How To Update Your Beauty Routine For Spring — As Seen On CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin”

Now that spring is officially here, it’s time to update that beauty routine to reflect the changing seasons. This, of course, will involve everything from prioritizing SPF protection and choosing more lightweight facial moisturizers to exfoliating religiously so as to remove that dull winter pallor and get that lit-from-within glow back in your life. I stopped by CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” today to chat about how to update your beauty routine for spring so you can look, smell, and feel like the pretty flowers all around you! Check out the segment above (or click here for Part 1 and click here for Part 2) and read on for more details on the products shown on air!

ENVELOP YOUR BODY IN THE SCENT OF FLOWERS

Flowers are synonymous with spring — and, here in Texas, we’re starting to see beautiful bluebonnets greeting us from the fields, reminding us that winter is, thankfully, behind us. If you feel like celebrating the blossoming flowers around you (or if you’re still bearing the cold weather and you want to conjure up the feeling of spring inside your home), you can reach for the Caress Botanicals Shower Foams ($6 at HEB stores here in Texas and other food, drug, and mass market retailers nationwide). Having worked with Caress for years, I can honestly say that this is my favorite line of body washes from the brand. New for 2018, these body washes have an airy, lightweight texture that’s a sensory marvel.

Unlike many gel body washes and shower creams that require you to massage them vigorously onto the skin in order to work up a rich lather, these cleansers come in pump-based bottles that easily dispense a lovely froth which, in turn, glides over skin easily. The sulfate- and paraben-free shower foams leave skin feeling petal-soft and lightly fragranced, and they come in three garden-inspired scents: White Orchid & Coconut Milk (my personal favorite), Midnight Iris & Vanilla Bean, and Mediterranean Neroli & Green Tea.

The new Caress Botanicals Body Sprays ($4 at HEB stores and other food, drug, and, mass market retailers nationwide), meanwhile, help you hold on to that fresh-out-of-the-shower feeling so that, whenever your skin needs a little pick-me-up, you can just spritz and go. The body sprays are available in 3 scents: Sweet Violet, Pink Peony, and Mediterranean Lotus.

INVEST IN A POWERFUL FACIAL CLEANSING DEVICE

Spring is all about hope and new beginnings, so why not give your complexion a fresh start? As most of us know by now, facial cleansing devices offer a much deeper cleanse than what could be achieved through manual cleansing alone, but how to pick the right one? Well, you can’t go wrong with the NuSkin ageLOC LumiSpa ($199 at NuSkin.com), a dual-action device that doubles as a cleansing system and skin-perfecting treatment.

Many facial cleansing devices in the market feature brush heads that stiff bristles that can feel abrasive and harsh, but the NuSkin ageLOC Lumi Spa does away with brushes altogether, instead featuring a gentle silicone treatment head that feels gentle and pleasant against the skin. The treatment head features a unique and patent-pending oscillating motion that delivers a deep cleanse and unclogs pores, and it moves at a precise frequency that removes dead skin cells and promotes cellular renewal, thereby leading to smoother and more radiant skin. A thorough cleanse without any irritation or discomfort? Sign me up!

Another huge plus: the treatment head is embedded with antimicrobial silver, making the ageLOC LumiSpa more hygienic than other alternatives.

The first time you use this device, you’ll notice that the cleansing process feels like a mini massage and, one you rinse your face, you might notice that your skin feels softer and smoother. Over time, the benefits are even more evident: you’ll notice your complexion is more radiant, pores are less visible, and skin is bouncier.

The starter kit comes with a treatment cleanser, so you can pick one of the options for your skin type — whether it’s Normal, Oily, Sensitive, Dry, or Combo.

EXFOLIATE TO LIGHT UP THAT DULL, WINTER-WORN COMPLEXION

Winter can leave skin looking dull and tired. See, during the winter months, our skin is often exposed to cold and dry air and this can, in turn, can lead to dehydrated skin — not to mention a build-up of dead skin cells — all of which manifests itself in the complexion developing a zombie-worthy pallor. To get rid of that ghastly pale cast and regain your glow, use the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Refining Cleansing Gel ($38 at Sephora.com), which exfoliates and tones with the power of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Not only does it effectively remove dirt and impurities, then, this cleanser also eliminates the dead surface skin cells that cause the skin to appear dull. The AHAs in the formula will also promote cellular turnover, so that the cleanser will help to minimize the appearance of pores, smooth out fine lines, and improve the skin’s texture over time.

Another way to achieve radiant skin quickly is with the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Moisturizer ($68 at Sephora.com), an innovative product that functions as both an exfoliant and a moisturizer. This moisturizer contains 7 Alpha Beta acids that lift away dead surface cells and refine pores which, in turn, allows the hydrating and nourishing ingredients in the formula to more effectively penetrate the skin. The moisturizer also contains sodium hyaluronate to hydrate the skin and give it a plumper and dewier appearance, and it contains ceramides and squalane to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and lock in that hydration for up to 72 hours.

APPLY SUNSCREEN DAILY — AND FROM HEAD TO TOE

From here through the end of summer, the UV index will continue to rise, so it’s crucial to apply sunscreen daily in order to avoid sun burns, prevent skin cancer, and fend off visible aging signs (as we know, UV rays are the primary cause of premature skin aging in the form of dark spots, wrinkles and fine lines, and a tough and leathery texture). For daily use, I recommend the CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion ($16.99 at Amazon and drugstores nationwide) because it provides SPF 30 protection while moisturizing the skin with hyaluronic acid. The formula is lightweight and breathable, so it won’t or clog pores or leave skin feeling greasy, and you can easily apply makeup over it.

Like all CeraVe products, this moisturizer contains ceramides that fortify the skin. If you’re not clear on what ceramides are, think of them as a glue of sorts that binds skin cells together, much like cement connects bricks together on a wall.  The ceramides in the top layer of the epidermis, then, help to create a protective barrier that locks moisture in and keeps toxins and environmental aggressors out. Our skin naturally contains ceramides but, as we age, our ceramide levels decrease dramatically, making our skin more vulnerable. Moreover, harsh climate conditions (such as harsh winter winds or the sun’s scorching rays) can deplete ceramide levels, so it’s important to keep giving our skin the ceramides it needs so it can repair and fortify its defense systems.

And we can’t forget about the body — especially as we start wearing our mini dresses, skirts, shorts, and sleeveless tops! To protect your body from the sun’s rays, try the CeraVe Sunscreen Body Lotion ($17.99 at Amazon and drugstores nationwide), which is available with SPF 30 or SPF 50. This fully physical sunscreen utilizes InvisibleZinc Technology for broad spectrum protection, meaning that it contains microfine zinc oxide particles that spread easily on the skin and don’t leave behind any white streaks or chalky residue.

KEEP YOUR HAIR COLOR VIBRANT AND BANISH BRASSINESS

Would Daenerys Targaryen settle for a regal throne made out of stones or carved wood instead of the Iron Throne? Would Cleopatra have agreed to wear seed beads in her mane rather than her signature pearls? Unlikely! Queens, after all, have standards — and you should too when it comes to your crown, the hair on your beautiful head.

The Not Your Mother’s Blonde Moment Treatment Shampoo and Treatment Conditioner ($8 each at HEB stores) are perfect for keeping that golden crown from tarnishing. They’re infused with dark violet pigments and violet rice to help neutralize yellowish and orange-y tones and eliminate any brassy undertones, thereby keeping your color true and brilliant for a fresh-from-the-salon feeling.

And while the line is called “Blonde Moment,” they’re not exclusively formulated for blonde hair as they can be used by anyone whose strands have the propensity to turn brassy — whether that’s brunettes or gals with gray, silver, highlighted, or pastel-colored manes. Everyone can have a blonde moment — and love every second of it!

TRY A NEW SCENT THAT CAPTURES THE OPTIMISM OF THE SEASON

It’s a new season, so why not try a new scent to accompany its arrival? The new Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey Pure Nectar de Parfum ($89; available exclusively at ULTA and ULTA.com) perfectly captures the optimism of spring, but in a very subtle and demure way. The third chapter in the L’Eau d’Issey story, the fragrance represents a complete journey for a drop of water, so that the single drop of morning dew that inspired the first scent (1998’s L’Eau d’Issey Pure EDP), then landed on a delicate petal with 2017’s L’Eau d’Issey Pure Eau de Toilette, is now the source of a blossoming flower’s nectar.  Even the rose gold color of the drop-shaped bottle speaks to the fragrance’s inspiration: that single drop of nectar.

Created by Dominique Ropion and Fanny Bal, the fragrance opens with a juicy pear accord that leads to a honeyed rose hear and is completed by notes are sandalwood, ambergris, and cashmeran. The aromatic composition is an aqueous floral with a sensual woody quality.

For the fellas, Issey Miyake just revealed the Issey Miyake L’Eau Majeure d’Issey Eau de Toilette ($70 ; available exclusively at ULTA and ULTA.com). which was inspired by the idea of water as a symbol of masculinity, strength, and movement. The scent opens with bright bergamot and grapefruit notes that evoke the moment when the sunlight hits a crescent ocean wave, and then there’s salty accord at the heart that captures the feeling of sea spray. The fragrance is then completed by cashmeran and ambery wood base notes reminiscent of driftwood.

START YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

As the saying goes, a healthy outside starts from the inside, so it’s important to adopt a holistic approach to beauty. Supplements are, of course, a great way to complement your skincare regimen as you’ll be feeding your body all the nutrients, vitamins, and proteins it needs to function at its highest level and, in turn, leave you looking your best.

Now, collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and it’s what makes our bones strong, keeps our skin taut, and encourages our hair and nails to grow. But as we age, collagen production slows down. One way to counteract that is with a daily collagen supplement like the NeoCell Super Collagen Powder ($11.49 at HEB stores). This powder supplement contains clinically-studied BioActive NeoCell collagen, which supports healthy collagen formation, helping you achieve firmer, softer, and more hydrated skin,  all while supporting healthy nails, hair, joints and bones.

You just add one scoop daily to your water, juice, or smoothie, and you’ll be sipping your way to beautiful skin, hair, and nails!