Spring is here and it’s time for some integral changes, not just to your wardrobe but also the beauty cabinet. As spas remain shut in Hong Kong, and masks, even double masks have become an ubiquitous part of our daily lives – giving the dermis some TLC is more important than ever. Keep it simple, say bye to intense, heavy winter creams, and you’ll be golden. Now for the good part…

Step 1: Switch to a mild cleanser

The rule of thumb to reset into a spring skincare ritual is to ‘lighten’ up your routine. Cold weather strips away the natural moisture so it’s essential to go big on oils and heavy creams in winter, but warm months require mild surfactants which gently dissolve all makeup without drying the dermis. For the love of beauty gods, skip the makeup wipes altogether! Sure, they are a lazy girl’s best friend but not the most environment-friendly or the best cleansers – the gunky residue they leave behind can irritate your face overnight. 

Top pick: Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser

Everyone you ask around has something nice to say about this clean beauty brand, and it does live up to the hype. Finicky, sensitive, oily or dry – whatever your skin type, Drunk Elephant’s Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser is a pH 5.5 formulation with glycerin, virgin marula oil and cantaloupe fruit extract – it gently lathers up to remove all layers of makeup. The budget-friendly, lightweight and bouncy cleanser is a must-have in your beauty cart. 

Step 2: Toner

The older generation of toners were harsh, alcohol-based liquids that irritated the skin even more. Times have changed. Today, the good toners are versatile, hydrating drinks for your skin. A few pats of these calming and clarifying elixirs can gently coddle dry skin, making it instantly appear plump; the ones with chemical exfoliants aid in treating acne and bumps. 

Top pick: Tatcha, The Texture Toner

Brimming with superfood-infused hydrating ingredients, Tatcha’s Texture Toner is a gentle liquid exfoliating treatment which anyone with bumpy, congested skin will benefit from. Regular use visibly evens the skin tone; the wild rose, fruit AHAs and niacinamide cool, tighten and balance the facial skin. 

Also Read: Wake-up and makeup, red makeup for turning the heads

Step3: Skip the oils and go water-based

Moisturisers are a year-round staple but don’t make the mistake of smothering oily, sticky serums which best serve their purpose in cooler climes. Switch to a water-based or glycerin-based cream – absorbed by the skin within minutes, you’ll never have to worry about face shine anymore. 

Top pick: Dr. Barbara Strum’s Face Cream

G-beauty has always been the seal of excellence a product line can aspire for – think German cars, kitchen ware, appliances or skincare – the Germans know what they’re doing and it’s generally the best! As Hollywood’s most in-demand skin therapist, Dr. Strum’s line is approved by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Hailey Bieber (to name a few), and beauty editors worldwide. Created on the M.O. of combating inflammation, The Face Cream is her OG product – it hydrates, promotes active skin regeneration, collagen production, and is packed with antioxidants to boost elasticity – just about everything you want from your moisturiser, and more!

Step 4: A dedicated eye serum

Let’s cut to the chase – a dedicated eye serum in your skincare arsenal is non-debatable. The area around the eyes is the thinnest, most fragile in the body, susceptible to maximum environmental and sun damage – add the astonishing number of hours you spend online to the mix and you’re staring at premature ageing. 

Top pick: Aesop’s Exalted Eye Serum

Fan of the Aesop hand lotions? You will love their intensely hydrating Exalted Eye Serum. Works best with the brand’s Bitter Orange Astringent Toner and B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel, this highly potent, clean formula packed with vitamins B3, B5, C, and E targets the delicate skin around the eyes to rebalance, rehydrate, prevent fine lines and combat signs of ageing.

Step 5: Vitamin C serum, the holy grail ingredient

Vitamin C serum is one of the most celebrated skincare products for a valid reason: it works. The use of retinol might be debated (It does not suit every skin type), but every dermatologist worth their salt recommends an effective vitamin C formula – regardless of the skin type. 

Top pick: Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma™ Fresh Day Serum

C-Firma Fresh is a star product if you’re targeting an even skin tone. Blended with absorbic acid at 15%, ferulic acid and vitamin E – it’s the gold standard formula for minimising blemishes, brightening and firming the skin. It works wonders in just two weeks of daily use! The antioxidants and enzymes in this serum are meant to be mixed together after purchase, a vital step to avoid oxidation and increase the potency and shelf-life of your product. Definitely top it up with a layer of sunscreen (SPF 30 or more), because vitamin C is unstable in the sun and will not help prevent sun damage on its own.

Also Read:Winter Essentials: Facial oils that take hydration to the next level