Beauty tips: How to make your skin fit for spring

This time of year definitely appeals to us, because as the temperatures rise, so does our mood. We are gradually waking up from months of hibernation and feel reborn. Spring stands for departure, change and new beginnings, also in skin care. In this article, we'll tell you our beauty tips for spring and how to organize your care routine - and your cosmetics cabinet. Curious? Then let's start, because spring is just around the corner.

Photos by Polina Kovaleva and Anna Nekrashevich from Pexels

What does the skin need in spring?

To sum it up in one word: humidity ! But doesn't our skin always need it? Quite right! So what exactly changes when you switch from winter to summer care? While we increasingly resorted to oil-based products in winter to protect our skin from the cold and dry air, lighter care products are popular with the onset of spring .

📖 Do you already know the 3 most important tips for skin care in summer? Take a look at our article Everything you need to know about summer skincare .

How does the skin change in spring?

Rising temperatures promote the production of sebum in your skin, which is naturally a little greasy than in winter. Depending on your skin type, you can either do without oily care products in the warm season or use them sparingly.

Moisturizing products, which are the be-all and end-all in skin care in spring and summer, should not be missing under any circumstances, for both dry and oily skin and combination skin. Because although the water is stored better with dry skin due to the increased sebum production at this time of year, the skin must first be supplied with moisture. In the case of oily and combination skin, moisture sets the skin's own cleansing process in motion, which liquefies and removes excess sebum.

Our beauty tips in spring for

• Dry skin : Combine ⅓ of the appropriate FIVE facial oil with ⅔ moisturizing FIVE facial serum . And then put on sunscreen.
• Normal skin, oily skin & combination skin : Combine ¼ of the appropriate FIVE facial oil with ¾ of the FIVE facial serum and then apply the sunscreen of your choice. Tip for oily skin: On warm days you can do without the face oil if your skin feels too oily. Instead, just apply FIVE face serum and sunscreen.

📧 Are you just thinking about what skin type you actually are and which care would be best? Then don't ponder any longer, but contact our free skin consultation . Together we will find the right skin care for you and ensure order between all the tubes and jars.

Sun protection: Nothing works without it

When the first rays of sunshine finally come out after the uncomfortable, cold and wet winter months, we would like to soak them up. And let's be honest: We would also like to exchange the sallow winter pallor for a slightly tanned summer complexion that looks so wonderfully fresh as soon as possible. Going without sunscreen is not a good idea! Because sun protection is and remains the most effective remedy against premature skin aging and skin cancer . So we can't make any compromises here.

In the warm season, sunscreen and moisturizer form an indispensable power duo more than ever. These two components are indispensable in skin care in spring and summer and belong together like bad luck and sulphur. But in addition to the not so easy mission of finding the right sunscreen especially for the face , there is another doubt that comes up every year: “ Can I still use the sunscreen from last year? ' you must have asked yourself at some point. Let's take a look!

Why can sun protection expire?

When it comes to food, the question of shelf life makes sense, but why is it also important for sunscreen? Sunscreen serves to protect against sun damage . This is ensured by the UV filters contained in the cream. Their protective function can decrease with prolonged storage and through the ingress of oxygen when sunscreen tubes are open.

Depending on whether the cream contains chemical or mineral UV filters , it may even be that the protection not only loses its effectiveness, but also turns into the opposite and becomes harmful. The filter octocrylene , which is contained in some conventional sun creams, is responsible for this . This ingredient has been criticized because carcinogenic benzophenone can form from it if stored for too long. This cannot happen with natural sun protection with mineral UV filters.

💡 You can read all the advantages and disadvantages of chemical and mineral UV filters and which sun protection we recommend here: Natural sunscreen - what to look for?

Is the sunscreen from last year still good?

Whether you can use last year's sunscreen without hesitation depends on two other factors in addition to the type of UV filter:

• Was the sunscreen already opened or unused?
• How and where was the sunscreen stored?

How long does sunscreen keep?

As a rule, unopened sunscreens have a minimum shelf life of 30 months from the date of manufacture . The situation is different if you have already opened the tube or bottle. Opened sunscreen usually has a shelf life of 12 months. You can recognize this by the open crucible symbol combined with the imprint 12M (for 12 months). Even if the cream from the previous year is still good according to the label, you are welcome to be a little more generous when applying it. In this case, the following applies as an exception: a lot helps a lot.

How to properly store sunscreen

The rule of thumb for storing sunscreen, whether opened or unopened, is:

• Cool, Dry Places – Yes, Please! 
• Sunlight and heat – no thanks!

In the basement and possibly even in the refrigerator , sun protection is in good hands and overwinters without losing its UV protection function. If the cream has been exposed to great heat for a long time after opening it in the car or in the beach bag, it is better to treat yourself to a new one.

☝️ Beauty tip : In spring, always check the smell, color and texture of the sunscreen from the previous year that you have opened before using it for the first time . If you are unsure about one of these three factors, it is better to grab a new tube, better safe than sorry.

How to clean your facial skin from sunscreen

If you know us, you already know that we like to recommend a very mild facial cleanser. In the morning it can even be a cleansing with just water . It's different in the evening, especially if you've put on makeup or sunscreen beforehand. Water is not enough here, as most sunscreens are waterproof. The Oil Cleansing method , which you can use in combination with the FIVE make-up remover, does a lot more here . For a particularly thorough removal of the sunscreen, we recommend two cleaning cycles and changing the washcloth every day.

Self-Tanners: The Better Alternative?

If you want to avoid the risk of UV rays and still have a crisp bronze complexion, a self-tanner may be the right solution for you. But here, too, caution is advised as far as durability is concerned. Because the ingredient dihydroxyacetone, which is responsible for the tanning effect, can split off carcinogenic formaldehyde , especially if there is too much heat . To be on the safe side, you should always keep self-tanner in the fridge and not use last year's one at all.

Did you know : Unlike sunscreen, the risk with natural cosmetic self-tanners is no lower than with those with synthetic ingredients. Because the substance dihydroxyacetone, which causes tanning, is contained in both cases.

Spring cleaning is a must - also in the cosmetics cabinet

Do you know that, too? Over time, as if by magic, more and more tubes, jars and pots accumulate in the mirror cabinet or the bathroom shelf. Until at some point you lose track of all the opened and half-used products. Then now is the right moment to put an end to the chaos.

Clear out once, please!

What applies to the wardrobe also applies to cosmetic products. Once a year turn the back of your hand and consider: Do I still need this or can it go away? Although in the case of cosmetics the question is more: is it still good? Because water-based products in particular have an expiry date and should no longer be used after that. Therefore, use the cosmetic spring cleaning to take a look at the expiry date.

This is how you can tell if a beauty product is still good:

• Waterless make-up: Decorative cosmetics such as eye shadow, rouge and the like usually last for several years.
• Waterless care products : Solid soaps and shower gels as well as pomades and balms can be kept for at least a year when stored dry and protected from light.
• Water-based care products : Creams, lotions and serums have a shelf life of between 6 and 12 months after opening , recognizable by the open jar symbol.
• FIVE Products: Shelf Life is clearly visible as a date on each product, except for the Waterless Shea Cream which has a very long shelf life when refrigerated. If in doubt, use up within 6 months after opening.

Big cleaning in the make-up bag

Don't just use spring to tidy up your cosmetics drawer, but also to give your beauty tools a thorough clean . This is where bacteria and germs can lurk that promote restless skin and impurities. Therefore, the following applies: Make-up brushes, sponges and the like should be cleaned regularly (i.e. not only in spring) with a little shampoo to remove make-up residue and other dirt and then allow them to dry thoroughly.

Spring, we and our skin are ready for you!