Spring is here. And your skin is already feeling it.

I had a client in on the weekend who came in with her cheeks quite irritated and her skin on the dry, reactive side. She could not work out what had happened. Nothing in her routine had changed. She had not introduced anything new. Her skin had just decided to do its own thing.

It did not take long to work out what was going on. Spring had arrived and her skin was already responding to it.

It got me thinking about how easy it is to forget that hay fever season is creeping up on us until we are already in the thick of it. And the thing is, your skin usually feels it before your sinuses do.

So I wanted to write this as a bit of a heads up. Because if your skin has started feeling a bit different lately, this might be exactly why.

What is actually happening right now.

We are right at the beginning of spring and the season is doing what it always does. The temperature is climbing some days and dipping on others. You are starting to spend more time outside. Social plans are picking up. The UV is building even on the days that do not feel warm yet.

All of that has an effect on the skin. More UV exposure, more time outdoors, maybe a few more wines at events, temperatures swinging between cool mornings and warm afternoons. And if your body is prone to seasonal allergies, your skin can start reacting before you even notice your eyes getting watery. It can show up as redness, sensitivity or suddenly reacting to products it has been absolutely fine with for months.

One thing that catches a lot of people off guard is this. As the humidity starts to rise, your skin can actually start producing more oil. So even if you were on the drier side over winter, you might notice things feeling a bit oilier, especially through the T-zone. It sounds counterintuitive but it is often a sign that the skin is actually drying out underneath and compensating. So reaching for something to dry it out more is usually the last thing it needs.

The thing I see most often at this time of year.

When skin starts acting up, the instinct is to do more. Try something new, add an active, switch products, give everything a reset.

But honestly, right now while your skin is adjusting, is one of the worst times to start experimenting. If your barrier is still recovering from winter and you start throwing new things at it, it gets overwhelmed quickly. Congestion follows, breakouts follow, and then you really cannot tell what caused what.

The other thing to watch is really heavy creams. If your skin is feeling irritated or reactive, a rich moisturiser can actually sit on top of the skin and contribute to congestion rather than calming things down. Lighter is usually better right now. And if you are using strong actives, it is worth pulling them back a little while your skin finds its feet again. You can always bring them back once things have settled.

A few simple things that actually help.

You do not need to overhaul everything. A few small adjustments can make a big difference at this time of year.

• If you use Lotion N, try pulling it back to 2 to 3 sprays twice a day as the weather warms up. It is such an easy tweak and it gives your skin a bit more room to breathe.
• If you have got some oleogel sitting in your cupboard, now is a really great time to bring it in. It is calming, it supports your barrier, and it does not overload the skin the way a heavier cream can. Perfect for when things are feeling a bit reactive or unsettled.
• And SPF. If it slipped a little over winter, please bring it back now. The UV is already building even on the overcast days. Your morning SPF is really important from here.

If you are thinking about repurchasing something or trying something new, come and chat to us first. What worked really well for your skin in July might not be exactly what it needs right now. We can help you figure out what to keep, what to ease back on, and what your skin is actually asking for this season. Sometimes it is a really small change that makes all the difference.

If your skin has started shifting and you are not sure why, we would love to help you get ahead of it before it becomes a bigger issue.

Book an online skin consultation to have your routine reviewed.

Or treat yourself to a facial and reset your skin for spring.

Send us a message and we will work out the right next step together.