Spring is just around the corner, and as we head for longer warmer days it’s time to think about switching our skincare regimes up to help keep our skin stay healthy and glowing throughout the winter-to-spring transition.

In the winter months we quench our skin with intense hydration to help balance the effects of central heating and harsh weather. In the warmer months our skin’s needs change yet again.

Now’s the perfect time to spring clean your bathroom cabinet and your skin to get it prepared for the months ahead - here are our top tips for your skin spring clean, with some product suggestions to help make life a little easier!

Cleanse thoroughly, without exception

We all know that cleansing is important, but still we’ll hit the hay without cleansing on the odd day… and often we’re not cleansing thoroughly enough! We recommend double cleansing the skin. The first cleanse removes impurities on the surface of the skin like make-up, sun protection, pollution etc, and the second allows the ingredients in your cleanser to really get to work on the epidermis.

Double cleansing twice a day will ensure that your skin is free of impurities and will allow better penetration of your skincare products so you can achieve the very best results.

If you have normal, oily, or spot-prone skin you could try the Biretix Cleanser which is rich in botanical extracts to soothe and nourish the skin with oil-regulating ingredients for squeaky clean skin, without dryness or irritation!

Exfoliate, and listen to your skin

Exfoliation is the process of encouraging damaged and dead skin cells to fall away from the surface of your skin. The benefits of including exfoliation in your skincare regime include:

• Revealing a brighter complexion
• Enabling better penetration of skincare ingredients
• Improving overall skin texture and tone
• Unclogging pores which can lead to breakouts

There are two types of exfoliation with skincare products:

• Chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs loosen the bonds between skin cells at the very surface of your skin, helping them to fall away
• Physical/ granular exfoliants physically scrub the looser skin cells to remove them

If you’re wondering how often you should be exfoliating, the answer really depends on your skin type. Most experts will recommend exfoliating 2-3 times a week, but if you have dry skin this may be too much for you - so listen to your skin, and don’t overdo it. Those with oilier skin will find that they can comfortably exfoliate more often.

If your skin is oily or prone to breakouts, try the Biretix Micropeel. This clever multi-tasking product contains natural exfoliator willow bark extract and physical botanical exfoliants to help remove dead skin cells, prevent blocked pores, and eliminate impurities. It also contains bamboo extract, camomile flower extract and linen flower extract to reduce redness and inflammation, plus Niacinamide to help control oil and brighten the skin.

Prep for your summer glow

Get a head start on radiant summer skin by using skincare ingredients that help to reduce any pigmentation that may have appeared after last summer, brighten the skin and even your skin tone.

Ingredients like vitamin C help to brighten the skin and even the complexion, as well as boost your skin health. Look to retinol to improve your skin cell renewal, and help to reveal brighter, fresher skin. There are also many cosmetic skincare ingredients that are specifically used to brighten the skin and minimise the risk of hyperpigmentation like tranexamic acid, ellagic acid, niacinamide and glycolic acid - so keep your eye out for active serums that include these.

If you’re looking for a month-long skin boost to help get your skin in shape ahead of summer, we recommend the Endocare Expert Drops: Depigmenting protocol. With an Illuminating serum for use in the morning and a Pigment Balance Serum in the evening, you’ll find the optimum combination of ingredients that can help you reduce dark spots by 23% in as little as 4 weeks!

Boost your skin’s defences

Now’s the time to pack your skin with protective antioxidants to help prevent damage caused by external aggressors like the sun and pollution. Antioxidants help to neutralise harmful free radicals in your skin that damage your skin cells, so boosting your intake of topical anti-oxidants will help to get your skin in tip top health before the summer.

Some antioxidants like Vitamin C also have other skin benefits like skin brightening and collagen production, so you can hit two of our top tips in one product!

If you’re looking for a product that’s rich in antioxidants then look no further than Endocare RADIANCE C Ferulic Edafence Serum. Suitable for all skins, everyone will benefit from this superstar product. With a unique combination of clinically proven ingredients, it helps to protect the skin from damage caused by pollution, tobacco smoke and other environmental stressors. It’s also rich in Vitamin C and even has rejuvenating growth factors that help to reduce lines and wrinkles. It smells great, and melts quickly into the skin. What’s not to like!?

NEVER skip the sunscreen

It goes without saying as a blog from Heliocare - this is a skincare step that should never be missed – even in the autumn and winter months! Our skin can be damaged by the sun all year round regardless of the weather and how sunny it is - this can not only damage our skin’s health, but also effect its appearance.

Heliocare 360° provides high-level, broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB and goes beyond sunscreen to protect against visible light (HEVL), infrared-A (IR-A) with its unique antioxidant Fernblock® for the very best daily defence against the sun and daylight.

If you’re following these 6 top tips and start to use ingredients like retinol or different acids to boost your skin activity, then daily sun protection is even more important as these active ingredients can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Boost skin protection with oral supplements

If you’re spending more time outside whether that be walking, working, or playing sports, you may find that your skin needs a little boost of protection in addition to topical sun protection products.

Introducing the Heliocare 360° Capsules, packed full of that clinically proven supercharged antioxidant Fernblock and additional skin-loving ingredients including Vitamin C&E, Niacinamide and pre-biotics. Simply take one capsule in the morning and it will give you 8 hours of boosted protection, specifically helping to:

• Protect against damage caused by UVA, UVB, visible light/blue light and infrared-A^1,2,3
• Help prevent collagen breakdown²
• Protect and repair your skin cell DNA⁴
• Protect your skin's immune system⁵
• Reduce Polymorphic light eruption (PLE)⁶

These little capsules will soon become your secret weapon in keeping your skin looking and feeling healthy!

Discover Heliocare 360°

If you’re not sure which Heliocare product is right for you, you can take our Virtual Consultation which will help to point you in the right direction.