Take 10

Spring skincare switch-ups

Take 10

Spring skincare switch-ups

Words: Gemma Steele
 

When we’re all swept up in the excitement of lighter evenings and warmer days, it’s easy to forget that the winter-into-spring transition can wreak havoc on our skin. Here’s our edit of the 10 skincare products to see you through.

1. Dewy spring morning

IT Cosmetics, Your Skin But Better CC+ Nude Glow SPF40, £36.50

The annual return of glowy lightweight coverage is here. A make-up and skincare hybrid, this CC cream has a 90% skincare formula and SPF40, but still gives a dewy light-to-medium coverage across its 20 shades. IT Cosmetics is renowned for skin-loving formulas, and this latest addition is packed with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and green-tea extract. That no-make-up look becomes more achievable with every application.

2. Pore perfection

Paula’s Choice, CALM 1% BHA sensitive skin exfoliant, £34

For years, sensitive-skin sufferers have stood on the sidelines, listening to people rave about the holy grail of exfoliants from Paula’s Choice. Now, everyone can join the conversation – the brand has launched CALM, which is specially formulated for sensitive skin. Compared to the original, it contains a gentler version of exfoliating BHA salicylic acid, while added prebiotic sugars will help to rebuild your skin’s barrier.  

3. Peel-good skincare

Dr. Dennis Gross, Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength daily peel, £153

The words “facial peel” may sound intimidating, but at-home peels are a great way to exfoliate, rejuvenate and tackle the dulling effects that winter has on our skin. This 60-application set from Dr Dennis Gross is gentle, safe enough to use at home, and involves no recovery time. It’s a two-step process: the first is packed with exfoliating AHAs and BHAs; the second neutralises those acids to rebalance the skin.

4. Supercharged serum

Kiehl’s, Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose serum, £49

Ask any skincare expert or dermatologist, and they’ll wax lyrical about the benefits of retinol. Not only does it exfoliate, it also speeds up cell regeneration, boosts collagen and makes the skin more receptive to the products you apply afterwards. This post-cleanser serum from Kiehl’s delivers a powerful micro-dose of retinol, while still being suitable for retinol first-timers and those with sensitive skin, thanks to peptide and ceramides. 

5. Clearing cleanser

Augustinus Bader, The Foaming Cleanser with TFC8, £54

Although we can’t cleanse winter from our lives, we can cleanse it from our skin. Augustinus Bader’s new foaming formula lifts impurities and make-up without disrupting the skin’s biome. Put simply, that means you can get rid of the bad stuff and keep the good stuff. It’s made with vitamin- and antioxidant-rich plant extracts like maca and langsat leaf, which encourage cell renewal and reduce hyperpigmentation.

6. Save face

Kate Somerville, DeliKate Recovery cream, £69

Combining ceramides – the buzziest of skincare buzzwords – with ginger root, an ancient ingredient that has long been renowned for its holistic capabilities, the DeliKate recovery cream blends skincare innovation with jargonless, familiar ingredients like cucumber and shea butter. It was formulated for stressed skin and is often used clinically after chemical peels to soothe the skin.

7. An inside-out approach

anatome, Women’s Daily Wellbeing + Hormonal Support supplements, £30

We can’t blame everything on winter. These hormonal supplements from anatomē tackle skincare from within, with a powerful combination of vitamins, minerals and botanicals, including sea kelp, ginseng and vitamin B12, D and C. It’s formulated to boost your energy levels and support your immune system, which will, in turn, support your skin health.

8. Science says so

Zelens, Melatonin B12 Advanced Repair serum, £105

Created by renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Marko Lens, Zelens is all about creating skincare with scientific evidence and clinically proven efficacy. This serum contains vitamin B12 and melatonin, a powerful skincare ingredient that supports the skin’s natural repair process. It supercharges the capabilities that your skin already has and reduces signs of tiredness and stress for smoother, more radiant-looking skin.

9. Bathtime best

First Aid Beauty, KP Bump Eraser body scrub, £27

Perhaps we look at summer through slightly rose-tinted glasses. Truthfully, drier weather can bring skincare challenges of its own – bumpy, flaky and dry limbs being one of them. This body scrub from First Aid Beauty is formulated with glycolic and lactic acids, along with pumice buffing beads, exfoliating the skin to make it smoother and softer. Follow with a nourishing body cream to get ready for a bare-legged summer.

10. Glow-getter

Humanrace, Humidifying body cream, £49

This body cream has us dreaming of that stepping-off-the-plane feeling, when the heat and humidity hits you and the holiday stars. Part of Pharrell Williams’ exclusive-to-Selfridges skincare line, it harnesses the moisturising benefits of humidity, using snow mushroom extract to lock in moisture. Revitalising peptide and antioxidant Bakuchiol, ingredients that are also in the brand’s face cream, make sure your skin is taken care of from top to toe.

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