Spring Cleaning your Skincare Routine
Last spring, I spent an eye-watering amount of money on a spring clean for my house. I wanted to throw back the curtains, open the windows and remove every speck of dirt and dust that had accumulated in my house over the winter months.
A team of cleaning wizards swept, mopped and wiped their way through my house and for the hour after they left, I was giddy with house pride and a sense of domestic bliss. But then the family came home, the dusty school shoes were dropped on the floor and despite eating leftovers to avoid using my blindingly shiny kitchen that night, it was a matter of hours before my house looked, well, the same as it did when I cleaned the house.
Like my spring clean experience, I also believe that when it comes to transitioning your skincare routine into the spring season, what you do every day in small ways has a far greater impact. You don’t need to spend a fortune or do anything drastic to get you looking naturally fresh and rejuvenated.
Cosmetic Spring Clean 5 Step Checklist:
1. Clean out your vanity, drawer, and cosmetics bag
With 80% of cosmetics in the US being thrown away unused, I am not about to tell you to throw out any skincare and beauty products to make room for more. Unfortunately, the skincare and cosmetics industry is one of the most unsustainable so try not to be lured by marketing campaigns, even from “clean and green” skincare brands, that convince you of your need to have a specific product for the new season.
However, it is worth a little look through your products to check expiry dates. Many natural beauty products use an expiry system based on a period after opening (Carbine Ridge Avocado Balm says to use within 12 months of opening, for example). This is more relevant if you prefer organic and natural skincare made with fewer preservatives or chemicals which usually have a shorter shelf life. It’s probably worth making a mental note of why a certain product you purchased was not finished by the expiry date and perhaps change your buying habits accordingly.
2. Hydrate: in and out
With the warmer weather starting, it is important to increase your water intake. Whether you are sweating excessively through exercise or even simply finding yourself feeling a little too hot in the sun, your skin blood flow is transferring heat from the core of the body to the skin and helping move and excrete toxins from your body. It is important to replace this water loss to further flush out the toxins in your body to improve the health of your skin and your body.
It’s also important to keep up your skin hydration. When skin is hydrated, plump, and elastic, it’s less likely to crack and let in external particles that can cause irritations and blemishes. I continue to use Avocado Balm every day and night on my face and body, but some people may need to consider using it only as a hydrating night mask while using a lighter oil-based moisturiser on their face during the day. Our skin is very unique, particularly with dehydration levels.
3. Exfoliate
The cold winter months with hot showers and dry wind contribute to a build up of dry skin. A natural, gentle product on your face will help slough off dead skin and unblock pores. Reusable exfoliating face pads or makeup removing pads are also great for micro exfoliation. I’m a big fan of dry brushing for the body these days as I haven’t found a product that can match its efficacy (see journal post- Dry Brushing- What, Why, How?) but you may prefer a shower scrub to increase cell turnover and to leave you with more radiant, smooth skin.
4. Eat spring fruits and veggies
We are so lucky that spring in Australia brings and abundance of delicious fruit and vegetables to freshen up our meals. Of course, a wholefoods diet is naturally going to be great for your gut microbiome and consequently also great for skin but eating foods that are grown and consumed during their appropriate seasons are more nutritionally dense. Optimising the nutrient status of our food plays a role in healthy skin, with the body more readily absorbing the high levels of vitamins and fatty acids.
5. Get outside
The spring energy can do wonders to curb stress levels. Studies show emotional stress can affect, reveal or even exacerbate a number of skin disorders including psoriasis. Similarly, a few minutes of sun each day improves the quality of our sleep which in turn improves skin integrity. While Vitamin D is also important for skin health, it is very important to be sun smart. If you’re out in the sun longer than the recommended time, make sure you are using a sun cream that doesn’t contain paraben, petrochemicals, lead or other toxins.
Nice simple, sustainable and cost-effective steps to help you start the spring season glowing and rejuvenated. Happy spring cleaning everyone.