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Seasonal skincare trends say: ‘New season, new routine!’ I say: Keep what works—and tweak what doesn’t. Today I’ll walk you through my real-life spring skincare routine: acne, allergies, aging—all included.

 

 

Have you changed up your routine already?

 

 

What are my main concerns?

Before we get into my actual routine, let me quickly summarise what I am working with here: I live in Southern Germany, where the weather in spring means moderate temperatures, quite a bit of rain and quite a bit of wind.

My skin has changed over the last two years going from slightly oily and acne-prone to combination with sometimes dry patches, but still acne-prone – I really don’t think that acne thing will change at that point.

I also suffer from seasonal allergies, so around this time of the year puffy eyes and the constant need to blow my nose come on top.

And I am 46 now, so fighting hyperpigmentation, fine lines, deep wrinkles and skin sagging are basically a thing year round.

Now, you really do not need to change your routine based on the calendar or proclamations on the internet – if the same routine works for you year round, stick with it! If you have been following my routines for a while, you’ll notice that I only have a few seasonal tweaks that I do, not a whole new routine. That would probably throw my skin off completely.

With that being said, what do I use at the moment?

 

 

My spring morning skincare routine

I start the day using my ZIIP Halo (1 device with gel for 399 €, full review here). Not everyday, but usually five times a week and doing the short 4 minute program combining micro- and nano current. The gliding motion helps with lymphatic drainage and is really appreciated to combat the puffiness. There is also a temporary lifting effect I really appreciate as it helps me look more awake.

To get off the gel again I use a hydrating cleanser, currently The Inkey List Hyaluronic Cleanser (ml for €, full review here). If I hadn’t used the ZIIP, I would probably just use water and a wash cloth to freshen up, but that doesn’t really feel enough with the gel on my face.

After cleansing it is time for an antioxidant. I am currently testing the byNacht Illuminating Super C Serum (30 ml for 160 €, full review coming soon), which contains a Vitamin C derivative. The brand tells you to use it at night, but for me Vitamin C is a morning thing and there isn’t anything in the formula that would make it unsuitable for morning use, so I put it here. I am still in the testing period, so I can’t give you my opinion quite yet, but chances are high that after that I will go back to my Geek and Gorgeous C-Glow Serum (30 ml for X, full review here), which has featured here many times and is still my favourite. And more affordable.

As constantly blowing my nose paired with Tretinoin at night and the constant wind can leave my skin a little irritated, I will follow up with something soothing, but lightweight. Currently that is the Balea Beauty Expert Calming Toner with Ceramides (ml for €, full review coming soon), again something I am in the process of testing out.

For the eyes it is my trusted The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Serum (15 ml for €, full review here) which I am almost out of. I love it for bringing down puffiness around the eyes.

And as last step of course sunscreen, one of the lovely and hydrating formulas from Korea, the MISSHA All Around Safe Block Aqua Sun SPF 50 (50 ml for 11 €, full review coming soon) that is new to me, but that I so far really love.

Three times a week I use Paulas Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (ml for €, full review here) even before using my Vitamin C to keep my pores unclogged and prevent breakouts.

 

 

My spring evening skincare routine

At night I use the Geek and Gorgeous Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm (ml for €, full review here) to take off my makeup and then take ten minutes to relax with my LED mask, the CurrentBody Series 2 (1 device for €, full review coming soon). Again not every night, but around three to five times a week at east. Now I would love to tell you that during this time I meditate or do something similarly mindful and healthy, but I usually just scroll my phone aimlessly. (More info: The benefits of meditation on well aging)

And after that I carry on with my routine that changes depending on if it is a Tretinoin night or not.

 

Non-Tretinoin nights

On non-Tretinoin nights I first use the Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced Wrinkle Reduction Serum (30 ml for 79,95 €, ful review coming soon). I don’t use it first because of the peptides, but because it contains Growth Factors that are supposed to go on clean skin. I did a post on Growth Factors a few weeks ago (More info: The benefits of Growth Factors in skincare explained)  and still stand by what I said there: I don’t actively seek them out, but as I was testing that anyway it for now has taken the place of my NIOD Copper Peptides (ml for €, full review here).

After that did sink in I use the Real Barrier Extreme Essence (ml for €, full review here) for hydration and soothing. Medik8 isn’t really hydrating, so that extra layer with additional ceramides helps keep my skin soft.

As I have just run out of my usual eye cream, (the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal one, full review here), I am using up the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream (15 ml for 86 €, full review here). It has a lovely texture, rich without being greasy, much appreciated now where my eyes tendency to get watery out of nowhere can leave the skin around them a little delicate.

Last step is the Dr. G RED Blemish Clear Soothing Cream (ml for €, full review here), which is contrary to what the name would make you suspect not really something with blemish fighting actives, but instead a very hydrating formula with soothing Panthenol and Centella Asiatica Extract that – at least that is what I tell myself – helps keep the overall redness in my skin down. (More info: The benefits of Panthenol in skincare exlained and The benefits of Centella Asiatica in skincare explained)

 

 

Treinoin nights

On Tretinoin nights I use The Inkey List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum (ml for €, full review coming soon) first. Ectoin is a film former that seems to be beneficial in eczema prone skin and helps protect the skin barrier from irritation. (More info: The benefits of Ectoin in your skincare explained) I have already written my review on the product and, little spoiler, really think it helps in the long run, even though I wasn’t too impressed at the beginning.

After that its is again the Real Barrier Extreme Essence for hydration and additional soothing, again the Banish Eye Cream and then a richer moisturizer to act as buffer between my skin and the Tretinoin that will be that last step: The Murad Daily Defense Colloidal Oatmeal Cream (ml for €, full review here). It is much richer than anything I would have used three years ago, but with the changes in my skin now feels perfect and protective and hasn’t caused any issues in the form of breakouts for me.

Last step after that did absorb is my prescription Tretinoin. No, you absolutely don’t need prescription if fighting the signs of aging is your main concern, I use it because of my acne. And trust me, it isn’t always fun. When the allergies right now flare up and I spend the day outdoors when it is very windy, it can easily happen that with the Tret, the skin around my nose and mouth turns into a flaky mess that makes any makeup I put on top look awful.

If that happens, I reach for probably the least cosmetically elegant item in my stash, a huge tube of Linola Fettcreme, roughly translated to fat cream. It is a water-in-oil emulsion with 60% fat. Not suitable for vegans as it has Lanolin and not suitable if you have plans as it turns you into a grease ball, but oh so good against dry patches.

And that sums up my spring skincare routine. Please do share yours!

 

 

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