Spring skincare switch-ups

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.  

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.