This is not a call to hit the gym (although that certainly doesn't hurt); rather, hit the derm and spa. Spring is the perfect time to prep your skin for all that bikini- and shorts-wearing you'll be doing in summer. "If you wait until June, it'll be too late," says New York City dermatologist Dr. Rebecca Baxt.
To start, take a look in the mirror. If there are any brown spots, spider veins, or other "distractions," then make an appointment to get them zapped. Baxt also suggests microdermabrasion (for your face and body), chemical peels, or intense pulsed light treatments to help get rid of dry winter skin and make skin tone look more even.
You can also start laser hair removal now (if you're into that) so you can get through the whole series of treatments before summer, Baxt says.
If you can't make it to a dermatologist or esthetician, Los Angeles-based esthetician Gina Marí suggests using a body scrub regularly at home for softer skin. Baxt says adding products with vitamin C will help even skin tone.
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Rethink Retinol
If you use retinol for anti-aging or acne-fighting benefits, Baxt says you can go one of two ways in spring.
If you use retinol less often (or not at all) in winter because it dries out your skin, you can start using it again and increase the frequency, says Baxt.
That said, Baxt says that some of her patients use retinol less often in spring than they do in winter. The reason? All that lovely sunshine. "The downside of increasing retinol is you become more sun-sensitive, so if you know you'll be in the sun more and you know you won't be good with the sunscreen, then you may want to skip retinol in the spring."
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Get Your Sunscreen Out of Hibernation
You know that you're supposed to wear sunscreen all year long. But let's be real: When you haven't seen more than a sliver of sun in weeks, it's easy to justify skipping the stuff.
Now that it's spring and the sun has gone from guest star to main cast member, it's time to reach in the back of your medicine cabinet and grab the sunscreen. Two important things to remember: Reapply often and hit up all of your body parts that see the sun.
"Sunscreen only lasts two or three hours at best, so keep a powder sunblock in your purse or car and swish it on your face," Baxt says. "It'll look like you touched up your makeup, and you've got more sunscreen on."
And when you're applying, don't forget these spots: your neck, chest, hands, the backs of your ears, and the back of your neck if you wear your hair up, Marí says.
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Lighten Up
Increased humidity in the air means you can put down heavy moisturizing creams and switch to a lighter lotion, Baxt says. Just look to your complexion as a guide. If your skin feels tight even after putting on your moisturizer, try a slightly richer product; if you get the afternoon greases, use a lighter lotion.
If you're really oily or acne-prone, Marí says you can skip the moisturizer altogether -- if you use a toner. "Toner, not an astringent, helps bring the pH level back to normal after washing your face," she says. "Washing your face strips your skin of its natural moisture barrier, and it takes your body time to get that back. But toner can help you do this right away."
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Lay Off Your Scalp
Dandruff is typically worse in winter, thanks to dry heat indoors and extra-hot showers, but when the humidity starts rising in spring you can put down your dandruff shampoo, Baxt says. If your dandruff is severe, there's no reason to stop using a medicated shampoo; however, if you're dying to try a different formula, says Baxt, now is the time to do it.
For the most part I consider myself a planner, a list-maker, a generally organized type of chick. The exception? Whenever the seasons change.
Chalk it up to living in Southern California most my life (where we barely even have seasons), but I'm always caught off guard when the weather flips. I typically don't get around to buying a new coat until February or a new bathing suit until July, and at that point it's a bit of a wash.
Same with my daily skin care routine. I find myself using my heavy winter creams in April and wondering why my skin is breaking out.
Click ahead here to see how to change your skin care routine for spring.
So when my editor asked me to ID the skin care routine tweaks that are a must for spring, I considered it a chance to get myself in gear for the new season, too. I asked experts for the product swaps we should all be making, as well as in-office and at-home skin care treatments that help get rid of dry winter skin in time for shorts weather.
Now I've got a new daily skin care regimen. And heck, I may even get a jump-start on buying a new bikini this year.
