The Spring Skin Regimen Everyone Needs Right Now

What better way to drive away the winter blues than to polish off that old, dull complexion to reveal the new, fresh one hidden underneath? Here's how to do it. By Marissa Oliva, REDBOOK.


The science behind good skin
A surface layer of dead skin prevents light from reflecting off your pretty face (think of a dirty window vs. one scrubbed clean of gunk). That's why regular exfoliation is key. It also keeps your pores clean and enables moisturizing and antiaging ingredients to absorb better. Just don't overdo it. "Scrubbing too hard or too often and rinsing with water that's too hot can damage and irritate skin," cautions Dr. Ava Shamban, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the UCLA-Geffen School of Medicine.

If your skin is dry or sensitive
Use a gentle, creamy scrub with soft beads, like Clinique 7-Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula ($19.50), just once or twice a week. And even though this won't strip your skin of all its natural oils, be sure to moisturize afterward.

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If your skin is normal
Apply an oil-free scrub--like Aveeno Positively Ageless Resurfacing Scrub ($9.99)--at least three times a week. Its tiny microbeads make it gentle enough to use every other night.

If your skin is oily or acne-prone

Shamban recommends exfoliating daily with a formula containing salicylic acid, which cuts through oil to keep pores unclogged, thus preventing breakouts. Try Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Buffing Beads ($36)--it packs salicylic acid and jojoba beads, plus skin-soothing allantoin and aloe vera.

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Moisturize every night
"When skin is properly hydrated, the cells latch onto one another and form a tight protective seal, so your complexion is firmer and smoother," says Shamban. Use a moisturizer that contains ceramides, the same emollients that are found in the skin naturally. We like CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion ($10.99).

And do a deep treatment weekly
Once a week, put on a moisturizing mask like Caudalie Moisturizing Cream Mask ($40) after exfoliating and leave it on for at least 20 minutes.

Fight dullness (and lots of other bad things!) with vitamin C
This super-antioxidant brightens the skin's surface, protects against UV damage, and actually boosts collagen production. Get your daily dose by applying Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster ($48) under your moisturizer morning and night.

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Ease into retinol
Retinol is proven to build collagen and speed up skin-cell turnover, meaning it keeps pores clear of dead skin and renews your complexion. Because it can be irritating at first, Shamban recommends using it two nights a week, leaving a couple days in between applications. Work your way up to every other night with Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer ($19.99).

Wear a moisturizer with SPF every day
Sunscreen prevents your complexion from becoming uneven, not to mention protecting it from skin cancer. Kiss My Face Face Factor SPF 30 ($13.95) contains licorice extract, which helps brighten skin and fade dark spots.


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