Spring Is the Perfect Time for Your Skin to Come Clean

Now is the time for spring cleaning--of your skin.

It is essential any time of year to remove dirt and flush away dulling dry, dead cells, according to an article in Harper’s Bazaar.

During the dehydrating winter months, this requires a gentle approach to avoid stripping too much oil and moisture from the skin’s surface.

Come spring, there is less need for caution. In fact, as sweating and sunscreen use increase in warm weather, so should skin-cleaning efforts.

What you wash with every day at home can make the difference between trouble spots and radiance, New York City dermatologist Karen Burke said.

The cleanest sweeps, she said, come from soaps that contain salicylic acid, which can loosen dead skin cells and help unplug acne-prone pores.

If there is excessive redness--whether from acne or dilated blood vessels--Burke has also found sulfur beneficial. There are soaps that contain both components.

Sensitive skin types should steer clear of heavily perfumed and deodorant bars.

Be aware too of the rinsability factor. Soap residue keeps potentially irritating detergents clinging to skin. Burke recommended oily skin types use a toner to remove soap leftovers.

The same formula, used after a workout, can effectively whisk away traces of sweat that might provoke skin reactions.

Spring is a good time to consider exfoliation, Burke said. Done with a light touch, it further helps to slough dead cells, accelerates cell regeneration and diminishes the appearance of small wrinkles.

An abrasive pad can work well. So can a facial brush, cloth or sponge, assuming that it’s not too harsh and is kept scrupulously clean. Or try exfoliating grains, applied with the fingers and rinsed off.

Whether you choose a cleanser designed for dry, oily or normal skin is a matter of personal preference. If a skin-specific formula makes you feel more comfortable, then use it.

A salon treatment can enhance the effects of what you do yourself. Deep-cleaning, pore-purifying, professional facials help to extract any embedded impurities--without skin-damaging results--and get complexions into optimal condition.

Look for an increasing range of procedures that rely on “green” ingredients--seaweeds, herbs and flower derivatives credited with soothing or reviving properties.

Your skin will tell you how frequently to repeat salon cleansing--when pores begin to block or enlarge. Once every two to four weeks is a good rule of thumb.

Sparkling-clean skin can “take” makeup better--colors “lie” more evenly and look more flattering.

Bright and light is the direction to go this season--eye shadow in pale salmon, peach or tawny brown. Liner should be minimal. Instead, lashes get extra attention with multiple coats of mascara.

A sweep of skin-tone blush gives subtle contour. Finish with lip color--line in a taupey-rose and follow with a sheer shade.

A haircut will complete any new-season makeover, and you might try a treatment of conditioners based on flowers and herbs to increase shine and promote manageability.