5 Tips to maintain healthy skin in rocky weather during change from Winter to Spring season

Are you experiencing the following skin conditions more often recently?

· Redness

· Itchiness

· Acne breakout

· Build-up of dead skin

· Roughness or uneven skin

While skin adapts to movement in temperature and humidity during changes from the Winter to the Spring, unstable weather can interrupt skin barrier function, leading to more sensitivity in skin, irritation, inflammation, disruption of desquamation (where body naturally sheds-off dead skin cells), building-up of whiteheads and blackheads, and even acne breakouts. The persistent use of masks can worsen the conditions for some of us and cause maskne, etc.

Unlike during the Winter, when a great deal of protection and nourishment in skin care is required, we would recommend a much simpler daily routine for the Spring such as:

· Clean

· Tone (soothe and balance)

· Hydrate

· Moisturize

We recommend the following skin care chores:

We may experience greater secretion of skin sebum or oil with change in weather. However, we should not over-clean skin by using harsh cleanser or wash the face 3-4 times daily. Such sudden change in pattern may result in extra oiliness and stickiness.

Recommendation: Cleanser with mild or natural surfactants such as Sodium lauroyl glutamate, Cocamidopropyl betaine and Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate; Sulfate-free, PEG-free

As the natural desquamation could be affected, gentle exfoliation is recommended to help accelerate the process. However, avoid overdoing this - it may cause adverse skin condition.

Recommendation: AHA-free, exfoliator made with sugar, mild skin renewal agent

"Sometimes, less is more." – William Shakespeare

If oil secretion irritates you, please use oil-controlling properties during the day to keep your skin clean and matte. Also, use soft tissues to remove extra oil, not oil absorption paper.

Recommendation: Witch hazel hydrosol, Vitamin B6, Witch hazel extract, Lentisk Tree extract

Hydration is very important for maintaining good skin health because more than 60% of human skin contains water. However, as humidity levels often rise during the Spring, we are less likely to be affected by the trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). Thus, unless we stay in AC room all the time, forming a thick protective film to avoid diffusion may not be as crucial as it is in the Winter. Also, layering may not be ideal in the Spring, especially for those who must wear masks for a significant time daily.

Recommendation: Hyaluronic acid, Urea, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Vitamin B5, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Propanediol, Gamma-Poly-Glutamic Acid, Seaweed extract

We highly recommend for those prone to sensitivity or allergy issues use of mild cleansing products and avoidance of over-exfoliation, as discussed above. Further, when sensitive issues arise, treat the skin with products that can soothe and calm the skin quickly - aloe vera gel, hydrosol such as rose, immortelle, lavender, camellia, frankincense, etc. We also suggest use of simple skin care products – products that contain few ingredients. Sometimes, a moisturizer that just contains ONE type of carrier oil, ONE type of hydrosol and ONE type of emulsifier would work better than some elaborate, complex items.

Recommendation: Aloe Vera, immortelle/rose/lavender hydrosol, green-tea extract, anti-allergen extracted from betaine, yeast glucan, jojoba oil, paraben-free, MIT-free

DO’s:

· Keep skin clean

· Exfoliate gently

· Use water-based serum

· Use light moisturizer

· Use hydrating mask

· Use mild cleansing products

· Use natural anti-allergen

DON’Ts:

· Layering

· Use rich cream

· Use strong face cleanser

· Use harsh exfoliator

· Frequently wash and exfoliate

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