After months of layering serums, balms and oils, winter has left the building (well, almost), taking with it our dry, itchy skin and dreary moods. How, then, to update your skincare routine to get that glow back? From an uneven complexion to chapped lips, these products will nix pesky warm-weather beauty issues and prep your face for sunnier days ahead.

Start scrubbing

The first step in the glow game is exfoliating to get rid of season-long buildup on the skin. The heavenly Burt’s Bees Peach & Willow Bark Deep Pore Scrub (R250) gently exfoliates pores to clear them of dirt, excess oil and dead skin, while finely ground peach stone polishes your complexion to a smooth, natural radiance. Best of all, it’s natural and free of parabens!

Available from Dis-Chem and www.takealot.com

Update your cleansing routine

Yes, the Elemis Pro Collagen Rose Balm (R1,050) is high maintenance, but this luxurious balm takes you straight to the spa. Warm a scoop between your palms, massage into your skin and gently wipe away with a damp cloth – it will remove makeup, sweat and dirt in a flash, but not moisture. It really softens the skin, and its delicate English rose scent is what makes it really stand out.

Available from Edgars

Lighten your load

Saying goodbye to winter means you can say goodbye to super-heavy face creams too. A new breed of serum, the Gatineau Perfection Ultime Cream-Serum (R1,150) is a ‘pressed serum’ has the potency of a serum and the comfort of a featherlight cream to deliver a soft, smooth and dewy glow. It can be used alone, underneath a moisturiser or in a thicker layer as an overnight treatment mask.

Available from select Woolworths, Truworths and Dis-Chem stores

Apply (and reapply) sunscreen

You’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again: It’s essential to apply sunscreen year-round, but especially during the warmer months because you’ll likely be spending more time outdoors. The Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30 (R1,100) is a multi-tasking moisturiser that shields your complexion from harmful UV rays as well as soothes and hydrates your skin.

Available from Dermalogica concept stores and www.dermalogica.co.za

Treat yourself!

It firms. It brightens. It hydrates. In a nutshell, it’s easier to list what the luxurious Diego dalla Palma Professional Icon Time Gold Elixir (R1,595) can’t do. A sublime infusion of gold enriched with golden microcapsules of hyaluronic acid that melt in contact with the skin, it’s incredibly effective at stimulating the production of new collagen and makes makeup virtually optional.

Available from select spas and salons

Add an eye cream

To combat fine lines and wrinkles that can form around the eyes, find an eye cream like our top pick, the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (R440); a creamy, moisturising eye treatment formulated with avocado oil. The unique, concentrated texture gently moisturises the delicate eye area to plump up fine lines and wrinkles that have already formed.

Available from Kiehl’s and Edgars

Use a killer overnight cream

Evening is the best time for skin to repair itself, so what better time for REN Radiance Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream (R995) to work to help regenerate skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots? Use this rich, hydrating sleep cream with 94% naturally derived ingredients before bed and wake up with brighter, glowier and all-round healthier-looking skin.

Available from www.renskincare.co.za and Woolworths

Comfort sensitive skin

For those of us with sensitive skin, seasonal changes can be difficult. The Eau Thermale Avène A-Oxitive Day Smoothing Water Cream (R399) and Eau Thermale Avène A-Oxitive Night Peeling Cream (R409) naturally help prevent irritation, flare-ups and breakouts. These lightly fragranced products also help the skin to defend itself against oxidative stress and the harmful effects of pollution. Another must-have is the Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water (from R85) – a skin-quenching face mist that soothes hot, irritated skin (AKA our face all spring long).

Available from Clicks, Dis-Chem and www.dermastore.co.za

Spring into a new hair care routine

Of course, we didn’t forget about your crowning glory. To keep your hair healthy and looking gorgeous as we transition into spring, we recommend the INOAR Resistance Lotus Oil (R130), composed of plant ingredients that penetrate deep into the hair fibre and give back its natural moisture, and the INOAR Resistance Lotus Super Ampoule (R500) – it strengthens, moisturises and nourishes in three minutes and you can enjoy five to seven treatments out of one ampoule. These products will prepare your hair for warmer weather – after all, a lustrous mane polishes any outfit.

Available from www.inoar.co.za and top hair salons