Your Spring Skin Care Routine with Nazanin Saedi, MD

Writer and expert2 years ago

As the seasons shift from winter to spring, your skin care routine should adjust to accommodate for the changes that occur in your skin due to the warmer weather and increased humidity. Board-certified dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD, tells patients to switch over to lighter skin care products as opposed to the heavier products that they use in the dry, winter months.

She personally recommend increasing the use of retinoids in the warmer month’s retinoids are better tolerated, and you can always add a moisturizer to make it less irritating. Many people use retinoids less frequently in the winter because they can be too drying and irritating.

Changes for Spring Based on Skin Type

Acne-prone: If you have acne prone skin, you should consider changing to a lighter moisturizer like a gel-based product. These lighter weight products are also less likely to clog your pores.

Rosacea-prone: Sometimes the cold winter weather can trigger redness and irritation for rosacea prone people. Dr. Saedi recommends moisturizers that have anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide.

Sensitive: If you have sensitive skin, consider a thicker cream that will lock in the moisture.

If you have acne-prone and sensitive skin, look for products that are oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog the pores.

Holy Grail Spring Skin Tips

Dr. Saedi's top recommendations for holy grail products in a spring skin care routine include exfoliation and protection. In terms of exfoliators, this does not include harsh scrubs that can damage your skin barrier. You want to exfoliate the dull skin that has accumulated all winter.

Dr. Saedi prefers chemical exfoliators. One of her favorites is Revision Skincare's Brightening Face Wash. It contains salicylic acid to help clean out pores and exfoliate the dead skin cells on the skin surface. It also contains glycolic acid that helps exfoliate the dead skin cells and improve skin texture.

Vitamin C is also an absolute must. One of her favorite vitamin C products is Revision Skincare’s C+ Correcting Complex 30%, because it has vitamin C & E, and it is also moisturizing. Vitamin C is great for protecting against visible sun damage as we head into spring and summer.

The most important product in a spring skin routine is sunscreen. People spend more time outside in the spring, but they don’t realize that the sun is strong and don’t have enough protection. It’s important to reapply every two hours if you are outside. The best sunscreen is one that you will wear daily. Dr. Saedi recommends Revision Skincare’s Intellishade line.

"My recommendation when it comes to treatments is to do laser treatments to treat their sun damage. It takes more than one treatment, so start early to be glowing for summer," Dr. Saedi said.