Now is the perfect time for spring cleaning. As you’re clearing those dust bunnies and going through piles of clutter throughout your home, don’t neglect your bathroom counter, makeup drawer, or vanity—wherever you store your skincare products and makeup. It’s important to go through these items from time to time to make sure you’re taking the best care of your skin.
Here are some areas to focus on when you spring clean your skincare routine.
Check for Expired Products
Spring cleaning is the ideal opportunity to get rid of expired products and ensure everything you’re putting on your skin is clean, effective, and safe. You don’t want to use a product that’s adding bacteria to your skin or has lost the effectiveness of its active ingredients.
Most skincare products will tell you how long you can use them on the packaging. You should either see an expiration date or an open jar symbol with the letter “m” to indicate “month.” Check the number included in or near the jar to see how many months the product will be good after opening the container. For example, 6m indicates it is suitable for six months after opening.
Please take this opportunity to discard and replace products past their expiration date. Sunscreen tends to last for about two years, while you could expect about a year of use from moisturizers, serums, and cleansers (possibly less for creamy cleansers). Even if a product hasn’t reached its expiration date, changes in color, odor, texture, or cohesiveness generally mean it is time to throw them away.
Carry out the same steps with your makeup. Follow the shelf life of each type of makeup or go by the general rule to replace any makeup you’ve been using for six months or more. In addition to throwing away older products, wash your makeup brushes and make that a weekly habit.
Swap Seasonal Products
If you’re still using your skincare products from winter, now is the time to shed them and switch to spring products. Why does it matter? Ideally, you’ve been wearing a heavier moisturizer to combat the dryness of winter, so you’ll want to switch to a lighter one for spring when your skin will be experiencing more heat and humidity from the air. You’ll also want to increase your SPF if you were using a lower number in the winter. Go up to SPF 50 or higher now that you’ll likely be spending more time outside in the sun.
Consider New Products
Spring is also the perfect time to reconsider your skincare routine and think about whether to make changes. In general, most people should have a morning routine of cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and SPF, and a nighttime routine of cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and retinol. Does your routine include AM and PM versions of these products?
It’s easy to get caught up with your life and not give much thought to your skincare products. Following a routine can become second nature. But spring cleaning is the ideal time to go through your skincare and makeup to replace old products and switch from a winter to summer routine. It’s also the perfect time to add a type of product you may be missing from your routine, whether it’s a cleanser, serum, moisturizer, or SPF. Still have questions about the products you should be using in your skincare routine? Contact us to request a product consultation.
To help you spring clean your skincare routine, get free shipping at our online cosmetic store in May with code Mom2021.
Need SPF? This month, if you purchase Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Face Shield SPF 50, receive 15% off Lip Shine SPF 35 with code SPF15.