It’s not just your wardrobe that requires an overhaul come spring. Here, we reveal the skincare tweaks the experts actually recommend making.

After months of short grey days, rain, snow, slush, and freezing temperatures, spring is finally on its way, and we're certainly excited at the prospect. With longer, brighter days incoming, we're ready to kiss goodbye to chapped, dry, flaky skin and begin preparing our visage for (fingers crossed) sunnier days ahead.

But what switches do we need to make to ensure our skin at its best starting point this spring? We spoke to some of Scotland's top skincare experts to discover the changes we should be making to our beauty regimes—we may have managed to get their secrets for achieving healthy, gorgeous skin in the process, too.

SPRING CLEAN

Julie Brown, the owner of Edinburgh's The Source Clinic, recommends giving the bathroom cabinet a serious overhaul once temperatures reach the heady heights of 7 degrees. 'Twice a year, spring and autumn, I pledge to throw out any open skincare products over six months old, as they can host a buildup of bacteria, leading to clogged pores and dull skin,' reveals Brown. 'Lockdown may have meant some products haven't been used but resist the urge to hold on to them. And while you're at it, give your makeup brushes and beauty blenders a good clean, too, as they can also store unwanted germs. Simple hand soap will do the trick, but there are specialist products on the market if you fancy giving these a go. This might sound almost too easy, but it can have a huge impact on the skin's overall health.'

Brown is also an advocate of skincare tools, including stones and rollers. 'Facial massage is an essential part of any skincare routine, and I'm a big fan of the Flexi Skin rose quartz sculptor. It stimulates lymphatic drainage, detoxes the skin, and gets circulation flowing, all of which give a brighter, healthier, more toned complexion. It's the perfect skincare solution for those of us who have been indoors for so long.'

Jo Findlay, the founder of Glasgow facial studio 33 Dowanhill, also believes that you need to be selective when deciding which products stay or go come spring. 'If you're using products that contain high-level active ingredients, such as exfoliating acids or retinoids, and you plan on being outdoors a lot, it's imperative that you protect your skin by applying a broad-spectrum SPF every day—rain or shine! Whilst these products are worthwhile additions to your skincare routine, they do increase sensitivity to the sun, leaving you at risk of damage or hyperpigmentation,' advises Findlay. 'Additionally, ensure you apply any retinoid creams or serums in the evenings only—these will help with skin cell turnover, production of collagen and elastin, and treating hyperpigmentation and discolouration in the skin. Check with your dermatologist to find out which would best suit you, your skin and lifestyle.'

SLOUGH IT OFF

The next step in getting your glow on is exfoliation. 'Contrary to popular belief, we need to exfoliate more when our skin is extra dry,' reveals Helen Mulloy Reid of Bare Beauty Therapy, North Berwick. Her advice? 'Slough off dead winter skin cells and unblock pores with gentle exfoliating cleansers rather than harsh scrubs. I also rate exfoliators that have a touch of glycolic acid to help new skin shine through. Getting rid of old, dead cells will also allow better absorption of your other skincare products.'

Findlay also recommends buffing in the new season. 'Light micro-dermabrasion, followed by a moisturising mask, will help get rid of that old skin, and body brushing does wonders at boosting sluggish circulation, which almost always benefits skin appearance,' says Findlay.

USE PROTECTION

'While using a moisturiser with an SPF 30 is sufficient for winter, It's essential to ramp up your sun protection in spring,' says Dundee-based beauty therapist and Tropic Skincare ambassador Jane Storrie. 'I suggest to all clients that they have a separate sunscreen that's ideally SPF 50 from March onwards, as it is a high-risk time for sun damage. The temperature change might not seem dramatic, and you might not feel how strong the sun actually is. But by applying sunscreen every morning and reapplying before any outdoor activity during the day, you will start to see and feel the difference. Your skin will thank you for it.'

'Because the sun is (hopefully) out more in the spring, we tend to squint our eyes,' adds Brown. 'To combat the fine lines and wrinkles that can form around the eyes, find an eye cream with a high concentration of antioxidants and peptides. This will better protect against the effects of UVA rays and plump up the fine lines and wrinkles that have already formed.' Noted.

Spring Skin Secrets