As the seasons turn, skincare routines must change with them. We’ve talked to an expert in the field, Sophie Carbonari, France’s favorite facialist, and asked her how to transition our daily ritual from winter to spring, for skin that radiates new energy and is ready to face the first rays of sun.

1. Detoxify

“The first place to start is on the inside. In Chinese medicine, spring is the season of the liver, an organ that is vital to the skin’s health, as well as digestion. Having an inner “spring clean” will kick-start the liver and, by default, detoxify and revitalize the skin.”

How to do it? “Use an artichoke or black radish cure to help regenerate and boost the liver, for an ultra-glowing complexion.”

2. Exfoliate

“It’s not easy to choose an exfoliator that works for your skin. Here is a simple guide.”

For greasy, mixed, or dry skin: “Choose glycolic lotions with AHA or BHA hydroxy acid bases. These exfoliators gradually dissolve dead skin cells. I recommend only using them once every two days, over a period of a couple of weeks, to avoid sensitivity. Then let your skin breathe for a couple of weeks.”

For dry, tired skin: “Opt for a classic exfoliator, a gentle scrub that can be used a couple of times a week. Stimulating the skin with [microplastic-free] scrubs is ideal to boost the sebaceous glands that hydrate the skin naturally via the hydrolipidic film, stimulating blood and lymphatic circulation for smooth, tight skin.”

For sensitive, allergic skin: “Favor enzymatic scrubs which have the same effect as a glycolic exfoliator but are much gentler on the skin.”

3. Boost the skin’s metabolism

“How? By using active ingredients such as squalene, vitamin B5, and retinoids, powerful antioxidants that recalibrate the skin.”

4. Protect your skin

“Despite what you might think, spring is the time when the skin is exposed to the most sun damage because it often goes unprotected and under-prepared. So jump on the sunscreen now!”

Source Vogue France, by Marie Bladt

Translated by Ashe de Sousa