Retinol has become highly popular among skincare loves. Picture: iStock
Spring may be in the air but with the fluctuating South African temperatures, it sure feels like summer.
All these changes in weather can’t be too good for one’s summer skin and add to that an outdated winter skincare routine, if any at all, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
The change in season requires a change to your facial skincare routine to suit the evolving conditions and that may mean a need to switch up products.
Actress, influencer and now founder of new skincare line lelive Amanda du-Pont says the deep care that you show your skin in winter is different from the attention it requires in spring.
“Now is the time to start the preparation required to reawaken your natural glow. Switching up the routine for your skincare is much like switching out certain items in your wardrobe – it’s a new season with new requirements.”
The Citizen also tried out some products from brands such as Placecol, Innoxa and Skin Derm ahead of the warmer season in pursuit of some summer skin.
Du-Pont recommends the following five tips for luminous skin for the new season:
“As the weather improves you’re far more likely to spend more time outdoors. Sweat and added layers of sun cream lead to increasingly blocked pores,” begins Du-Pont.
“If you’ve ever run a cotton pad over your face after cleansing, you’ll know that one wash alone doesn’t always remove everything that needs to go,” she added.
Cleansing twice is, therefore, necessary for great summer skin. First to break down your make-up and remove dirt and excess oils and secondly, to treat concerns.
Lelive boasts the Cleaner Colada cleanser, which is rich in African oils including marula, mongongo, and Kalahari melon, to gently remove dirt from your skin.
The cleanser also contains a pineapple enzyme which helps to gently exfoliate dead skin, while the coconut, squalane and shea butter all ensure your skin is left feeling moisturised.
Du-Pont, however, recommends the Jelly Splash cleanser for the second cleanse.
It contains rooibos, green tea, aloe, and rose water to soften skin in addition to salicylic acid, niacinamide, and lactic acid to renew the skin as well as hyaluronic acid and shea butter esters to hydrate.
The Citizen also loves Cold Pressed Skin’s Kale Moringa + Broccoli Squalane Youth Juice Antioxidant Cleanser as well as Dexeryl’s cleansing cream for a summer skin routine.
“It’s time to mix up your everyday food staples. With a change of season comes a change of new seasonal ingredients to add to your daily meals – as we head closer to summer, that means more summer fruits like watermelon, berries and citrus which are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants.”
Don’t forget to increase your water intake which tends to drop during the colder months.
Although you shouldn’t have stopped using your sunscreen in winter, you may want to keep an SPF top of mind when looking for a lighter moisturiser for your summer skin.
“While you might choose a lighter moisturiser like Crème de la Cream in the spring to summer months, a broad-spectrum sunscreen like All the shade with SPF 30 should be a year-long staple in your skincare arsenal,” advises Du-Pont.
“With the sun’s rays intensifying towards the end of the year, you’ll want to be more diligent about reapplying your sunscreen when you’re outdoors and should consider a visor or hat for added protection.”
The Citizen also loves Innoxa’s Deep Hydrate SPF30 rich cream moisturiser which isn’t as thick as a rich cream ordinarily is. The cream contains vitamins B3 and B5 to replenish the skin’s natural balance, elasticity and radiance. It also contains hyaluronic acid.
“During the South African winter months, your skin could dry and even flake. As summer approaches, step up your exfoliation to twice per week using a gentle exfoliation product. Exfoliation is the number one way to achieve a glowing complexion,” explained Du-Pont.
The Citizen also tried SkinDerm’s pure exfoliation glo pads. Upon first use, the skin tingles quite a bit but that goes away by the second use of the exfoliating pads. There was a noticeable improvement in skin texture and the appearance of blemishes.
Please remember to consult a professional before using such products and testing them on a different area of skin to see if any potential reactions may occur.
“It’s really important to layer your skin with nutrition, especially as you’re awakening the glow,” says Du-Pont.
“Once you’ve cleansed your skin, start with a serum that simultaneously brightens and offers multi-level hydration with the combination of multi-molecular hyaluronic acids.”
She recommends the lelive All Glow’d Up Brightening Serum for glowing summer skin. The Citizen also enjoyed Placecol’s Vitamin E Silk flawless finish daily protector serum.