How to Switch Your Skincare Routine from Winter to Spring

As the seasons change, so should your skincare routine. Winter’s cold, dry air may have left your skin feeling dehydrated, but with spring’s warmer temperatures and increased humidity, it’s time to swap heavy creams for lightweight hydration and introduce gentle exfoliation to refresh your complexion.

In this guide, We will share expert tips on transitioning your skincare routine from winter to spring, featuring some of our favorite products to keep your skin glowing all season long. Whether you have dry, oily, or sensitive skin, following these steps will help prevent breakouts, dullness, and irritation.

Why It’s Essential to Change Your Skincare Routine for Spring

During winter, we rely on heavier, barrier-repairing products to combat moisture loss. But as temperatures rise and humidity increases, your skin naturally produces more oil, which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts if you continue using rich, occlusive products.

Key Reasons for Transitioning:

• ✅ Higher humidity increases oil production, making heavy creams unnecessary.
• ✅ Spring brings more sun exposure, increasing the need for consistent SPF application.
• ✅ Dead skin cells accumulate in winter, making gentle exfoliation crucial for a fresh glow.

💡 Pro Tip: Making small, targeted adjustments will keep your skin healthy, balanced, and radiant as you move into the warmer months.

Step 1: Switch to a Lightweight Cleanser

A rich, hydrating cleanser is a winter essential, but as spring arrives, it’s best to opt for a gentle, lightweight formula that removes sweat, oil, and impurities without over-stripping the skin.

You may be switching from a Creamy Cleanser like Mega Cream Cleanser by Glymed or the Triple Tea Cleanser from Opal Gene to a Protective Cleanser that is still moisturizing as we head out into the sun more. One of our spring favorites is the Vitamin C Cleanser or the Peptide Firming Cleanser as both are very restorative and protective.

💡 Pro Tip: Cleanse with lukewarm water to avoid stripping your skin of essential oils.

Step 2: Swap Your Heavy Moisturizer for a Hydrating Gel

In winter, thick creams provide a barrier against harsh conditions. But in spring, it’s time to replace those heavy formulas with lighter, breathable options that hydrate without clogging pores.

Our winter faves are for the thickness: Cell Protection Balm from Glymed, Restorative Cream from Glo Skin Beauty, and Lemon Chiffon from Opal Gene. For all of the reasons already discussed, we want to ensure that our skin is highly protected from the elements (dehydration, lack of moisture, which create a lack of cushion and increased friction which can cause irritation in the skin, reactivity, sensitivity and a constant battle with dryness). As you move into the spring months, you may need less of a barrier and you may be able to create less occlusion for your skin with some of our lighter faves: Comfort Cream from Glymed, Recovery Cream from Glymed, and Rose Collagen with Zinc from Opal Gene.

💡 Pro Tip: Apply your moisturizer while your skin is still damp to lock in hydration.

Step 3: Keep Lips Hydrated and Protected

Your lips often take a beating during winter, and spring weather can still leave them vulnerable to dryness. Use a nourishing lip balm to maintain hydration and prevent chapping.

Our lips can really show the early signs of dehydration as our breathing can pull moisture from the area and our winter activities can increase this issue as we exercise and breathe more, and as the cold pulls circulation away from the area and as the lack of moisture pulls water from the skin, we have a recipe for dry, cracked lips! Winter months can often mean sleep masks for lips, constantly applying a thicker balm to lock in what moisture we have and to fill in the gaps.

As spring is springin’ we may need a little less of this and might be able to move to a gloss or alternating with a balm. Our favorites are the Vanilla Mint and the Watermelon (bring on summer) lip renewing hydrators. 

💡 Pro Tip: Reapply lip balm throughout the day, especially before heading outdoors.

Step 4: Incorporate Gentle Exfoliation for a Fresh Glow

Winter often leaves behind a buildup of dead skin cells, which can lead to dullness and clogged pores. Spring is the perfect time to reintroduce gentle exfoliation to brighten your complexion and allow better product absorption.

Winter months = less cell turnover. The cold can inhibit blood flow to the skin, pulling it in toward the vital organs, which can cause a slow down in sloughing (the process of dead skin cells naturally falling off) This means that during the winter, we may want to exfoliate a bit more, but gently as well as we are losing more moisture, so there’s also less cushion for our cells, and less cushion/water can mean more irritation.

We really like to utilize a lot of chemical exfoliants in the winter as well as peels, but as we move into spring, it may be time to increase your rate of manual exfoliation or to just add it back in regularly or to even add an Elite Facial like the Glow Getter or the Showstopper which includes hydromicrodermabrasion for a good overall exfoliation and glow!

💡 Pro Tip: Avoid physical scrubs that can cause micro-tears, especially if your skin is sensitive.

Step 5: Don’t Skip Sunscreen (Even in Spring!)

Just because it’s spring doesn’t mean you can ease up on SPF. UV rays can cause damage year-round, and increased outdoor activities in spring make it even more important to protect your skin daily.

We love to skip a step if at all possible and make it easy for you, so we try to carry as many tinted sunscreens to negate the need for concealer or foundation, and we love to combine Zinc oxide with your moisturizer so you have a one-step sunscreen and moisturizer combo if possible.

Spring brings so many more options in this area as we focus less on thickness and more on build ability and we worry less about getting the tint on all of the layers and bundles to keep our pretty little face warm!

Our spring faves are Total Protection Face Shield Flex from Color Science, and we are trying out the new Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen from Beauty By Joseon, as well as our non-tinted options that combine moisture and SPF from Opal Gene: Goat Milk with Zinc Oxide, Rose Collagen with Zinc Oxide, and Apricot Rose Face Whip with Zinc Oxide. 

💡 Pro Tip: Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when spending extended time outdoors.

Step 6: Incorporate Serums in Your Routine

Winter months meant dryness so we may find that some of the Retinols, direct Vitamin A serums, and those with higher percentages or more active ingredients that didnt work as well and maybe irritated our skin during the winter are more tolerable in the summer months.

Our favorites are the GlyPro Retinol Drops from Glo Skin Beauty and the Retinol Rejuvenation Serum from Glymed. It’s also great to use some of the higher humidity indexes this time of year to utilize Hyaluronic Acid serums to boost moisture like the ones from Opal Gene, called Quench Hyaluronic Serum or the Ultra Hydro Gel from Glymed.

Bonus Tip: Book a Seasonal Facial for a Skin Refresh

Now, if EVEN after all of this info, you’re still not sure… I say grab a facial with one of our Bubbly Skin Specialists and let us get to work on what’s best for YOU, your skin, and this changing season! 

Spring is an ideal time to refresh your complexion with a professional facial. A customized treatment can deeply exfoliate, hydrate, and revitalize your skin after months of winter stress.

Ready to treat yourself? Book a facial with a Bubbly Skin Specialist for the ultimate seasonal reset.

Want to know how often you should be booking facials? Check out our blog on “How Often Should a Woman Get a Facial?” to learn what’s best for your skin goals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Transitioning to Spring Skincare

❌ Holding Onto Heavy Creams Too Long: Swap to lightweight alternatives to avoid clogged pores.
❌ Skipping Sunscreen: Spring sun is just as harmful as summer UV rays.
❌ Over-Exfoliating: Limit exfoliation to 1-2 times a week to prevent irritation.
❌ Ignoring Neck and Hands: These areas need SPF and hydration too!

Final Thoughts: Glow Through Spring with a Seamless Transition:

Switching your skincare routine from winter to spring doesn’t have to be complicated. By making small adjustments—like swapping heavy creams for lightweight hydrators, adding gentle exfoliation, and staying consistent with sunscreen—you’ll keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and glowing.

Ready to refresh your routine? Explore our full range of GlyMed Plus skincare products and find the perfect match for your spring skincare needs.

What’s your favorite skincare switch for spring? Share your go-to products in the comments below!