Intelligent Beauty

Get set for spring with these skin care updates

It’s spring! We’re losing an hour’s lie-in but gaining an additional hour of daylight – which means (to quote the very excellent D:REAM), that things can only get better – temperatures will (hopefully) increase, trees will blossom and the populace will collectively become much nicer (THANK YOU SEROTONIN).

So while you’re optimistically purchasing sandals and packing up knitwear,  spare a thought for the needs of your skin – retire those overly-rich moisturisers and spend a little time (and money) revisiting your beauty regimen.

LIGHTEN UP

As the mercury creeps towards something resembling bearable, switch those rich, emollient formulas for something a little less suffocating. Try an hyaluronic acid based hydrator – Dr. Jart+ Skincare’s {Vital Hydra Solution Water Cream} is perfect for ‘plumping’ and brightening post-winter skin, while replenishing much-needed moisture without clogging pores (it’s ideal for oilier skins during Spring).

Tata Harper’s {Hydrating Floral Essence} is a refreshing, conditioning spritz – perfect for ‘topping up’ cells’ reservoirs on-the-regular (you can mist on the move), while de Mamiel’s limited edition {Spring Facial Oil} has been painstakingly blended to address the specific needs of ‘spring skin’ – awakening sluggish cells and stimulating detoxification, to restore your complexion’s vitality.

SAME GOES FOR BASE…

If you can brave it, swap foundation for a tinted moisturiser, BB or CC Cream – natural, bright light is notoriously unforgiving, but few things look less ‘summery’ than layers of full-coverage make up, or an unnaturally matte, chalky finish.

Milk Makeup’s brilliant {Luminous Blur Stick} is beautifully barely-there – ‘invisibly’ granting your skin a sateen sheen without looking overly ‘done’ (and it’s totally easy to use and completely spill-proof). Charlotte Tilbury’s {Unisex Healthy Glow} is perfect for ‘your skin but better’ effect, while BY TERRY’s {Cellularose Moisturising CC Cream} unifies uneven skin tone with a totally translucent, dewy finish.

Similarly, REN’s {Satin Perfection BB Cream SPF 15} has innovative, shade adaptive technology so it flatters most skin tones, while simultaneously correcting pigmentation, protecting against sun and free radical damage and refining skin’s overall texture.

BE SUN SAVVY

Even if April brings showers, longer hours of daylight means greater risk of insidious sun damage. Supergoop!’s {Unseen Sunscreen SPF 30} is a broad spectrum sun (and pollution!) filter, that leaves zero white cast and won’t suffocate skin.

And if you prefer a purely mineral sunscreen, Josh Rosebrook’s {Nutrient Day Cream Tinted SPF 30} is a one-stop (super-natural!) skin-protecting and perfecting shop – perfect for those who like keeping things streamlined.

EXFOLIATE

Cells go into ‘hibernation’ during wintertime, which means they often need a jump-start to resume firing on all cylinders. SUMMER FRIDAYS’ {Overtime Mask} wages two-pronged attack on dullness and general congestion – resurfacing both physically and enzymatically to leave skin super-smooth and looking luminous.

And for an everyday radiance-boost, try Keys Soulcare’s {Be Luminous Exfoliator} – a powdered skin-brightener which gently eliminates dead skin cells and pore-clogging debris, to get your skin glowing each morning. Just mix with a few drops of water to achieve your preferred consistency – from ‘scrub’ to ultra-fine and frothy paste.

GLOW FORTH

Now is the perfect time to get your ‘faux glow’ on. Alison, our Director of Merchandising swears by Omorovicza’s {Glam Glow}: “If the total TOWIE tan is not your bag, then this is the formula for you – a very subtle colour for face and body, it’s the ideal first foray into fake tan as March creeps towards April and you start panicking about ‘legs out’ time. I use on both face and legs and am very pale white and it never ever goes wrong. What’s more, I actually think it’s a bargain – £35 for 150ml lasts for AGES.”

However, if you’re a bit of a commitment-phobe, you might prefer Patrick Ta’s {Major Glow – All Over Glow Balm} – a temporary, limb-lengthening body make up with a wet-look gleam, to streamline bare legs and lend a streak-free, post-holiday glow.

And if you’re still swaddled in black tights and roll necks, but want your complexion to radiate ‘wellness’, try Drunk Elephant’s {D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops} – a gorgeous, dewy priming-bronzing hybrid that lends all complexions enviable warmth. Or add a drop of TAN-LUXE {Super Gloss SPF30} to your day cream to immediately dispel dullness without looking artificial.

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Verity Douglas

Verity Douglas

Content Editor

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...