Transition Plan: Shifting Your Skincare Routine From Winter To Spring

We don’t want to jump the gun, but it seems as though the weather is getting warmer. Finally? Maybe? If that really is the case (and all signs are pointing to yes), then along with changing out your closet, storing heavy woolens, and shaking out light linens, you need to give your skincare wardrobe some tweaks as well. It’s good to get a jump on things now since summer is going to bring more of the same as spring. See what we mean below.

More humidity

Warmer temperatures naturally correlate to increased moisture levels in the air and you’ll notice higher amounts of humidity in the spring than you felt in fall or winter. That’s not necessarily bad news for your face. The water droplets in the air will help keep skin extra hydrated and supple before you add a single thing to it. If you’re constantly combatting dry, flaky patches between November and March, this will bring some welcome relief. The environmental increase in heat and moisture will also spur your sebum glands to produce more oil. Again, for dehydrated complexions, this may not be the worst thing. However, those with already-oily skin could be less than thrilled by these developments. 

No matter what your skin type, you need to moisturize your face 365 days a year. However, if you relied on a heavy cream during the colder months, this may be your cue to change to a lighter lotion, just like you change your clock for Daylight Savings Time. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Moisturizer is formulated with squalene and ceramides to help reinforce your skin’s moisture barrier, something all complexion types benefit from – especially those on the drier side. 

One common refrain we hear all the time from people who have skin that’s oily or acne-prone is that applying moisturizer to their skin makes them break out, which is their excuse for skipping this step. This is a mistake. For one thing, withholding moisture from skin just encourages it to manufacture even more sebum, which is probably the opposite of what you want. Secondly, it’s not the moisturizer itself that can trigger a breakout — it’s the ingredients in the moisturizer. An oil-free formula solves both problems by keeping hydration levels constant without using oil-based ingredients to do it. Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Oil-Free Radiant Moisturizer is, like the label says, made without oil. But it does contain ever-powerful antioxidant vitamin C, plus niacinamide, which has many benefits, including helping to refine the appearance of pores, never a bad outcome when skin trends oily.

More acne

Oil-free moisturizer by itself may not be all that’s required to keep skin clear once the weather warms up. The heat and humidity are still going to result in your skin making more oil. That, plus perspiration, means more material to block pores and feed acne bacteria. The solution comes in two parts. The first is regular, daily exfoliation to get rid of the dead cells that combine with oil and dirt to plug a pore. If you usually use our Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel, you may need to transition to our Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel during this time to get the benefit of its two additional alpha and beta hydroxy acids for even more potent exfoliation. 

The second piece of any plan to keep acne at bay is to eliminate the bacteria, P.acnes, that causes it. Blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been clinically proven to kill P.acnes without causing skin harm or reaction. Our Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro device contains 62 blue LEDs that painlessly neutralize P.acnes bacteria all over the face in just three minutes a day. It also has red LED which reduces inflammation and redness that usually accompanies acne. Follow a session of your FaceWare Pro with your Extra Strength Daily Peel for a power-packed, acne-eliminating, one-two punch.

More sun exposure

Since there are more hours of daylight during this time of year, it’s pretty much impossible — unless you’re nocturnal — to avoid getting more sun exposure. Our constant refrain is SPF 30+, 365 days a year. Daily application of a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, like our Dr. Dennis Gross All-Physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30, to your face and neck every morning is just table stakes. Keep in mind that if you’re trading your turtlenecks for V-necks, you may need to smooth your sunscreen down your chest as well. 

But for those truly serious about skin protection (that’s you, right?), thorough coverage involves one step before sunscreen: vitamin C serum. The antioxidant strength of vitamin C (found in our Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum) works like a safety net to neutralize any free radicals that squeeze past your defensive layer of SPF.

Spring Skincare Routine

Now you know the weather changes will affect your skin, it’s time to build a regimen for the season. Make your routine work harder for you by following these steps: 

1. Cleanse: all solid skincare routines start with a cleanser. This removes any dirt and debris from skin, priming it for the rest of your routine. The key here is to select a cleanser that removes excess oil without stripping the skin. We recommend the Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Daily Cleansing Gel, a luxurious foaming gel deeply cleanses to unclog pores and wash away bacteria - leaving skin soft and supple, never stripped.
2. Peel: a daily two-step chemical peel will keep excess oil at bay while keeping pores clear to avoid breakouts. We recommend the Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel. Step 1 gently but effectively exfoliates with 5 AHA/BHAs to immediately boost radiance, target pores, diminish fine lines, and even out tone and texture while step 2 neutralizes while hydrating and delivering anti-aging actives for smooth, even, balanced skin.
3. Treat: If you are not already using a potent vitamin C serum, now is the time to start. Vitamin C is a tried-and-true antioxidant that protects skin from free radicals generated by the sun and stimulates our natural production of collagen. The result is younger, healthier-looking skin. We love Vitamin C Lactic 15% Firm & Bright Serum.  
4. LED: Nearly all skin types can benefit from LED – but this step is especially beneficial in warmer months due to its acne-fighting abilities. Blue LED targets acne-causing bacteria while red LED reduces inflammation and delivers anti-aging benefits. The DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro has both red and blue LED for a multi-tasking treatment in just three minutes per day. 
5. Eye Care: With more intense sun comes more squinting which can result in deepened crow’s feet. Fight fine lines and wrinkles around the eye with a vitamin C eye treatment. The Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment: is a lightweight, fast-absorbing treatment to improve puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles around the eyes.
6. Moisturize: an oil-free moisturizer is key to giving the hydration it needs – without any unwanted breakouts. The Alpha Beta Daily Moisturizer is a lightweight, universal & oil-free moisturizer with squalane and ceramides to replenish and support the moisture barrier while AHA/BHA promote a smooth, healthy complexion. 
7. SPF: last but certainly not least, finish your AM routine with a sunscreen with at least an SPF 30. Our favorite is the All-Physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense SPF 30.

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