How to Transition Your Skincare From Winter to Spring

Spring is officially here, so it's time to say farewell to those protective winter layers and greet the new season with a light and fresh spring skincare routine.

Mar 22 2021 - 6 min read

Written by Hinako Sugioka

Environmental Stressors On Your Skin

spring skincare routine

While many places around the world may experience all four seasons, there is perhaps nowhere that does so as distinctly and reverently as Japan. Spring (haru), summer (natsu), autumn (aki), winter (fuyu)—in Japan, each season represents an inherent connection with nature and the natural cycle of beginnings and endings.

There are special Japanese traditions, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate all of the unique changes inspired by this continual transition, and these rituals play an important role in shaping daily life in Japan. With such a close relationship to the seasons, it’s no wonder that the Japanese are an authority on seasonal skin changes and all the best ways to address those nuanced skincare challenges. The Japanese recognize that, while each seasonal shift brings its own set of skin-related problems and solutions, no transition is more dynamic than the one from winter to spring.

Freezing rain, snow, icy winds—these wintertime extremes might herald the season of comfy sweaters, hot cocoa, and cozy moments by the fire, but they can also wreak havoc on your skin.

Lower temperatures, low humidity, and frigid winds create a dry, moisture-leaching environment around your skin whenever you’re out in the elements. Additionally, most inside spaces are heated with artificial hot air that can further exacerbate already dry and irritated skin. In these extremes, you may amp up your use of exfoliators, oil-rich creams, and other formulas to create a protective barrier that effectively seals in moisture and shields your skin from the damaging effects of cold, dry weather.

However, once the world begins to thaw with the promise of spring, a whole new set of skincare challenges and solutions emerge. Along with it’s warmer temps, springtime also brings a higher UV index, fluctuating humidity, and dust and pollen-filled winds—all of which creates an unstable environment that your skin is constantly struggling to adjust to. Just as you might transition your heavy layers to something more comfortable or adaptable in warmer weather, the same principle is true for your skin: spring demands a lighter, more versatile approach to give your skin what it needs to be happy and healthy. So what’s the best way to shed your winter mindset and welcome a new spring skincare routine? Here are three simple J-Beauty tips.

1. Change To A Spring Cleanser

Ōsōji, or “big cleaning”, is an annual deep cleaning event in Japanese culture that prepares the household to welcome the new year with a clean slate. Just like its American counterpart “spring cleaning”, ōsōji involves airing out closed rooms, clearing accumulated clutter, and celebrating a fresh start in anticipation of all the changes the new year will bring.

Of course, your skincare regimen requires an ōsōji-inspired refresh as well—a “big cleaning” that starts, appropriately, with cleansing. In winter, rich cream cleansers with added oils or moisturizers are often the remedy for healing and protecting dry and irritated skin. However, once warmer spring temperatures and unstable humidity come into play, your skin can struggle to maintain the proper moisture balance.

For spring cleansing, transition to a lightweight cleanser that provides deep cleaning and necessary hydration without anything extra to disrupt the natural state of skin. Keep an eye out for products that contain skin moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and NMF (Natural Moist Factor) that work with naturally occurring lipids to keep skin smooth and supple.

A foaming cleanser, like SEISO JBeauty Fuwafuwa Foaming Cleanser, gently cleans and conditions without drying, and is gentle enough for double cleansing to address stubborn makeup or dirt. An oil-based cleanser, like Lala Vie Cleansing Balm, provides a thorough cleansing that removes makeup in one shot (no second cleanse necessary) while keeping your skin adequately moisturized and primed for your next steps.

2. Use a Lighter Moisturizer for Spring

Heavy layers make sense when you’re struggling to keep in warmth and moisture, and protect against blustery, frosty days. But when the sun starts shining on the regular, the last thing you want is to be caught out in a bunch of dense layers. It’s no different for the skin on your face.

Heavy moisturizers, while essential for creating a protective barrier in wintertime, will only serve to weigh your skin down when the temperature rises. However, moisture is still important. Springtime humidity can be relatively low, especially in the early months, which serves to dry out the skin while making it prone to damage from increased sun exposure or excess oil production. Selecting a properly balanced moisturizer is the key to conquering this transitional challenge.

Switching your J-Beauty moisturizing formula over from a rich cream to one with a lighter texture will help you maintain a proper moisture balance, while allowing your skin to breathe and adapt to unstable conditions. If you have oily skin, the challenge is providing adequate moisture that keeps your natural oils in check. A moisturizer featuring hyaluronic acid, like ISHII CLINIC BEAUTY LABO Ferment Gel, ensures your skin receives an ideal level of lasting moisture and hydration without promoting excessive oil production.

3. Change Your Serum

In the spring, we typically trade gloomy, overcast skies for warmth and sunshine. While this is a welcome change, it also increases your skin’s risk for sun damage. Serums, typically applied as a nourishing layer under your moisturizer, provide added moisture and antioxidants that help to neutralize the negative effects of the sun. In the winter, heavier, oil-based serums help lock in essential hydration. However, just like cleansing and moisturizing, your serum needs will change with the changing season.

In the spring, opt for a lighter, water-based serum formula that can deliver nourishing antioxidants and appropriate moisture, without any extra weight. Products like ISHII CLINIC BEAUTY LABO Pre Essence C and ISHII CLINIC BEAUTY LABO Full APP Serum are great options. ISHII CLINIC BEAUTY LABO Pre Essence C contains glycerin, which helps counteract the inherent drying effects of Vitamin C, and Inositol, which helps to balance oil production in all skin types.

ISHII CLINIC BEAUTY LABO Full APP Serum uses Fullerene (more than 250 times more anti-oxidative power than vitamin C) to help diminish hyper-pigmentation in combination with APPS (a new vitamin C derivative with 100 times more skin penetration power than vitamin C) to eliminate reactive oxygens and help skin appear youthful and invigorated. Like many J-Beauty formulas, both ISHII CLINIC BEAUTY LABO serums offer a lightweight texture with ingredients that nourish and properly moisturize skin, providing the ultimate springtime solution.

Perfect Your Spring Skincare Routine

Now that spring has officially sprung, it’s the perfect time to make your winter-to-spring skincare transition. While the idea of ōsōji and “big cleaning” might seem daunting, just remember look to nature and simplicity is key. Focus on how your skin changes along with the changing seasons and adjust your cleansing, moisturizing, and nourishing skincare regimens as springtime weather requires.

These small changes can help you make the most of your self-care routine whenever the seasons—and your skincare needs—change throughout the year. For more information on which J-Beauty products can help you get into the swing of spring, check out the links below or contact us for personalized recommendations.