SOME SPRING SKINCARE UPDATES

- Advertisement information: this post discusses items gifted to me with no obligation to share them (marked *). In addition I have / have had a brand relationship with Monday Muse, Cult Beauty and Summer Fridays (gifting) and Fresh, Hello Sunday and Space NK (paid advertorial content). My blog has Skimlinks and RewardStyle installed to automatically monetise purchases of products I link on my blog, therefore this post may contain affiliate links. All opinions remain my own and please refer to my Disclosure Page  for further detail -

Spring is finally in sight! So, today I thought I'd share with you some of the things I'll be updating in my skincare routine as we transition into some warmer weather...

One of the first things I switch up is my cleanser; for winter, my dry skin loves the richest, creamiest cleanser possible. Something that feels more like a moisturiser than a cleanser is ideal! For spring, I tend to want something a little lighter and fresher, but still non-foaming. Monday Muse's the Cleanser | £28 | is perfection, in my books! It's a kind of creamy-gel lotion that feels water-based and light, doesn't foam up and gets a little creamy as it's massaged onto damp skin. It's non-stripping and delivers everything I like in a creamy cleanser without being quite as heavy. It's formulated with gentle glycolipid surfactants, which are effective but not at all aggressive, so are perfect for dry and / or sensitive skin. There's also soothing aloe extract in here, sweet almond and hemp seed oils to moisturise and soften the skin through the cleansing process, glycerin which pulls hydration into the skin and prebiotics, which may help keep the skin's barrier function healthy. This is a wonderful, skin-balancing cleanser that leaves my skin soft, clean and fresh but still hydrated.

During the winter I'm all about a milky toner to add a layer of much-needed hydration and protection to protect against cold weather. For spring, I tend to switch to something a little more dewy and water-based, such as the Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Treatment Essence* | from £34. This has that satisfying, humectant-rich feel with a base of glycerin and hyaluronic acid. There's Vitamin E in here to act as an antioxidant (protecting the skin from free radical damage) and rose oil to give the skin a lovely, soft feel. And the star of the show here is of course the kombucha; I love to drink the stuff and I now love putting it on my face! It's a fermented black tea rich in antioxidants. It's still a little unproven as to what this does for the skin beyond its antioxidant benefits, but this product gives my skin that full, healthy, juicy glow in a way few toner / essence type products can. And the hydration it gives my skin lasts all day long.

I'm a fan of an oil-based Vitamin C derivative during the winter just to get a bit of extra nourishment into my skin whilst also reaping gentle antioxidant and brightening benefits. One of my all-time favourite formulas and a perfect water-based formula to transition into warmer weather with is the Summer Fridays CC Me Serum | £65. This is just a great AM serum all-rounder which hydrates and plumps my skin, boosts its glow and provides antioxidant benefits, as well as helping to tackle discolouration. It does this with a combination of two Vitamin C derivatives: 3-O Ethylated Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside, glycerin, niacinamide (an all-rounder to help prevent discolouration and also boost ceramide production in the skin, improving lipid barrier function), squalane (a skin-similar plant oil to replenish the skin) and Vitamin E and coffee extract for a further antioxidant boost.

An obvious switch is to move from a rich, fatty moisturiser during the daytime to something a little lighter and I love the Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Cream* | £38. This is that perfect water-cream hybrid for my dry skin that gives me what I need (and doesn't dissipate into the atmosphere) whilst feeling lightweight and breathable. It seriously delivers on both lasting hydration and glow and gives my skin that healthy look it needs as we crawl out of the depths of winter...! It's formulated with multiple weights of hyaluronic acid to draw moisture to different layers of the skin. It also has niacinamide, antioxidant-rich plant extracts, soothing aloe and moisturising plant oils like jojoba and squalane. It's just a good skin day in a tub and it has that breathable quality that's perfect for warmer weathers.

Finally, whilst I think that here in the UK an SPF 30 is absolutely fine for the winter months, I do prefer to stick to SPF 50 during spring and summer. At the same time; I still want to keep things fresh, glowing and hydrated. At the moment I'm really enjoying Hello Sunday's the Mineral One Lightweight Serum SPF 50+ | £25. I really was resistant to trying yet another mineral sunscreen after many disappointments, but I'm really glad I tried this one. It's a milky emulsion-serum that melts into the skin with very little work and doesn't leave a cast on my skin personally. It's hydrating and provides a nice, glowing base for makeup. This doesn't pill up as I apply other skincare or makeup and my complexion products glide beautifully over the top of it. And it provides broad-spectrum SPF 50+ protection to boot!

How do you like to transition your skincare from winter into spring?

Don't forget to follow me on:

Bloglovin | Instagram

Read more posts from this series here!