After a dreary winter, it’s finally feeling like spring, when the world feels renewed and refreshed. If you’re ready for some renewal of your own, Dr. Ortiz, a renowned plastic surgeon in Raleigh, is sharing some spring skincare tips to help you look and feel your absolute best.
Wear Sunscreen Every Day (Even When It’s Cloudy)
UVA and UVB rays from the sun are damaging to the skin. While most people equate damage with sunburns and tanning, even small amounts of daily exposure can lead to premature aging. Sun exposure through your car windows, taking your dog for a walk, or even sitting outside while your kids play can be all you need to accelerate the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration.
Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher every day, even when it’s cloudy, will prevent signs of aging as well as minimize the risk of skin cancer and other serious complications. We recommend applying it after your moisturizer at the end of your skincare routine, but before you apply makeup.
Update Your Moisturizer
Winter skin is dry skin. Between the cold air outside and dry, heated air circulating through your home, there’s hardly any moisture to go around, so you probably tried to make up for it with a heavy-duty moisturizer. Now, it may be time to re-evaluate the moisturizer you used during the winter to see if it’s too heavy for spring and switch it out for a lighter option.
If you’re beginning to experience breakouts, clogged pores, or small bumps on your skin, this is a sign that your moisturizer may be too heavy or occlusive. Consider switching a cream for a lotion or choosing a gel formula rather than stopping the use of a moisturizer altogether.
Update Your Cleanser
Just like your moisturizer, the cleanser you’re using in the winter may not be right for warmer weather. Most people use a moisturizing or cream-based cleanser in the winter to minimize moisture loss and avoid stripping vital oils from the skin when they’re most needed. However, when the weather is warmer, and you’re outside exercising or you’re more active, a different cleanser may be required to avoid clogged pores, acne, and other concerns.
Wear Sunglasses
If you’re spending more time outdoors, make sure you’re wearing sunglasses. Not only will these protect your eyes from wind and dust, but they will also reflect UV rays that can cause headaches or cause long-term damage, including cataracts or macular degeneration.
Sunglasses are also important to maintaining a youthful look. Frequently squinting against the bright sun can lead to fine lines or wrinkles around your eyes and forehead.
Drink More Water
Most of us aren’t drinking anywhere near the amount of water we should, and hydration is essential to keeping your skin looking fresh and healthy. Not only does it keep your skin moisturized from the inside, drinking plenty of water helps the skin maintain its elasticity and plumpness, which are key to younger-looking skin.
While 64 ounces of water a day is the standard, make sure you drink more than that if you work out or are spending time outdoors in the sun. If you struggle to hit your water goal, consider adding fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content into your diet, such as watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, celery, and tomatoes. This will help you stay hydrated, plus the vitamins and nutrients in these foods will help boost your glow.
Consider a Chemical Peel or Skincare Treatment
If months of central heating, wind, and heavy moisturizers have your skin looking a bit dull, a chemical peel can help you get a fresh, glowing complexion. Using glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or other solutions, a chemical peel removes the outer layer of the skin, eliminating dead skin cells, oil, and even surface-level fine lines to help you get a bright, rejuvenated complexion.
Other skincare treatments to gain a refreshed look for spring include injectable fillers that smooth fine lines caused by age or sun damage and give the skin a more plump, youthful appearance. Botox is an excellent option for smoothing the wrinkles and lines around the eyes that are visible when smiling, frowning or squinting from the sun.
Schedule a Skincare Treatment Today
In addition to plastic surgery solutions to help our clients look and feel their best, we also provide a wide array of skin care treatments that are minimally invasive. To learn more about our non-surgical skincare solutions, reach out to us today at 919-532-2270 or fill out the form below to get started.