TRANSITIONING INTO SPRING

My anticipated SPRING BOUQUET article will be published soon. I’ve reviewed an extensive array of ideal seasonal products. Until then, consider the following musings.

~ MY TAKE ~

This past winter has been brutal. Record snowfalls, biting winds, frigid temperatures and wind-chill factors making the months drone on and endless. Sure, the clocks may have just advanced one hour forward for Daylight Saving’s Time in the annual “let’s lose another hour of sleep to gain an hour of sunlight” is just now creating stirs of anxiety for those who long for the beautiful balmy breezes, new growth popping their heads from thawed ground, and the cacophony of the outdoor aviary. That being said, what the clime has done to our psyches is nothing compared to its impact on our skin…..ravaged, dried, dull…..all of our senses long to be renewed and re-spirited.

~ MY TIPS ~

When a season transitions into the next, like winter transitioning to spring, virtually every aspect of our daily lives also changes, and we need to be mindful of the need to change and adapt. Consider these things for spring:

1) Change your skin care and body care regimen and products. Go with lighter formulations. With more humidity in the air, you might be able to forgo using a serum or booster, plus heavier-weight moisturizers, and just go with a medium-weight moisturizer. Consider exfoliating less and reducing the intesity of your cleansing regimen. If the change is too drastic, your skin will react; so, pay attention to what your skin might be telling you to do or not to do.

2) Consider using chilled face toners or an essential oil-based spritzer to refresh the face and neck areas throughout the day, especially as temperatures heat up and humidity increases.

3) Change the density of your fragrance. Go with lighter formulations, such as florals or greens, versus woods, ambers, musk, etc. Remember, as temperatures warm up and humidity levels increase, so too will your body heat, intensifying the fragrance and making it too cloying.

4) Continue using products with a sunscreen/SPF rating to protect the skin from UVA/UVB rays. Consider consulting a dermatologist for a recommendation strength.

5) Both the weight of clothing fabric and color palettes should changeover from heavier fabric material with darker colors, to lighter-weight fabrics (e.g. cotton, silk, natural fiber blends, etc.) with more neutral or pastel; lighter weight fabrics and colors also keep the skin cooler, naturally.

6) When in doubt, look to nature for cues on what to do. For example, during the day when the sun’s rays are their strongest, most birds and other creatures have the good sense to seek shade and avoid rigorous activity. Take a cue from them, slow down and stay cooler. Animals also begin shedding their winter “coats” to prepare for the warmer temperatures.

7) What may have worked during the fall and winter, might not necessarily work in the spring and the lead-up to summer.

8) Lighten up on the types of foods you consume and continue drinking plenty of water to maintain a healthy digestive and circulatory system.

9) Don’t forget to open those windows and let the balmy breezes in, while the fresher air envelopes you and all your senses.

By Terry Herman

Terry Herman is a recognized expert in the industry, and regularly covers issues that include business, management, operations, customer care, treatments, products, and trends. In addition to writing and reviewing, she is also a management consultant and motivational speaker. She also serves on EXPERIENCE | PREMCHIT Journeys In Retreat To Wellness Advisory Board, which is comprised of ten international experts in various fields of wellness and spa, and serves as a Group Manager on the LinkedIn Spa Buzz Group. You can email her at terry_h60559@yahoo.com.

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(Photo credit: “Early Crocus” by photographer Simon Howden.)