Winter is hard on your skin. Cold temperatures and harsh winds lead to dryness, redness, and chapped lips. Spring is the perfect time to refresh and rejuvenate by exfoliating, moisturising, and feeding the skin with vitamins.

As the days get longer and the sun gets hotter, it’s also a good time to remember your sun protection routine – make sure you’re applying sunscreen every day, and check the expiry dates if the bottle has been sitting in a cupboard all winter. No matter how old you are, protecting your skin from cumulative sun damage is key. Everyday use of a good, broad-spectrum sunscreen is key.

Here’s how to start Spring with a fresh face.

Effective exfoliation
The upper layer of your skin is a protective barrier, so it’s important not to weaken it by treating it too harshly. Exfoliate no more than once a week, using the gentlest method which matches your skin.

There are three main types of exfoliant:

Physical/Mechanical
This category includes at home scrubs and in-clinic methods like microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion may sound like a complex way to treat skin, but it’s actually a painless, controlled way to deeply exfoliate, getting rid of impurities and dead cells. At Skin Institute, we use a diamond tipped tool which moves gently over the face, before a special vacuum device removes the dead cells. The process takes around 30 minutes, and results in more youthful, smooth, vibrant looking skin.

Enzymatic
These treatments use the enzymes naturally found in pineapple, cranberry, or papaya to gently exfoliate the skin. The enzymes nibble at the stratum corneum – the outer layer of skin – leaving it clean, smooth, and bright.

Acidic
Peels are made with alphahydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic and citric), salacylic acid, TCA, and retinol. Usually, peels will be customised to suit your skin type.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) penetrate the layers of skin to help turnover of cells in both the epidermis and follicles. This helps younger cells come to the surface of the skin – creating a smooth appearance and taut feeling – as well as cleansing the follicles of debris and dead cells.

This particular combination of ingredients will strengthen your skin’s defences against free radicals, which, in turn, helps to combat the signs of ageing. Your skin will look and feel rejuvenated, courtesy of the AHAs stimulating collagen and elastin renewal.

A pumpkin resurfacing peel is another way to extensively rejuvenate the skin. Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid and pumpkin pulp work together to reveal invigorated, significantly smoother, tighter skin. Pumpkin’s Vitamin A (beta carotene) is a highly active antioxidant, targeting the parts of the skin cells responsible for kicking off cell turnover and growth of the base layer of the epidermis. This helps boost the structural integrity of all layers of the skin. Pumpkin also contains vitamin C, which helps to ward off free radicals.

Vitamins for vitality
After exfoliation, skin can be treated with vitamin-rich creams and serums to help brighten, refine, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

The most effective vitamins for skin include:

Vitamin A (retinoids)
Vitamin A regulates the production of new skin cells and rejuvenates the skin’s surface. It can help with conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Without it, skin can become extremely dry and dull.

Topical retinoids assist in cellular turnover, refine pores, enhance skin texture, and help to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage.  Apply a Vitamin A serum before bed so it can work its magic while you’re asleep.

Eating a diet rich in Vitamin A can boost your skin from the inside out – it’s found in fish oil, salmon, carrots, dairy products, spinach, and broccoli.

Vitamin B
Vitamin B simulates natural collagen and hyaluronic acid, energising skin cells and boosting the health of your skin. It also helps to repair your skin’s barrier function – rather than simply masking dehydration or dryness like a traditional moisturiser.

Vitamin B3 (or niacinamide) has been shown to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture, leading to softer, smoother skin. It can also boost tone and texture, decrease fine lines, and diminish hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin C
Used alone or in combination with other vitamins, Vitamin C is a powerhouse antioxidant. It is found in the outer and inner layers of skin, and its main role is in collagen production – which is why it’s used in many anti-aging skin products.

Taking Vitamin C orally – 1000mg a day is recommended – can enhance the effectiveness of sunscreens and help the skin healing process. It can also help to prevent dry skin and repair sun damage.

Boost Vitamin C in your diet by eating plenty of citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwifruit, broccoli and spinach. You can also apply a Vitamin C serum every morning to stimulate collagen production and brighten your skin.

Vitamin E
Like Vitamin C, Vitamin E is an antioxidant. When applied to the skin, it can protect against sun damage by absorbing harmful UV light. This helps prevent dark spots and wrinkles.

The body produces Vitamin E through sebum, an oily substance emitted through the pores. In the right balance, it can prevent skin dryness and treat inflammation. Most adults need to consume around 15mg of Vitamin E every day, either by eating more nuts and seeds, or by taking a supplement.

Vitamin E works best in combination with Vitamin C – a C&E complex can be an effective way to brighten skin, improve texture, and protect against damage.

Get your spring skin started!
Ready to start your spring clean? Visit Skin Institute for specialist treatments like microdermabrasion and peels, and to check out our range of creams and serums.

If you’re not sure what will suit your skin, our Aspect Dr and Synergie Starter Kits  are a good way to try a smaller amount of product before you commit. For teenagers, the Teen Aspect Starter Kit is a good way to gently treat breakouts caused by high sebum production.

If you’re overwhelmed by all our treatment options, one of our experienced Appearance Medicine Nurses can help you work out which treatments and products will be best for you – and your skin. Book an appearance medicine consultation for expert advice and tailored recommendations.