Transitioning from winter to spring skincare in Calgary, AB means adjusting your products to address increased oil production, heightened UV exposure, and the potential for pesky breakouts. With all the joys that come with warmer weather, your skin faces unique challenges that require a shift in your skincare routine to rediscover and maintain a healthy, glowing complexion.

How Does Spring Affect Your Skin?

Spring brings 3 environmental changes that can impact your skin:

1. Humidity Increases in Spring

With more humidity in the air, your skin produces more oil. This can be great for dry/sensitive skin types but can mean an increase in shine and breakouts for naturally oil-prone skin types.

2. UV Rays Intensify in Spring

The intensity of UV rays leaves your skin at higher risk for free radical damage. Free radicals are molecules that can damage cells at the DNA level. Free radicals are produced inside the body naturally, however, environmental stressors like sun exposure can accelerate free radical production and result in signs of premature aging on the face like sunspots, lines and wrinkles, and a dull, stressed complexion.

3. Melanin Production Increases in Spring

As melanin production increases from UV rays, surface pigmentation can worsen, and new pigmentation can develop. This includes melasma, sunspots, and post-acne hyperpigmentation.

Spring Skincare Tips

Here’s how to renew and refresh your skincare for the season along with a few of Natology’s favourite product recommendations. These tips are focused on protecting your skin against excess oil, free radical damage and pigmentation, while brightening and rejuvenating your complexion.

Weekly Exfoliation
Exfoliation has three main benefits for the skin:

1. Sloughs away dead skin cells that can clog your pores and dull your complexion
2. Resurfaces and cleans out the pores
3. Allows for better skincare absorption ensuring you get the most out of your products

A physical exfoliator like AlumierMD’s MicroDerm Polish will instantly brighten and soften your complexion for the new season. Depending on your skin type, a once-weekly physical exfoliation (like a scrub or polish) and a mid-week chemical exfoliator like AlumierMD’s AHA Renewal Serum can keep cell renewal ongoing and prevent dead skin cells from clogging the pores.

Not sure what your skin type requires? Schedule a virtual or in-person skincare consultation with a Natology skin expert!

Lightweight Hydration for Spring
As humidity increases in Spring, your skin will respond well to a lighter moisturizer to keep oil production under control and minimize breakouts from moisture buildup. The purpose of a moisturizer is to hydrate the skin while locking in your targeted serums. 

If your skin is on the dry side, incorporating a hyaluronic acid serum like AlumierMD’s Ultimate Boost Serum can balance hydration levels and allow you to comfortably move to a lighter moisturizer for the spring/summer season.

For an everyday morning and night moisturizer for spring, DermaQuest’s Essential Moisturizer is a lightweight moisturizer safe for all skin types. Antioxidants aid in protecting and repairing the skin barrier while aloe and hyaluronic acid soothe and nourish the skin.

If oil and shine are your main concern when choosing a moisturizer, HydraClarité by AlumierMD is an ultra-lightweight moisturizer perfect for oil and acne-prone skin types. HydraClarité is formulated with antioxidant and redness-soothing ingredients and leaves a shine-free finish.

Boost Your Antioxidants for Spring

Incorporating a Vitamin C serum if you haven’t already will change the game for your skin. Not only does Vitamin C instantly restore an all-day glow to your skin, but Vitamin C is a super protector against sun damage, free radical damage, pigmentation, and premature aging. A high-strength formulation like AlumierMD’s EverActive C+E Peptide works to visibly fade pigmentation, brighten the complexion, maximize sun protection along with your SPF, and promote collagen production for a healthy, plump appearance.

Soothe Irritated Skin from Spring Allergens

Seasonal allergies can leave your skin feeling dry, itchy, and inflamed. Hale Derma is an all-natural medical-grade mist that soothes irritated skin. Hale Derma restores hydration, quickly reduces redness, and calms itch and inflammation. Keep this mist in your bag and spray on a fresh face or over makeup as much as you need throughout the day for relief of seasonal allergy irritation.

At-Home Masks to Brighten, Refine, and Clear Breakouts

Targeted face masks can work wonders for common skin challenges in spring like excess oil production and dehydration from sun exposure. Here are three medical-grade face masks to add to your Sunday self-care routine:

1. DermaQuest C Infusion TX Mask: Packed with antioxidants and peptides, this luxuriously silky mask is perfect for those who spend lots of time outdoors and are struggling to manage pigmentation. C Infusion TX Mask quenches dehydrated skin from excess sun exposure, brightens the complexion, and softens and plumps the skin.
2. DermaQuest Mini Pumpkin Mask: If pesky breakouts and post-acne scarring are your concern, Mini Pumpkin Mask will be your new best friend! Using the power of pumpkin pulp, Mini Pumpkin Mask infuses the skin with antioxidants to protect the skin barrier and brighten the complexion while releasing trapped bacteria from the pores. Mini Pumpkin Mask also works to brighten pigmentation left behind from acne.
3. AlumierMD Refining Clay Mask: Excess oil is no match for AlumierMD’s Refining Clay Mask. A clay mask unlike any other, Refining Clay Mask draws out oil and impurities without hardening on the skin. The result is a refined, smooth, and soft complexion, instantly.

Sunscreen to Protect Your Skin for Spring

Spring is an ideal time to mix up your SPF. Whether you want to opt for an oil-friendly formulation or a tinted formulation for the days when it’s just too warm for makeup, there are several options for all skin types and tones. While we have many favourites, like AlumierMD’s Clear Shield SPF formulated for all skin types (even acne-prone), the best SPF is one you will wear! 

3 Tips for Choosing the Right SPF:

1. Look for a broad-spectrum SPF to protect from both UVA and UVB rays
2. A mineral formulation is preferred over a chemical, especially for sensitive skin types. Mineral SPF sits on top of the skin and reflects UV rays while chemical formulations absorb into the skin and absorb UV rays.
3. SPF 30 minimum is recommended for the face

Learn more about choosing the right SPF for your skin type.

Spring Skincare to Glow for The Season

Your skin is unique and therefore may experience different challenges in response to the change of seasons. With summer just around the corner, the right skincare now can get you glowing for all your summer plans! Book a personalized skin consultation with our skin experts to get tailored advice and professional treatment and product recommendations for your skin goals. Let’s refresh your routine together—your best skin starts now!

FAQs:

How to Transition Skincare for Spring

It’s not necessary to wipe your routine clean and start again. Changing up your skincare is best done by either switching out or adding in one impactful product to start, like a Vitamin C serum. If you make too many changes at once, your skin could react negatively with breakouts or irritation. Slow and steady!

Products for Oily Skin in Spring

As humidity levels rise, combination-oily skin types often struggle the most with breakouts and shine this time of year. Regular exfoliation is key to keeping the pores clean and free of pore-clogging oil build-up. Non-comedogenic SPFs and moisturizers will ensure no additional oil is being added to the skin.

Skincare for Allergy-Prone Skin

Skin that feels itchy, dry, red and sensitive is common for allergy-sensitive skin. Keeping a medical-grade soothing mist in your bag to spray on a fresh face or over makeup as needed can provide instant relief from allergens on the skin. When choosing skincare, look for ingredients like aloe and niacinamide to calm and protect irritated skin. 

Schedule a skincare consultation today to work with a Natology skincare expert in tailoring your spring skincare!