Spring is a time of renewal: birds chirping, flowers blooming, and your skin emerging from a cocoon of intensive winter moisturizer and chapstick. After months of alternating between hot, dry indoor air and the harsh cold outside, your skin is definitely ready for a shift in seasonal skin care.

Use our eight steps to radiant springtime skin to wake your skin up from its winter hibernation, and get your healthy glow on.

#1: Exfoliate You Skin

The first step on the path to glowing skin starts with exfoliating away the lingering layer of winter. Even though skin cells constantly regenerate, your heavy winter duds might have been keeping dead skin from effectively sloughing off. The best way to exfoliate skin is to run a hot bath, and give yourself a full-body exfoliation using a strong but gentle scrub. Scrub all over, especially those spots that are prone to rough patches – knees, elbows, feet, hands and back.

Remember that most body scrubs are too rough to use on your face. Turn to a face-specific product to exfoliate your more delicate skin. Always follow with moisturizer to nourish your fresh skin!

#2: Hydrate Yourself

Does it seem like drinking more water is at the root of every diet, workout and skin care routine? That’s because it really does wonders for your body! Your organs need hydration to function, and your skin is your body’s largest organ. The more water you drink, the easier it will be to keep your skin from getting dry and flakey.

#3: Wear Sunscreen, Even on Cloudy Days

Sunscreen isn’t just for those days at the beach. Even overcast days can still send harmful UV rays down to attack your skin. Defend it! Wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days, to protect your skin from sun damage. Look for a lightweight product that won’t clog pores.

You can save time – and how many products you need – by using a moisturizer or makeup that already contains UVA/UVB protection.

If you’re fighting uneven skin tone, try a treatment. It improves the look of dark spots in just one week.

#4: EatFreshFruitsandVeggies

Speaking of hydration, a great way to get more water into your day is by snacking on fresh fruit and veggies. Fresh fruits and veggies can be a delicious snack, and ones that are packed with the water your system needs – plus vitamins and nutrients. Water also helps your skin retain its elasticity, which means it can help fight signs of aging. Great foods for healthy skin include lettuce, broccoli, grapefruit, carrots, apples, and watermelon. Studies have found that citrus fruits are especially helpful for skin health.

#5: Use a Lighter Moisturizer
While winter had you slathering thick, heavy moisturizer from head to toe, the same products can start to leave a greasy layer on your skin as the days grow warmer. As part of your spring skin care routine, choose a lighter moisturizer to keep your skin healthy and hydrated without weighing it down.                            
            
#6: Work Out
Getting to the gym or doing a home workout can feel like the last thing you want to squeeze into your busy day. The bottom line is this: exercise increases blood flow, which helps maintain healthy skin cells. Happy skin cells = happy skin! You don’t even have to hit the gym. If it’s nice outside, do 30 minutes of yoga on your lawn. Or, take advantage of the fresh spring weather and take a brisk walk in the warmer nighttime air with your kids or your dog.

#7: CleanYourMakeupBrushes

While you’re spring cleaning your cupboards and closets, don’t forget to pay attention to your cosmetic products. Makeup brushes and sponges can build up a seriously yucky amount of hard-to-see grime and bacteria, and each use applies germs onto your face. Gently wash your brushes with a natural cleanser, then lay them flat to dry for 24 hours.

Be sure to clean your loofah, and check the medicine cabinet for expired topical creams and gels while you’re at it.

#8: InspectCleaningChemicalLabels

The cleaning products you use around your home become airborne parts of your environment – and get absorbed into your skin. Your poor skin is being exposed to any harsh, toxic chemical ingredients they might have. Always be sure to read labels, and seek out natural alternatives, such as organic products or homemade cleaners, such as vinegar or baking soda.