The Seasonal Skin Reset You Didn’t Know You Needed

You Should Know: It might surprise you to learn that spring is genuinely one of the trickier seasons for your skin. Most people assume winter is the hard part, but the transition into warmer, more humid weather creates a unique set of issues. All that pollen can set off a histamine release that leads to itchy skin. And as if that’s not enough, your skin also starts producing more oil than it did all winter once temperatures begin to rise. So the products you use need to change when your skin starts recalibrating.

Going Deeper: The main adjustments dermatologists recommend are fairly intuitive once you understand what’s happening. That thick winter moisturizer is probably too heavy for the warmer months, so switch to a lighter water-based formula with hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Now is also the time to break out the more active products like retinol or chemical exfoliants, since skin tends to tolerate them better in milder weather. Adding a vitamin C serum can help protect against extra sun exposure now that the days are longer.

The Takeaway: Sunscreen remains non-negotiable year-round, and actually gets more important as you spend more time outside. Reapply every two hours when you’re out there.