How to spring clean your skin care routine
Spring is a welcome respite after a rain-soaked, brisk winter spent locked up inside, with a central heating system inevitably results in a parched and dull complexion.
With the weather finally getting it's act together, we're able to really spring clean our skin care routines, giving our fatigued skin the seasonal refresh it so desperately needs.
But where to start? Well, according to Advanced Dermal Therapist and Founder of Glow Medispa, Elisa Osmo, spring is a great time to replenish moisture and gently rebuild the skin barrier.
"Start by introducing nourishing serums and barrier-repair moisturisers, then slowly reintroduce actives like exfoliants," she tells BEAUTYcrew.
"A professional treatment like an enzyme facial, light peels, or LED therapy can also help brighten and re-balance post winter skin," she advises. "And don’t forget to swap to a more breathable moisturiser and SPF to keep your skin protected as the UV index climbs."
Ready to refresh your skin care routine for spring? Keep reading for expert advice on the subject.
Antioxidants, lightweight hydrators, and gentle exfoliants are in
When spring rolls around it's important to pay close attention to the Inkey lists on the back of your skin care products, says Osmo.
"Antioxidants like vitamin C, niacinamide, and green tea help protect against increased UV exposure, environmental stressors and collagen breakdown," she explains. "Humectants like hyaluronic acid and panthenol are great for maintaining hydration without heaviness."
She also recommends incorporating exfoliants like lactic acid or enzymes into your routine to refresh the complexion and promote a healthy glow — "just remember not to over exfoliate and to follow with SPF".
While it's not necessary to eliminate certain ingredients from your routine in spring, the skin expert does think it’s a good idea to adjust your use of heavier, thick and balmy formulas if your skin starts to feel congested. And to be mindful of strong actives like retinoids and AHAs, as they can make skin slightly more sun-sensitive.
"If you're continuing these ingredients, daily SPF is non-negotiable," she tells us.
We recommend a lightweight, multitasking product like Reome's Active Recovery Broth ($272 from MECCA), which contains stressed skin-minimising and barrier-restoring bio-ferments and biomimetic actives.
Innisfree's Vitamin C Green Tea Enzyme Brightening Cream (usually $43, now on sale for $34.40 from Adore Beauty) combines brightening vitamin C and niacinamide, hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane, and gently exfoliating green tea enzymes and PHA's in a refreshing gel cream formula.
And new to MECCA, Mutha's No. 1 Serum ($227 from MECCA), takes vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, and rice kefiran, and pairs it with a hydrating MUTHALOAD® Core Technology base of soothing bio-fermented ingredients.
Prioritise products that support the skin barrier
"After winter, people are recognising the importance of skin resilience," Osmo tells us, explaining that she expects a surge in demand for products that support the skin barrier over the coming months.
"Think: ceramides, peptides, prebiotics, and gentle, nourishing formulas," she explains.
The dermal therapist says there’s a growing appreciation for 'skin rehab' products that promise to calm inflammation, encourage moisture retention, and rebalance the skin's microbiome, before reintroducing stronger active ingredients.
We recommend trying Facetheory's new Ectoin BarrierBuild Milk ($51 from Sephora) — it soothes, moisturises and reinforces the skin barrier with ectoin, lactobacillus ferment, upcycled oat milk, and tremella mushroom.
There's also Byoma's hydrating Barrier Repair Eye Cream ($25 from Sephora), which has just hit shelves. It's rich in antioxidants and revitalises the appearance of tired eyes.
Alternatively, RAAIE's Cocoon Ceramide Cream ($145 from Sephora) is a great pick for dry skin types that struggle with moisture retention — it utilises unique ingredients like plant-based growth factors, fermented minerals, chebula, Manuka honey, and marine algae to address a lack of hydration.
Pair SPF with antioxidants
"Spring brings higher UV exposure, and with more skin education, people are stepping up their daily SPF game, often pairing sunscreen with vitamin C, ferulic acid, or niacinamide to boost antioxidant protection and reduce pigmentation," Osmo tells BEAUTYcrew. "There’s also a rise in invisible, weightless sunscreen textures that double as skincare or makeup primers."
We reommend The Ordinary's affordable Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum ($24 from Adore Beauty), which contains a blend of vitamin C, ginseng, turmeric peptides, and EGCG to protect skin from environmental aggressors and enhance overall radiance.
However, if you're happy to splurge on a serum, SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra Serum (usually $265, now on sale for $212 from Adore Beauty) and Dr. Lara Devgan Vitamin C+B+E Ferulic Serum ($254 from MECCA), both boast a buffet of antioxidants and premium formulas.
Book a buccal massage appointment
"As we head into the warmer months and event season, there’s a growing interest in facial sculpting, lymphatic drainage, and hydration focused facials like buccal massage, enzyme therapy, or gua sha," says Osmo. "People are seeking more than just glow — they want lifted, de-puffed, and naturally contoured skin."
Osmo offers buccal massage ($250 for 75 minutes from Glow Medispa) and a Glow & Go enzyme facial ($180 for 45 minutes from Glow Medispa) at her clinic's Pyrmont location to transition your skin into the warmer months.
Main image credit: @taylor_hill
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Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).
