Update Your Spring Beauty Routine — As Seen On News 4 San Antonio’s “SA Living”

Just like you refresh your wardrobe come spring, it’s important to update your beauty routine as the warmer weather sets in. #CaressPartner #SponsoredPost

To celebrate the arrival of spring, I stopped by News 4 San Antonio’s “SA Living” on Friday to talk about some great products to help you step into the season looking and feeling refreshed. Check out the segment above or by clicking here and keep reading for details on all the goodies seen on air!

DERMA E VITAMIN C INSTANT RADIANCE CITRUS FACIAL PEEL & VITAMIN C CONCENTRATED SERUM

Nobody wants to step into the spring season with dull, lifeless, tired-looking skin that’s as gray as a stormy winter day. Now that spring is here, it’s time to get going on getting glowing — and the best way to do so is by incorporating vitamin C into your skincare regimen. Eco-ethical beauty brand Derma E has an entire Vitamin C collection that will restore your skin’s radiance, and I’m currently smitten with the Derma E Vitamin C Instant Radiance Citrus Facial Peel and the Derma E Vitamin C Concentrated Serum.

The new Derma E Vitamin C Instant Radiance Citrus Facial Peel ($23.95 at DermaE.com and Ulta.com) is a non-abrasive, weekly skin-resurfacing pee that will give you a lit-from-within glow in no time! It contains: vitamin C to boost radiance and stimulate collagen production (yes, vitamin C also has anti-aging benefits, so it does double duty as a brightening and rejuvenating powerhouse!); glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that gently removes those dead and dull surface skin cells that tend to pile up atop the skin’s surface during winter, dimming your glow; and a citrus peel puree that helps to fade dark spots and even out your skin tone.

To revitalize and refresh the complexion on a daily basis, you can rely on the Derma E Vitamin C Concentrated Serum ($24.50 at DermaE.com and Ulta.com), which has a zesty citrus smell and is readily absorbed by the skin, quenching its thirst while smoothing and brightening. This stellar serum contains vitamin C, as well as skin-calming aloe, antioxidant-packed green tea extract, and mega-moisturizing hyaluronic acid.

GOOD SCIENCE BEAUTY 001-PU PURIFYING FACE MASK & 003-HY HYDRATING FACE CREAM

If you haven’t heard of Good Science Beauty yet, now is the time to become better acquainted with this groundbreaking skincare line. All of Good Science Beauty’s products feature a proprietary Good Silicon+ carrier technology that enables the skin to better absorb all of the active ingredients in the brand’s formulas. After all, if those active ingredients are simply perched atop your skin, they’re not meeting their full potential — it’s like drafting LeBron James, only to bench him for the duration of a basketball season.

How does the Good Silicon+ technology work? Well, let’s start by discussing the difference between silicon and silicone. The latter is a man-made substance comprised of synthetic materials and often used for plastic surgery (think silicone breast implants). The former, meanwhile, is a naturally-occurring element (in fact, it’s the second most abundant element in the skin’s crust after oxygen), and it’s a mineral naturally found in the human body: silicon is present in our tendons, bones, arteries, skin, and hair. In regards to the skin, silicon helps to bolster the elasticity and strength of our skin’s connective tissue — and, since collagen contains silicon, it’s also essential to keeping skin bouncy, resilient, and youthful. Good Science Beauty found a way to use silicon as a carrier ingredient by creating minute pockets inside tiny silicon particles for an almost honeycomb-like effect, then loading those “pockets” with powerful ingredients, and wrapping the exterior of these silicon particles in lipids and amino acids. Now, because lipids are an essential component of the skin’s outer layer, these Good Silicon+ molecules (which, again, are wrapped in lipids) are readily absorbed by the skin. The Good Silicon+ particles then dissolve into an absorbable silicon called ortholisic acid, which helps to stimulate collagen production— all while the natural ingredients in each particle are working their own magic on the skin.

Because Good Skin Beauty’s formulas are so readily absorbed by the skin, they’ll work in no time to address even the most trying skincare issues and woes.

If you have blemish-prone skin that’s aggravated by the exposure to pollution that typically accompanies city living, you’ll love the 001-Pu Mask: Purifying Face Mask ($55 at GoodScienceBeauty.com), a non-drying mask that unclogs pores, draws out dirt and impurities, balances oil production, and minimizes blemishes without further irritating the skin. The mask contains willow bark extract, a natural source of salicylic acid, as well as detoxifying kaolin clay, skin-softening shea butter, and glycine (a naturally-occurring amino acid that contributes to hydration and collagen formation).

And since hydration is always a necessity, women of all skin types can benefit from using the Good Science Beauty 003-Hy Hydrating Face Cream ($98 at GoodScienceBeauty.com), which combines two ingredients that work synergistically: hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water and bind it to skin; and marine omega-3, a fatty acid that bolsters the skin’s barrier function and thereby helps to lock that moisture in and keep toxins out. This lightweight face cream also includes sunflower seed oil, safflower seed oil, shea butter, and lavender oil.

JUICE BEAUTY PREBIOTIX COLLECTION

The skin has its own delicate ecosystem, so that it’s home to over a trillion different microorganisms including bacteria. Now, before you run off to scrub your face, let me explain: the bacteria that resides on and in our skin actually serves an important purpose. See, the skin microbiome actually serves as your skin’s first line of defense, protecting against environmental stressors, irritants, and infection. Just like our gut needs bacteria in order for us to enjoy better digestive health (and an overall stronger immune system), our skin needs bacteria to function properly. The key, of course, is maintaining a balanced skin microbiome, which is why we’re starting to see more probiotics making their way into our skincare products.

Earlier this year, natural and organic beauty brand Juice Beauty launched its PREBIOTIX collection, which is designed to balance the skin microbiome by incorporating probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria, and prebiotics, which are type of fiber that feed beneficial bacteria and encourage it to thrive.

The two-piece collection takes a holistic approach to the concept of healthy skin.

For an inside-out approach to beautiful skin, you have the Prebiotix Antioxidant Beauty Boost ($45 at JuiceBeauty.com), a daily supplement that comes in a powder mix packet. To use, you just open up the packet, add it to you water and stir, then drink up. The fruity beauty elixir contains probiotics, along with antioxidant-rich ingredients like acerola cherry (a great source of vitamin C), moringa, goji berry and acai, as well as a blend of blueberry, apple, and grapeseed juices.

And for an outside-in approach to a stunning complexion, there’s the Prebiotix Hydrating Gel Moisturizer ($52 at JuiceBeauty.com), which features a prebiotic blend that includes viola flower, chia and coconut extract, as well as antioxidant-rich fermented bamboo and prickly pear extract to hydrate and smooth the skin.

Want to feed your skin and get your microbiome healthy once again? Now is the time: you can get 20% off at JuiceBeauty.com with the code SANANTONIO20.

CoTZ FACE PRIME & PROTECT SPF 40 MINERAL SUNSCREEN

Sunscreen is essential year-round, but as the temperatures increase and the UV index rises alongside it, you’ll want to be all the more vigilant about slathering on that solar protection. I personally prefer mineral sunscreens since they create a physical barrier that completely deflects UV rays as opposed to chemical sunscreens, which absorb UV rays and then neutralize them, and which contain chemical UV filters that can lead to irritation or clog pores and result in breakouts.

But, as many of us know from experience, some mineral sunscreens can feel really thick and greasy on the skin — or even worse, they can lead a white film behind so that you look like Casper the Friendly Ghost. Definitely not ideal, right? Well, the good news is that mineral sunscreens have come a long way, and some of the latest formulas are so incredibly sheer and airy, you’ll actually enjoy applying solar protection.

I love the CoTZ Face Prime & Protect SPF 40 ($23.99 at Ulta and Ulta.com), which is a 100% mineral sunscreen formulated with titanium oxide and zinc oxide, so it contains no potentially irritating chemical filters. It’s available in tinted and non-tinted versions, and it features a silky texture that blends in seamlessly (no white residue!). Plus, the formula mattifies the skin, minimizing the appearance of pores and keeping shine at bay, so it’s a great complexion enhancer. It also works beautifully as a primer, creating a smooth and even canvas on which to apply your makeup.

STRIVECTIN LITTLE LIFTERS LIMITED EDITION KIT

Maintaining youthful-looking skin is a year-round quest, and StriVectin has made that mission all the more attainable with its efficacious, clinically-proven anti-aging products. This season, you can get two of StriVectin’s best-selling rejuvenating products at a great value with the  StriVectin Little Lifters Limited Edition Kit ($59 StriVectin.com). This boxed set  features two products with gravity-defying powers: the Tightening & Sculpting Face Cream, which plumps and lifts areas that have lost volume and have begun to sag, helping to add definition to your features and create a more sculpted look; and the TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus, which is clinically-proven to reduce lines and wrinkles on the neck and to improve the appearance of puckered and crepe-y skin on the décolleté.

Not only is the set a great deal, but it benefits an excellent cause that really speaks to StriVectin’s commitment to being a cruelty-free brand: $1 from the sale of each Little Lifters kit will be donated to RedRover, a non-profit organization that offers emergency shelter and care for animals displaced by natural disasters and animal cruelty.

CARESS BOTANICALS SOAP BARS

Scent is such a powerful sense: it can conjure up emotions and memories or even act as an enchanted space portal, as a fantastical Narnia wardrobe, helping to mentally transport us to different places. The newest addition to the nature-inspired Caress Botanicals line flawlessly accomplish this feat, making every shower feel like a magical stroll through a lush and fragrant garden. The new paraben-free Caress Botanicals Soap Bars feature elegant, indulgent, alluring floral scents that facilitate a fully immersive sensory experience, plus they come in stunning and luxurious packaging that you’ll proudly display in your bathroom shelves or etageres.

There are three soap bar varieties available: Charcoal & Rosehip Oil, which is infused with charcoal and rosehip oil to draw out impurities and revitalize the skin, and which features a romantic rose scent with hints of apple, jasmine, green tea, and grapefruit;  Lotus & Red Clay, which is infused with rejuvenating red clay and smells like jasmine and gardenia with hints of juicy pear and zesty Sicilian orange; and White Orchid & Coconut Milk, which feels delightfully creamy on the skin and features a sensual fragrance with a bouquet of white orchid, rose, and jasmine at its heart and base notes of sweet coconut milk and vanilla married with amber and musk notes.

The Caress Botanicals Soap Bars retail for just $3 each at Dollar General, HEB, and Rite-Aid, so you get to enjoy spa-like experience for a really affordable price.