Skincare in Spring: Adjusting Your Routine After Winter
With the first warm days, a lot changes: the heating stays off, jackets get thinner, you spend more time outdoors and the first sandals are not far away. Your skincare in spring can adapt too. What worked in winter – rich creams, long warm baths – is often too much now. In this article we go through the changes area by area: from showering to face and body, hands and feet, with a weekly routine to take away.
Contents11
- What changes for your skin in spring
- Skincare in spring and winter compared
- Showering: shorter, lukewarm and fresh
- The body scrub before the first short clothes
- Face: cleanse gently, think about the sun
- Hands and feet after winter
- Common mistakes in spring skincare
- Spring cleaning the bathroom cabinet
- Spring skincare: your weekly routine
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
What changes for your skin in spring
In winter, the skin is mainly challenged by the switch between cold outdoor air and dry heated indoor air. In spring, both gradually disappear. Instead, new factors come into play:
- More sun: The days get longer and the sun climbs higher. Face, neck and hands are exposed to more light again.
- Changeable weather: Fresh in the morning, warm at midday, cool again in the evening – your skin has to keep adjusting.
- More time outdoors: Cycling, gardening, running. You sweat more often again.
- Fewer clothes: Arms, legs and feet are on show for the first time in months.
For spring skincare this means: a little lighter, a little fresher – and more attention to sun protection and the areas that were hidden all winter.
Skincare in spring and winter compared
| Area | In winter | In spring |
|---|---|---|
| Showering | Long and warm, warming scents | Shorter and lukewarm, fresh scents |
| Face | Richer care | Adjust the amount, add sun protection during the day |
| Body | Scrub less often | Once or twice a week before the first short clothes |
| Hands | Frequent cream against the cold | As needed, especially after gardening |
| Feet | Forgotten under thick socks | Getting ready for open shoes |
Showering: shorter, lukewarm and fresh
In winter, a long hot shower is a small ritual to warm up. When it gets milder outside, a shorter, lukewarm shower is often enough. Many people then stop lathering their whole body every time and only wash the areas that need it. This is a common tip if your skin tends to be dry, and an easy first step for skincare in spring.
The scent can change too. The VEGAN FOX shower gel (200 ml) comes in Linden Blossom, Grapefruit and Red Grape. In spring many reach for Grapefruit or Linden Blossom, in winter rather for Red Grape. All three contain aloe vera, panthenol and betaine and are designed for daily use.
The body scrub before the first short clothes
Before arms and legs see the light of day again, many treat themselves to a body scrub. The VEGAN FOX peppermint body scrub (300 g) suits the season with its cool mint scent. It is based on salt and apricot kernel powder, plus grape seed oil, shea butter and jojoba oil. According to the manufacturer, use it like this:
- Stir briefly before use.
- Apply to damp, clean skin and massage in with slow, circular movements, for example on thighs, upper arms and shoulders.
- Rinse off thoroughly.
- Once or twice a week is plenty.
Important: do not use on irritated skin or directly after hair removal. If you like variety, the scrub trio also includes Ginger and Coffee.
Face: cleanse gently, think about the sun
Cleansing
Facial cleansing remains the first step all year round. The VEGAN FOX cleansing foam for normal skin (200 ml, with chamomile) is meant for morning and evening: apply to the dampened skin of face and neck, massage in gently and rinse off thoroughly. Especially in spring, when you sweat more outdoors, a mild cleanse in the evening feels good.
Care and sun protection
Whether you need a different cream in spring depends on your skin. Many stick with their face cream and just use a little less. The VEGAN FOX face cream with almond and avocado oil is meant for morning and evening on cleansed skin. The manufacturer does not mention a sun protection filter. So if you spend longer outdoors during the day, add a separate sunscreen – that is as much a part of skincare in spring as it is in summer.
Face peel as a weekly ritual
If you like, plan a quiet evening once a week with the face peel with 2.5 % lactic acid. It is a gel without grains, applied thinly, left on for 2–3 minutes depending on skin sensitivity and then rinsed off thoroughly. According to the manufacturer it is not suitable for very sensitive skin, and you don't use it before or during the sauna.
Hands and feet after winter
Hands have been through a lot in winter, and in spring gardening is often added. After washing your hands or working with soil, a hand cream feels good, for example the Nourishing hand cream with shea butter and macadamia (120 ml). Skincare in spring also means wearing gloves in the garden – that protects your hands from the start.
Your feet have spent months in socks and closed shoes. Before sandal season starts, a small evening routine is worthwhile: a warm foot bath or shower, dry thoroughly, including between the toes, then apply cream. The foot cream with aloe vera (120 ml) with castor oil, tea tree, lavender and peppermint oil is a good last step before bed.
Common mistakes in spring skincare
- Too little too soon: One warm day doesn't make a summer. If it gets cold again in the evening, your care can stay a little richer for now.
- Forgetting sun protection: The spring sun is often underestimated because the air is still cool.
- Changing everything at once: If you switch shower gel, cream and scrub at the same time, you won't know what caused any redness. Better to change one thing at a time.
- Overdoing the scrub: More is not better. Follow the instructions on the packaging.
Spring cleaning the bathroom cabinet
A good moment to go through your cosmetics too: what has been open since last spring? Many products carry a symbol of an open jar with a number on the packaging – it shows how many months the product keeps after opening. You can read more in the article Cosmetics shelf life and the PAO symbol. Anything that smells odd or has changed in texture should go.
Spring skincare: your weekly routine
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Every morning | Cleanse face, cream, sunscreen if needed |
| Every evening | Short, lukewarm shower, cleanse face, cream, hand cream |
| Once or twice a week | Body scrub in the shower |
| Once a week | Face peel on a quiet evening (not on sauna day) |
| Several evenings a week | Apply foot cream |
If you want everything in one package, the head-to-toe care set contains shower gel, cleansing foam, face peel, face cream, hand cream and foot cream. For skin problems or health questions, it is best to seek medical advice.
Related reading: Facial care in winter: cleansing and caring in the cold · Facial cleansing: foam, gel or milk? · Day cream or night cream: do you really need both?
Conclusion
Skincare in spring can become lighter and fresher: shorter, lukewarm showers, a fresh scent, a body scrub before the first short clothes and sun protection for your face. Hands and feet get a little extra attention after winter, and a quick look in the bathroom cabinet keeps things tidy. That's all it takes for a good start to the warm season.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I use a body scrub?
For the VEGAN FOX body scrub, the manufacturer recommends once or twice a week. Skip it on irritated skin and directly after hair removal.
Do I need a different face cream in spring?
Not necessarily. Many stick with their cream and just adjust the amount. It is more important to think about sun protection during the day.
Does the VEGAN FOX face cream have sun protection?
No sun protection filter is stated. For longer periods outdoors, add a separate sunscreen.
When should I start caring for my feet for summer?
Ideally a few weeks before you start wearing open shoes. Applying cream regularly in the evening is enough to begin with.
Can I combine a face peel and the sauna?
Not on the same day. According to the manufacturer, the lactic acid face peel should not be used directly before or during the sauna.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.