliant(twice-weekly), a face oil, a weekly moisturizing mask, followed by an extra emollient moisturizing creams.  These treatments don’t only apply to your face, but to your entire body.  During the cold dry winter season, no matter how much we moisturize our face, arm, legs and feet, the harsh environment winds and dry air wreak havoc on our skin’s surface.  It’s important to at least use a facial, or body scrub no more than twice a week to slough off dead dry skin that lay on the surface, causing our skin to appear dull and dry.

I have put together a list of personally tried and tested products that are specially aimed at your face, arms, legs and feet.  They work amazingly and will leave your skin feeling soft, bright and ready to Spring ahead!  Also checkout my 7 Steps to Healthier Skin this Spring post for added tips to achieving healthier skin.

For the Face

1. Face Scrub

Incorporating a face scrub into your face care routine for the most twice a week will have a multitude of benefit on the appearance of your skin.  Using a harsh face scrub daily is a huge no-no, because it damages the skin’s natural protective layer and can lead underlying skin problems such as irritations, breakouts, and inflammation. Instead if you must use a scrub daily opt for something gentle with micro rounded scrubbing beads.

Splurge The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Exfoliator, $15

Steal Alba Botanica Sea Enzyme Facial Scrub, $5

 

2. Facial Oils

Oils are all the rave these days and the benefits are pretty dramatic.  The fatty acids and lipids in oils help to improve the skin’s condition by brightening and giving it a glow.   They aid with a number of skin concerns, like dryness, blemish fighting and anti-aging.

Splurge Tarte Maracuja Oil, $46

Steal Boots Botanics Organic Facial Oil, $8.99

 

3. Blemish Serums

We all suffer from the occasional break out which leave behind ugly blemishes, or some discoloration from sun damage.  These two products have worked really well for me when I need to clear up a blemish or two.

Splurge Dr. Andrew Weil for OriginsMega-Bright, $55

Steal Yes to Tomatoes Roller Ball Spot Stick, $8.49

 

4. Facial Mask

Using a face mask 2-3 times a week helps to rejuvenate, hydrate, soothe and in some cases make your pores appear smaller.  I love these two brands, they are both easy to use and leaves your skin feels so soft and smooth. Tip: Stick the sheet masks in the fridge 30 mins before use, it will leave you skin feeling cool and refreshed.

Splurge Fresh Rose Face Mask, $55

Steal MISSHA Pure Source Sheet Mask/ 3-pack, $8

 

For the Body

1. Scrubs

Using a body scrub a couple of times a week offers the same benefits that it does for your face.  During the winter colder season our skin tends to get dry, flaky and dull, so using a scrub will help to slough off dead skin cell and brighten the condition and appearance of our skin from head to toe.  These two recommended products are my favorite, although one is a body wash, it contains micro-beads that gently scrubs out skin. Use it with a loofah or a mesh pouf sponge, will add with the exfoliation.

Splurge Origins Modern Friction, $39.50

Steal Dove Exfoliating Body Wash, $8

 

2. Oil – Using body oils is a great way to keep your skin moisturized if you don’t want to use a moisturizer, which tend to leave your skin feeling a bit tacky. They will leave your skin feeling soft, moisturized and not sticky.  The Bobbi Brown recommendation below will remind you of summer, with the beachy scent, it’s one of my favorites.  Also if you want something simple and fragrance free, baby oil works just as well.

Splurge Caudalie Divine Oil, $49

Steal Bobbi Brown Beach Body oil, $31

3. Hands and Feet

Here are a few extra product recommendations that target your hands and feet specifically. The first a cuticle oil will help to moisturize the cuticle keeping them soft and healthy. The convenient roll on application is easy enough to use daily, and the Vitamin E and essential oils also strengthen nails.
For the feet, this creamy balm contains Grape seed oil and shea butter to soften callused heels and give tired winter feet a nice pick-me-up.

Hands Julep Essential Cuticle Oil, $18

Feet  Caudalie Foot Beauty Cream, $15