Spring ushers in a new set of environmental stressors that can trigger or exacerbate various skin conditions. Some of the major spring skin hazards include:

• Pollen & Allergens: Tree and grass pollen peak during spring, often clinging to exposed skin. This can lead to inflammation, irritation, and flare-ups—especially for those with sensitive or allergy-prone skin.

• Increased UV Exposure: Spring sunshine feels gentle, but UV levels climb fast, contributing to pigmentation, dryness, and oxidative stress, long before we fully switch over to our summer sun care routines.

• Temperature Fluctuations: One day it’s chilly, the next it’s balmy. These rapid shifts confuse your skin, weakening its natural barrier and leading to dehydration or oil imbalances.

• Increased Sebum Production: With rising temperatures, your skin naturally produces more oil. When mixed with leftover dead skin cells from winter and environmental debris, this can clog pores and lead to breakouts.

These spring hazards could cause a number of skin concerns, not only for sensitive and allergy-prone skin, but for all skin types.

Common Spring Skin Concerns

• Redness and itchiness from allergen exposure

• Acne, blackheads, and congestion from excess oil and impurities

• Flaky patches or dehydration from barrier disruption

• Uneven tone and dark spots from increased UV exposure

Cleansing isn’t just about removing dirt—it’s a frontline defense against spring hazards. Here’s why it’s non-negotiable:

• Removal of Allergens and Pollutants: Pollen, dust, and pollutants adhere to the skin throughout the day. A study in PubMed on cleanser technology emphasizes that surfactants in cleansers emulsify these particles, making them water-soluble and easy to rinse off, preventing inflammation and barrier damage [1]. Without thorough cleansing, these irritants linger, increasing the risk of allergic reactions or breakouts.

• Regulation of Sebum and Pore Health: Spring’s humidity shifts can throw sebum production into overdrive. Excess oil, combined with dead skin cells and environmental debris, clogs pores, leading to acne. Gentle yet thorough cleansing prevents sebum overcompensation and maintains pore clarity.

• Protection Against UV Damage: While cleansing doesn’t block UV rays, it removes oxidative byproducts (like free radicals) generated by UV exposure. This preps the skin for protective products like sunscreen, enhancing their efficacy.

• Preservation of the Skin Barrier: Harsh weather transitions can weaken the stratum corneum (the skin’s outer layer). Cleansing with pH-balanced products helps maintain this barrier, preventing moisture loss and irritation.

Skipping or skimping on cleansing allows these hazards to accumulate, compromising skin health. Thorough cleansing twice daily—morning AND night—resets the skin, reducing the burden of spring hazards on the skin.

Now that we know what to look for for your spring cleansing, what are our recommendations? DrLOUIE’s Mild Face Cleanser and Exfoliating Cleansing Cream are science-backed, skin-loving, and gives you that thorough cleansing WITHOUT the harshness.

• Mild Face Cleanser: This light, low-foam, pH-balanced gel cleanser uses coco glucoside—a gentle ingredient from organic coconut—to wash away dirt, pollen, and grime without drying your skin. It has bisabolol and aloe juice to calm redness or irritation, so it’s perfect if your skin gets upset easily. People love how it leaves their face clean and soft, not tight.

• Exfoliating Cleansing Cream: This Cleansing Cream removes makeup and spring dirt with jojoba and grape seed oils, while jojoba esters —small waxy pieces from the jojoba plant—gently clear away dead skin.
  

A bit of info about jojoba esters

They come from jojoba oil, which is a liquid squeezed from jojoba seeds that’s great for moisturizing because it’s close to your skin’s natural oils. To make jojoba esters, the oil is mixed with hydrogen—a process called hydrogenation—which turns it into a solid, waxy form, like little beads. Unlike the oil, which just softens and hydrates, these beads scrub off dead skin and clean out pores without being harsh.

• What Do They Do for Skin? These tiny wax bits roll over your skin, lifting off dead cells and gunk that clog pores. Because their edges are smooth and they mimic the oils your skin already makes, they polish without being harsh—no micro-tears or redness like some scratchy scrubs. They leave your face soft, even, and ready to soak up moisture, all while keeping breakouts in check.

• Why Are They Good for the Skin? Jojoba esters are a win for your skin and the planet. They’re mild enough for sensitive types (no irritation here!), and since they break down naturally, they don’t harm the environment like plastic microbeads do.

Buy them together for $56.08 (separately, they cost $65.98—that’s over 15% off!). 

Night time:

Gently massage Exfoliating Cleansing Cream onto DRY skin to remove dirt and makeup. Thoroughly remove with lukewarm water. Follow with Mild Face Cleanser.

Morning time:

Wet face and lather Mild Face Cleanser between palms. Mild Face Cleanser is a low-foam cleanser, so don't be surprised if you don't lather up a foam! Follow with Vitamin C Serum and All-in-One Essence of your choice!

Cleansing is foundational, but these complementary strategies enhance your defense against spring hazards:

• Moisturize Strategically: Post-cleansing, apply a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer with ceramides, hyaluronic acid or glycerin to hydrate and noncomedogenic oils, such as jojoba oil, to lock in hydration without clogging pores.

• Sunscreen Daily: Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen every morning, even on cloudy days. That's because UVAs still penetrate and damage our skin on cloudy days. (Read more about the Right Way to Apply Sunscreen.)

• Limit Exfoliation: Overexfoliating can irritate skin already stressed by allergens. Stick to 1-2 times weekly with a gentle product like DrLOUIE’s Exfoliating Cleansing Cream. By the way, Exfoliating Cleansing Cream can be used daily because it won't cause micro-tears on the skin! (Read about the Signs of Overexfoliation.)

• Hydrate Internally: Drinking water supports skin hydration, countering dryness from environmental changes. As a general rule of thumb, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine suggest a daily water intake of about 3.7 liters (125 ounces, or ~15.5 cups) for men and 2.7 liters (91 ounces, or ~11.5 cups) for women from all sources (drinking water, food, and other beverages). This is a starting point for adults, but it varies by person. The best way to tell whether you are hydrated or not is checking your urine colour. If it’s pale yellow or almost clear (like straw or lemonade), you’re likely hydrated. Dark yellow or amber means you need more water. (Note: Some vitamins or foods can change the color, so don’t panic if it’s off once.)

• Avoid Irritants: Try to steer clear of products with artificial fragrance or alcohol-based toners, which can amplify redness and sensitivity.

Ananthapadmanabhan KP, Moore DJ, Subramanyan K, Misra M, Meyer F. Cleansing without compromise: the impact of cleansers on the skin barrier and the technology of mild cleansing. Dermatol Ther. 2004;17 Suppl 1:16-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1396-0296.2004.04s1002.x. PMID: 14728695.

Mukhopadhyay P. Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders. Indian J Dermatol. 2011 Jan;56(1):2-6. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.77542. PMID: 21572782; PMCID: PMC3088928.