This post was reviewed and updated by Sarah Otto, Dermatology Nurse Practitioner and Founder of Otto Skin Goods on July 7, 2026.
With warmer spring weather on the horizon, it's a great time to spring clean, purge your home and transition all of your winter clothes and gear. But it’s not just your home that needs minimized and simplified. As you’re changing with the seasons, make sure your skincare does, too. It should be effective and effortless this time of year!
Here are some tips to getting the most out of your spring skincare routine, while keeping it simple and efficient…
1. Minimize Exfoliating
Ramping up exfoliation should not be a part of your spring routine. Sun and excessive exfoliating simply don’t mesh—and minimizing sun damage is essential during these warmer months.
Scale back to exfoliating one to two times a week, especially if you use glycolic acid. You can also decrease the strength of the acid you’re currently using. Fruit acids and mandelic acid are good for everyday use, but lactic and glycolic acid should be used less frequently. If you consistently use glycolic acid three times a week or more, try decreasing to lactic or mandelic acid if you want to keep up with the frequency.
Fruit acids, which are a blend of five botanical extracts (bilberry, sugar cane, sugar maple, orange and lemon), are my favorite. They’re gentle enough for daily use, but very effective when used consistently. They’re also the least likely to cause irritation and are less sun-sensitive than other acids, such as glycolic.
TL;DR: Fruit acids are the perfect exfoliating acid to use in the spring and summer months.
Product Recommendation: The Multitasker Night Serum
2. Lighten Layers
During the day, your skin shouldn’t need a heavy moisturizer. Instead, look for a lighter option that also contains at least SPF 30. You can also find a tinted one if you wear minimal makeup and want to save yourself a step.
At night, try swapping out your thicker night creams for a few drops of a face oil. The Fresh Start Face Oil contains a stabilized form of Vitamin C that helps even out skin tone while keeping your skin supple and soft.
TL;DR: Swap out heavy moisturizers for face oil and lighter lotions with SPF.
Product Recommendation: The Fresh Start Face Oil
3. Add Hydrating Serum
Fluctuating temperatures and climate changes can dehydrate your skin. Our advice? Ceramides, hyaluronic acids and glycerin all keep your skin consistently hydrated and smooth—even when the weather remains unpredictable. Plus, these ingredients will keep your skin barrier strong and resilient when the humidity and temperatures change regularly.
TL;DR: Keep your skin consistently hydrated with ceramides, hyaluronic acids and glycerin.
Product Recommendations: The Go-Getter Day Serum + The Good Day Face Cleanser
4. Incorporate Anti-inflammatory Ingredients
From allergies to temperature fluctuations, impaired barriers from the winter months and humidity—the spring season can bring a lot of inflammation to your skin, making it look irritated, red and dull.
The best anti-inflammatory skincare ingredient is Niacinamide, or Vitamin B3. Using this in a serum at night is a great way to repair the skin and decrease inflammation. Another great ingredient to reduce inflammation? Licorice root extract.
Good news: Both of these ingredients can be found in The Multitasker Night Serum, which also happens to be combined with the mild exfoliating fruit acid complex. This serum is a win-win because it helps minimize your routine all in one complete, multitasking product.
TL;DR: Add an anti-inflammatory serum with niacinamide and licorice root extract.
Product Recommendation: The Multitasker Night Serum
Spring Clean Your Skincare & Makeup
Since you’re likely already spring cleaning your home, use this time to purge and minimize your skincare and makeup, too. Here a handy checklist to get you started:
- Swap out heavier moisturizers and foundation for lightweight tinted SPF.
- Purge products that are outdated, irritating, or not giving you desired results.
- Add some good hydrating and anti-inflammatory ingredients in the mix, especially in the form of a serum or two.
- Swap out stronger exfoliating acids (like glycolic) for lactic, mandelic or fruit acids.
- Clean makeup brushes and refresh your color cosmetics with trendy, in-season, and colorful picks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I cut back on exfoliating in the spring?
Sun exposure increases in warmer months, and heavy exfoliation combined with more sun isn't a good mix. Scaling back to 1–2 times a week (especially with glycolic acid) helps protect your skin from sun damage.
What's the best type of acid to use in spring and summer?
Fruit acids are ideal. They're a blend of botanical extracts (bilberry, sugar cane, sugar maple, orange, and lemon) that are gentle enough for daily use, effective, and less likely to cause irritation or sun sensitivity compared to acids like glycolic.
Do I need to switch up my moisturizer for spring?
Yes. During the day, opt for a lighter moisturizer with at least SPF 30 (a tinted version can double as light coverage). At night, swap heavier creams for a few drops of a lightweight face oil.
How do I keep my skin hydrated as the weather changes?
Look for products with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin. These ingredients help maintain hydration and strengthen your skin barrier even as temperatures and humidity fluctuate.
What causes skin irritation and redness in spring?
Allergies, temperature swings, humidity changes, and a winter-damaged skin barrier can all contribute to inflammation, redness, and dullness.
What ingredients help calm inflamed or irritated spring skin?
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and licorice root extract are both effective anti-inflammatory ingredients. Using them in a nighttime serum can help repair and calm the skin.
What's an easy way to simplify my spring skincare routine?
Do a "spring clean" of your routine: swap heavy products for lighter SPF options, toss out expired or irritating products, add a hydrating and anti-inflammatory serum, switch to gentler exfoliating acids, and refresh your makeup brushes and color cosmetics.
