Spring is in the air. The temperatures and humidity are rising and you are probably spending a lot more time outdoors. The human body is fairly good at adapting to these climate changes on its own. Still, there are some things you can change in your daily skin care regimen to improve the healthy look of your skin.
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Use a professional quality cleanser.

Have you ever wiped pollen or mold off the hood of your car? Think about what is getting on your skin. In springtime, particularly in areas of high incidence of pollen and molds, it is important to cleanse your skin twice daily.

Many people still commonly use bar soaps. Fact: most bar soaps are made from animal or vegetable fat and tend to be alkaline, with a pH over 7. Most professional cleansers are pH-balanced (pH below 7), and contain ingredients such as citric or glycolic acid to lower the pH. The rule of thumb is the higher the pH, the higher the likelihood you will damage your skin by drying it out. In choosing a cleanser, ask these questions: What is my skin type (normal, oily, dry or combination)? Is the cleanser pH balanced? Are the surfactants mild (less damaging) to the skin? Does it contain any kind of skin conditioning or moisturizing agent (if yes, so much the better)?

Don’t over-cleanse.

Use lukewarm or tepid water, and move the cleanser around your face and neck area. Cleanse the skin gently – don’t use your wash cloth as a weapon. Cleanse for 1-2 minutes, not longer. Rinse thoroughly. If you leave surfactants on the skin, they can be irritating to the stratum corneum layer of skin.

If you live in an area with hard water (i.e. water with a high mineral content), let your water run for a minute longer before you cleanse and rinse your skin. Hard water blocks the rinsing action of the water molecule. You may want to consider using a milder cleanser that rinses off easily, and/or getting a water treatment system that softens the water.

Fact: BeautyFirst knows great cleansers clean the skin of surface impurities while preparing the skin to receive vital nutrients.

Consider an enzyme peel or using an exfoliant.

As the humidity rises, it is good to enhance enzymatic activity in the outer layer of your skin by using an exfoliant. The benefits include: smoother skin appearance, better skin tone, a healthier glow and a more even surface for makeup application. Ask your beauty consultant which product or treatment would be right for you based on your skin type and local climate. Exfoliants with glycolic acid are usually suitable for all skin types. Harsh, grainy exfoliants are better for oily skin, whereas enzyme-based (masques, creams and powders) exfoliants are better for drier/normal skin types.

Fact: Look for an exfoliator containing an acid (alpha hydroxy, glycolic and salicylic), vitamin A and/or natural fruit enzymes.