Spring into Skincare

It's that time of year again. The time when we New Yorkers start re-organizing our closets, put away our winter knits and make room for the lighter pieces this spring season. But when spring cleaning, it's important to remember to clean out our old and out-of-season skincare products.

Below are a few tips to help you keep your skincare routine in check and your skin looking its best this spring.

Double Cleansing.

As the humidity increases, so does the sebum production in your skin. The combination of sweating and exposure to environmental toxins from simply walking around NYC, is sure to add to more breakouts and dull skin. To keep your skin healthy be sure to double cleanse every night. If you like to wear makeup, double cleansing is crucial to keeping skin clean. Always follow the 60 second rule of cleansing for the first cleanse, using gentle circular motions. Follow with a second cleanse (preferably 60 seconds) and pat skin dry with a clean towel. Do this every evening before bed and in the am a quick and gentle wash is all you'll need- especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. If your makeup is on the heavier side, feel free to use a gentle make-up remover prior to double cleansing.

Recommended product: Defenage Pro Exclusive1-Step Multi Cleanse

Chemical exfoliation vs Physical exfoliation.

Winter may be gone but that dull lack-luster winter skin most likely isn't. Get your glow back with the right exfoliating products and ingredients for your skin-type. When giving your skin extra TLC at home, its always best to stick to chemical exfoliants rather than over abrasive physical exfoliants.

If you have oily skin, look for products that contain salicylic acid. For aging skin, glycolic is always a great choice. If you have sensitive skin, you almost can't go wrong with a light lactic acid. These are some of the most common and easy to find ingredients that are known to improve skin quality. These ingredients can be found in many types of skincare products- from cleansers to moisturizers; however, I find that using a specialty product- such as "peel" pads, is the best way to get deeper exfoliating treatments once a week. It's the perfect way to keep your skin looking healthier at home between professional grade treatments such as dermaplaning. That said- if you're not already using a retinol and if you're skin can tolerate it, now's the perfect time to add it back into your routine to improve fine lines and wrinkles.

Remember...retinol should be used as a treatment once, maybe twice a week and not on a daily basis much less, all year around.

Recommended products: Jan Marini Multi-Acid Resurfacing Pads, Jan Marini Luminate Face Mask

Restore nutrients.

When you think of skincare think of it as topical nutrition for your skin. Adding nutrients such as antioxidant rich vitamins directly onto your skin can have a big impact on the overall look and feel- restoring a youthful glow especially post dry winter months. Not only will antioxidants help brighten up your complexion but also protect your skin from harmful environmental toxins and UV rays.

Recommended products: Jan Marini C-Esta Serum

Water based hydration.

We all love a good hydrating moisturizer but thicker isn't always better. With higher humidity levels during the spring and summer months it's best to swap out your heavier moisturizer with a lighter, gel based product. Gel or water based products such as hyaluronic acid (which holds 1000 x it's weight in water) help keep your skin hydrated longer without the heavier oil based products that could wreak havoc on your skin.

Recommended products: Defenage Pro Exclusive 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream, Defenage Pro Exclusive 8-in-1 Bio Serum

A true broad spectrum SPF.

SPF is one of the most important non-negotiable skincare product that should be in your daily routine- especially if you have hyperpigmentation. To fully protect your skin, be sure to choose a mineral or physical sunscreen such as a zinc based SPF. Zinc is one of the only ingredients that has full broad spectrum protection from all UVA and UVB rays.

If you have melasma- Don't skip out on the zinc!

Recommended products: Skin Better Science Sunbetter SPF 68- Tone Smart Compact, Skin Better Science Sunbetter SPF 56- Sheer Compact

Balancing your mind and body.

One of the best and most important full-body skin care tips I can give you is to shower before bed. Sounds silly to say, I know, but being in the industry for over 15 years, most of the patients I treat prefer to shower in the morning. Although showering in the AM helps us all wake-up and feel refreshed, showering before bed makes a world of a difference not just for your skin but also for your mind and body as a whole. You'll most likely toss and turn less and have a better sleep- balancing out the mind and the body, which undoubtedly plays a role in balancing out your skin. Better sleep equals better skin. It's skincare from head to toe.

Recommended products: Defenage Pro Exclusive 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream

No matter the season, remember these few extra tips:

• Include your neck in your skincare routine
• Spring clean your makeup as well
• Wash all makeup tools and brushes
• Toss out products older than 6 months
• Give your skin time to adjust to a new skincare routine
• Be patient with your new skincare routine