If your skin has started feeling greasy by lunchtime, or your moisturiser suddenly sits on top of your face instead of sinking in, you're not imagining it. The routine that served you beautifully in July can feel like too much by late September. Here's how to make the shift.
Why your skin behaves differently in spring
Warmer air holds more moisture, and your skin responds by producing more oil and losing less water through the day. The rich, occlusive products that protected you against dry winter air are no longer doing necessary work, and layering them on regardless is a common cause of congestion, clogged pores and that uncomfortable tacky feeling.
Spring in much of Australia also brings a sharp jump in UV, plus pollen and wind, both of which can leave sensitive skin reactive.
1. Lighten your moisturiser, don't drop it
The most common spring mistake is abandoning moisturiser entirely because skin feels oilier. Dehydrated skin often overproduces oil to compensate, so skipping hydration makes the problem worse. Instead, step down in weight: move from a thick balm or rich night cream to a gel-cream or a lighter lotion. You want the same hydration with less occlusion.
2. Let hydrating serums do more of the work
This is the season where a humectant serum earns its place. Applying hyaluronic acid to slightly damp skin, then sealing it with a light moisturiser, delivers plenty of hydration without any heaviness. If you've been using a hydrating serum only at night through winter, spring is a good time to add it to your morning routine too.
3. Reassess your actives
Longer, brighter days mean more UV exposure, and ingredients like retinol and exfoliating acids make skin more photosensitive. A few sensible adjustments:
- Keep retinol strictly to the evening, and never skip sunscreen the following morning.
- If you increased your retinol frequency over winter, consider easing back slightly as UV climbs.
- Don't pile on exfoliation because skin feels oilier. A gentle scrub or a clay mask once or twice a week is plenty for most people.
- Antioxidants such as vitamin C become more valuable in the morning, as they help defend against daytime environmental stress.
4. Take sun protection seriously again
UV levels in Australia climb steeply through spring, often catching people out because the temperature hasn't caught up yet. Sunscreen becomes a daily non-negotiable, applied as the final step of your morning routine and reapplied if you're outdoors for any length of time. A lighter fluid or gel formula is far more pleasant to wear in warm weather, which matters, because the sunscreen you'll actually reapply is the one that works.
5. Rethink your cleanser
If you've been using a rich cream or oil cleanser through the colder months, you may find it leaves a film now. A gentle gel cleanser often suits spring better. Resist the urge to swing to something stripping, though. Tight, squeaky skin after cleansing is a sign the barrier has been compromised, not a sign of cleanliness.
6. Change one thing at a time
It's tempting to overhaul everything at the turn of a season. Don't. Swap a single product, give your skin a week or two to settle, then reassess. If something goes wrong, you'll know exactly what caused it.
A simple spring routine
Morning: gentle cleanse, antioxidant serum, light moisturiser, sunscreen.
Evening: cleanse, treatment serum or retinol if you use one, light moisturiser.
That's genuinely enough for most skin. Spring is about subtraction more than addition, letting your skin breathe a little as the weather does the heavy lifting on hydration.
What we'd reach for
If you're rebuilding your routine for the warmer months, these are the pieces from our range that fit each step.
- Lighter cleanse: Botanical Gel Facial Cleanser, a gentle gel that suits normal to oily skin without stripping.
- Morning antioxidant: Vitamin C Serum, applied under moisturiser and sunscreen.
- Hydration and tone: B+ Niacinamide & Ceramide Serum, which pairs hyaluronic acid with niacinamide and ceramides for lightweight hydration.
- Lighter moisturiser: B3 B5 Moisturising Gel for oilier skin, or the Botanical Facial Lotion.
- Weekly exfoliation: Botanical Exfoliating Facial Scrub, used gently once or twice a week, or the Botanical Clay Mask if your skin prefers a mask to a scrub.
- Evening treatment: Retinol Serum, evenings only, always followed by sunscreen the next morning.
- A warm-weather refresh: Rose Spritzer for a midday hydration boost.
This article is general information only and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you have a persistent skin concern, please speak to your GP or dermatologist.