Our skincare product needs naturally change from season to season – especially once winter ends and spring begins. During the cold weather, we use more nourishing, protective and hydrating products like thicker moisturisers due to the dryness in the Jozi air. Then, once spring rolls around, we need lighter options that keep sun damage and sweat in mind. These are my top spring skincare products that I’m using this month.

Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying & Plumping Daily Booster

I’ve had my eye on this hydrating product for a while (the glass bottle is beyond gorgeous) but only recently started using it. I fell in love with it right away … my only regret is that I didn’t try it sooner. Made with a unique combination of Vichy Mineralizing Water (for the first time concentrated up to 89%) associated with natural origin hyaluronic acid, it fortifies your skin and protects against three urban progressors – pollution, stress and fatigue – for radiant, hydrated, healthy-looking skin. It’s your skin’s daily dose of strength.

This lovely watery, gel-like serum can be used alone, under other serums and to boost the hydrating of your day and night creams. It absorbs into the skin super-quickly, leaving it feeling very soft and hydrated. It doesn’t feel sticky, heavy or tacky even a bit. In fact, it doesn’t feel like there’s anything on your face after applying – your skin just doesn’t feel as dry and tight as before. There’s no rush to slather on a rich moisturiser after applying this baby! Oh, and did I mention that it’s not fragranced and is gentle enough to use on your eye area?

My top tip is to layer this product with an anti-ageing serum like Dermalogica AGE Bright Clearing Serum straight after cleansing, both day and night.

R375 from Woolworths

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader

If it feels like tomatoes are in full bloom not only at farmers markets but also on your face, this two-in-one spot treatment is a must-have. It reduces the appearance of active breakouts and post-breakout marks. Salicylic acid works to clear breakouts, while niacinamide and hexylresorcinol work synergistically to fade post-breakout marks and improve uneven skin tone. My usual spot treatments are clay and tea tree oil, but I thought I’d give this product a try to see if it’s worth the hype. To my complete surprise, it started working pretty much immediately.

The AGE Bright Complex in this treatment formulated specifically for adult skin promises to reduce visible skin ageing and help prevent over-drying … and boy, does it deliver! I applied the treatment directly to two spots that decided to pop up unexpectedly. The next day, both spots had shrunk significantly. Two days later, after applying it twice a day, they’d disappeared with no flakiness. As mentioned, it can also be used on post-breakout marks. I tried it and can safely say that hyperpigmentation is now a thing of the past.

My top tip is to reapply this product twice a day – morning and night – below your moisturiser.

R849 from Dermalogica stores or online at www.dermalogica.co.za

Lamelle Correctives Vita-C Lipid Serum

As someone with pigmentation, you can bet that I love a vitamin C serum – and as a huge fan of the Lamelle range, I was excited to put this new product through its paces. Using a new, advanced form of vitamin C that’s specifically created to be absorbed under normal skin pH conditions, this serum delivers the skin-health benefits of vitamin C to even the most sensitive skins (like mine). You get the optimum concentration of Vitamin C (it’s calculated that vitamin C is absorbed optimally at a concentration of 20%) delivered straight to the desired area, topically, safely and effectively.

This serum is soothing, doesn’t cause irritation and there’s no need to acclimatise the skin beforehand – it works safely from the very first application. It’s is truly vitamin C for sensitive skin! Plus, it’s enhanced with nourishing jojoba and ginger root extract, making it a comfortable treatment you can apply at home. In terms of texture, it’s unlike most of the other vitamin C serums I’ve tried in that it’s a fairly thin serum, which makes it easy to fit into my personal skincare routine. Having tried it layered with a few different products, I can say that it works just as well like this as it does on clean skin.

My top tip is to let this serum sink in for a couple of minutes before going in with the next layer, which in my case is a hydrating serum, moisturiser and SPF, and enjoy its delightful scent of fresh oranges.

If your skin has always been a little sensitive to ascorbic acid, or if you’ve never tried it and are keen to see what vitamin C can do for your skin, speak to your doctor or skincare therapist about getting the safe and effective skin-health benefits of vitamin C through this new serum from Lamelle.

R849 from www.dermastore.co.za

Africology Absolute Rose Serum

Is there anything more luxurious than applying an exquisite blend of rosehip and Rose Otto to your face? I think not. This serum has a velvety texture that benefits all skin types and is especially hydrating and soothing for dry skin like mine. I used this product all winter long and was super-impressed at how it combated the effects of the cool, dry climate. It’s suitable for using daily all year round though – use it on clean skin or add it to your moisturiser when your skin is feeling particularly dry. All you need is 10 drops on your face and neck.

What’s more, in aromatherapy, roses have always been a powerful symbol as well as en effective treatment for hormonal and menopausal difficulties, so it’s no wonder that today, rose oil is used to treat dermatitis and ageing skin. I’m obsessed with its aromatherapeutic properties as a mild antidepressant that helps to balance emotions. Isn’t it wonderful how skincare can also work on the olfactory system and bring about balance and harmony in the heart and mind? You can use this serum on your heart centre to help balance moments of sadness … it really works!

My top tip is to apply this serum after using the award-winning Africology Antioxidant Masque.

R800 from Africology stores or online at www.africologyspa.com

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fresh Mist Anti-Shine SPF 50

I hate to admit it, but while I apply an SPF religiously every morning, I’m terrible when it comes to reapplying throughout the day. Well, that was up until I got my hands on this SPF mist that offers broad-spectrum protection (UVA/UVB/light/pollution and infrared). Culminating in a refreshing thermal water mist, this product is fast-absorbing and doesn’t require any rubbing-in to ensure protection. It can be worn both under and over makeup and used with any other skincare product. The best part is that it’s perfectly handbag sized!

Key ingredients in this product include a patented filtering system Mexoplex, a combination of Mexoryl XS, XL, a chemical sunscreen and Tinosorb S, a chemical and physical sunscreen. This optimal combo of chemical and physical offers SPF 50+ protection against UVA and UVB. It also contains La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, which reduces sensitivity with its soothing antioxidant properties due to its unique selenium content – a mineral that protects the cellular metabolism. Plus, it’s paraben-free, non-perfumed, highly water resistant and suitable for post-procedure.

My top tip is to spray this mist in short bursts directly onto your face rather than mist it onto your hands and then press it onto your face like I’ve seen a lot of people do.

R265 from www.dermastore.co.za

African Extracts More Matte Moisture Mask

I’ve always been a lover of skincare products that contain plant extracts, and this face mask is no different. If there’s one product on this list that completely exceeded my expectations, it’s this one. It’s made with bio-active rooibos extract, evodia fruit to help improve skin texture, fight dullness and visibly improve radiance, everlasting and daisy flowers to detoxify and brighten, rose oil and rosewater to mattify and comfort, chamomile, aloe vera and rose geranium to help soothe, tighten and protect, and betonite clay and kaolin to remove dead skin cells, refine pores and smooth.

The best word to describe this face mask is luscious. Light pink in colour, it’s cooling and soothing, helps reduce inflammation and regulates imbalances of the skin after just one use. I simply adore that it’s enriched with rosewater for unparalleled nourishment. This ingredient is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, helps prevent ageing and revitalises the skin to give it a healthy glow … not to mention that it also gives this product a heavenly sweet scent. I’m always a bit nervous when trying a face mask for the first time on my sensitive skin, but this one didn’t irritate my skin at all.

My top tip is to apply this mask before getting into a bubble bath and leave it on for up to 30 minutes.

R159.99 from Dis-Chem

Have you tried any of these skincare products on my spring must-haves list? If you have, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!