Spring Cleaning: How to Wash Away Winter Dullness and Prepare Skin for Summer

Warmer months are on their way, which means it’s time for a refresh! You might need a little spring cleaning before you’re ready to blossom, and a trip to the beauty boutique could be exactly what you need. 

The nurses at SEV Laser can help you prepare for the season ahead, from spring break to summer vacation. Here’s how you can clear away any dryness leftover from winter months and give yourself a clean slate for the new season. 

The Impact of Winter on Your Skin

Colder months often mean bundling up, which can make you look rather dull. Heating dries out your skin, and it can be difficult to stay moisturized due to all the cold wind and low humidity. Winter weather also slows your skin’s ability to shed, causing dead skin cells to build up.

Even if you’ve maintained a flawless winter routine, you’ll need to adapt as you transition into warmer weather. A common question is how to prepare skin for summer in the first place. To revitalize your complexion and stay ahead of aging, focus on these steps to success:

  • Exfoliating winter buildup
  • Hydration and barrier repair
  • Brightening and evening your skin tone
  • Sun protection: Prepping for increased sun exposure
  • Adjusting your routine for warmer weather
  • Lifestyle changes for radiant spring skin

Exfoliation: Sloughing Off Winter Buildup

A vital step in any face and body skincare routine is getting rid of all those dead skin cells that have been languishing under your winter layers. You can choose between two types of exfoliating processes:

Physical Exfoliation

Physical exfoliation is the process of manually scrubbing away those dead skin cells. You can do it at home with store-bought or homemade scrubs, brushes, loofahs, and similar tools. Professional skin treatments like microdermabrasion are also considered physical exfoliation. If exfoliating at home, keep it gentle. It can take multiple sessions to get your skin smooth and refreshed, and you don’t want to irritate your skin.

Chemical Exfoliation

Chemical exfoliation, also known as skin peels or chemical peels, uses enzymes and/or acids to break down the connectivity of dead skin cells, causing them to shed naturally. There are many gentle chemical exfoliants for home use, usually in the form of a liquid or gel. Depending on the formula’s strength, you can apply and leave them on the skin or rinse off. Stronger chemical exfoliants should be applied by an experienced aesthetician so your peel will be both effective and safe.

How Often to Exfoliate

If you’re physically exfoliating, a rule of thumb is to limit exfoliation sessions to two to three times a week for oily skin, once or twice a week for normal or combination skin, and once a week or even every two weeks for very dry or sensitive skin. 

Skincare products with chemical exfoliants vary widely in intensity, so very mild formulas can be used on a daily basis, while stronger ones should be used at about the same frequency as physical exfoliants. 

No matter your exfoliation method of choice, scaled it back if your skin starts looking red or irritated. Stronger chemical peels should only be done by a professional at a med spa about every four to six weeks.

Hydration and Barrier Repair

A lot of people use heavy creams in the winter to combat the heightened dryness of their skin. With the spring transition, you’ll want to switch to more lightweight, hydrating formulas that’ll load your skin with water. 

Drinking water plays a small part in skin hydration, but topical application of hydrating serums and lotions adds an important boost. Both are crucial to proper skincare, especially with summer on its way, when more sunshine can lead to dehydration. 

For light hydration without the greasiness, look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid (HA), that help pull water into the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring humectant that’s also used in dermal fillers to replace your body’s own supply. 

For an even more direct approach to skin hydration, you can try SkinVive. This skin boosting treatment saturates the lower levels of the skin with hyaluronic acid, for a deep hydration effect that leaves your skin glass-clear and glowing. 

Brightening and Evening Your Skin Tone

To combat remaining dullness from winter and to brighten your skin, introduce antioxidants like vitamin C and green tea into your skincare routine and diet! These ingredient help bolster the skin’s self-defense mechanisms while encouraging a healthy glow. 

Retinol products can also brighten dull skin by speeding the cell renewal process. However, make sure to use sunscreen diligently, and discontinue use if you notice any irritation. Make sure to read our guide if you plan on receiving laser hair removal while using retinol. 

If you want more dramatic results, consider microneedling treatments like SkinPen. Microneedling triggers the skin’s self-repair mechanisms, speeding renewal of clear skin while stimulating collagen production. Potenza takes this a step further, combining microneedling with radiofrequency technology for even more profound rejuvenation. 

These types of treatments can further brighten and even out your skin tone, smoothing out fine lines, wrinkles, and roughness. New collagen production will plump out your skin from underneath, leaving you with a dewy, rejuvenated look.

Sun Protection: Prepping for Increased Sun Exposure

It’s only March — do you really need to start with sunscreen now? The truth is, you should be wearing sunscreen year round, even on cloudy days when aging UVA rays can still penetrate. 

Strong SPF is essential to prevent harmful UV rays from causing not just sunburn, but also skin aging, discoloration, not to mention the heightened risk of skin cancer. A strong sunscreen should be the foundation of your beauty routine, protecting not just your face but all exposed parts of your body, including the lips, ears, and hands. 

Choosing the right sunscreen for daily wear can mean picking a face cream with built-in SPF or a dedicated sunscreen. Make sure to use a water-resistant formula if you’re going to be in the water. Choose products with at least 30+ SPF rating, and bump that up to 50+ if you’re very fair skinned, have a family history of skin cancer, or are going to be outside all day. If you’re on the hunt, check out our SEV-approved post-laser sunscreens (frankly, they’re great at any time!). 

Adjusting Your Routine for Warmer Weather

Wintertime can mean using a lot of occlusive products like petroleum jelly and beeswax to form a skin protective, water-sealing barrier. As the weather warms up, the skin often gets a little oilier, so lighter skincare products will look and feel much nicer.. Switch to refreshing lighter lotions, facial mists, hydrating toners, or gel-based products for pleasant daily hydration.

For deep cleansing and hydration in the spring and summer months, consider adding weekly facial masks to your routine. Revitalizing products can keep your skin looking fresh and radiant all season long.

Want to go a step further? A customized facial that can be a great way to refresh your skin and give it some much needed TLC.

Lifestyle Habits for Radiant Spring Skin

Spring is a great time to turn over a new leaf not just when it comes to skincare, but also for your lifestyle. The results will show through in your skin and in how you feel! 

Diet 

Antioxidant-rich foods can seriously boost skin health, as can foods full of vitamins from A to E. Concentrate on adding nuts and berries to your diet, and replace unhealthy fats, simple sugars, and processed carbs with healthy oils and whole grains.

Exercise

Exercise increases circulation, improving blood flow to every part of your body, including your skin. Get your heart pumping and work up a sweat to clear impurities from your skin and send extra oxygen and nutrients to your skin’s surface for a healthy glow.

Sleep

There’s a reason they call it “beauty sleep”! The role of sleep in skin renewal is significant, as it’s when you’re sleeping that your body can focus on cellular renewal. Pay attention to your sleep hygiene for better skin health and fewer dark circles under your eyes.

Spring Hair Removal

If you’re serious about achieving smooth, clear skin, why not incorporate long-lasting hair reduction into your spring cleaning? Laser hair removal services are the highlight at every SEV location, helping to clear away unwanted hair, paving the way for smooth skin free from stubble or irritation — it’ll give you the biggest confidence boost once summer rolls around! 

SEV: Your Secret to Softer Skin

If you’ve ever wondered how to prepare your skin for summer, these few changes are all it takes to spring clean your skin and help it thrive. If you’re hoping to achieve your clearest, most picture-perfect skin, you can combine healthy daily habits with a few professional treatments. 

Fortunately, you have your own team of specialists supporting you at SEV! At select locations, we offer accessible skin treatments and injectables that improve skin tone and texture, for smooth, clear, and youthful skin that glows with health. 

Whether you have a specific goal in mind or just want to feel pampered for a day, now is the perfect time to start your preparations for summer. To enjoy the skin and body treatments that’ll create the effects you want, book an appointment or consultation at SEV!