Top 5 Layering Tips for Spring

It’s time to shed the dry and dark days of winter and prepare yourself for spring. Transition months can be tricky - temperature and humidity fluctuates, and skin can struggle to adjust. But a new season is a great time to rethink what your routine looks like. Here are some tips to help you mindfully adjust your skincare and maintain healthy, hydrated skin. 

Tip 1 - Toners

Toners are best applied immediately after cleansing/exfoliating, and add water to your skin. Moisturizers need something to seal in, so having water in your skin is essential. They’re especially needed after exfoliating, regardless of your skin type. One good way to add water to your routine is a hydrating toner, like Haru Haru Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner. Adjusting the number of layers you apply allows you to customize the amount of hydration you get. 

Tip 2 - Essences

Essences are essentially humectants. Humectants are ingredients that pull and hold water in the skin. A prime example is hyaluronic acid. Its ability to hold huge amounts of water is what makes it such a prized component in a lot of hydrating products, like in Hada Labo Tokyo Lotion No. 1 - Super Hydrator. However, this isn’t the end of moisturizing. If you don’t apply something else to seal in the water, it has a tendency to evaporate pretty quickly.

Tip 3 - Moisturizers

This is the last piece of the moisturizing puzzle. Without it, all the water you’ve absorbed into your skin ends up in the air, especially if the environment is dry. Moisturizers are usually creams or gels, and contain ingredients like ceramides and fatty acids. They provide a barrier over your skin, locking moisture in. They also tend to soften and soothe skin, like SKIN1004’s Madagascar Centella Cream.  If you know you’re acne-prone or your pores get clogged easily, be careful about products that contain oils. They can be comedogenic, especially in the long run. Use a light touch here — a pea-sized amount of product is all you need. 

Tip 4 - Antioxidants

Antioxidants are found in a lot of botanical extracts and oils, as well as fermented ingredients. Some of the most potent ones (like vitamin C and E) are very effective at anti-aging and repairing. As you get more UV exposure in warmer months, using more antioxidants helps to reduce damage from sun rays and pollution. I’m From Rice Serum is a great example of an antioxidant-rich product that improves the tone and elasticity of skin.

Tip 5 - Suncreams

Your daytime skincare routine should always end with a suncream. Very few products have as much effect on aging, pigmentation, texture and hydration. UV rays are also a major cause of dehydration, because they decrease water content and damage the outer layer of the skin. A suncream with an SPF and PA rating, like Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ will protect skin from UVA and UVB rays. Don’t forget to reapply every 2 hours, or after sweating or swimming. 

Spring is the season to refresh, so take the time to do it for your skin! Declutter and re-evaluate your skincare products and work on building light layers of moisture. Not only will your skin feel comfortable and look great, but you’ll be investing in its long-term health.