Spring FORWARD

A new season has arrived, so why not give your skin a spring clean to bring back the sparkle? Juliette Winter explains how to tackle pigmentation, pores and fine lines for a gorgeous glow.

- Juliette Winter

As Shakespeare sonnetised, spring puts a spirit of youth in everything. It’s the season of change when what was seemingly lifeless in winter bounces back into glorious full bloom. With just a little help, that can be true of your skin, too. “With spring comes a sense of positivity,” says Emma Hobson, Director of Education at Dermalogica, “and this is an important element in treating skin issues triggered by stress, such as hyperpigmentation.” It’s also the last opportunity to slough away winter skin woes before the slip, slop, slap of summer kicks in. So long as you’re armed with SPF, the beauty world offers some nifty ways to nurture youthful bounce back into a lifeless complexion.

Love that luminosity

It may seem surprising, but wrinkles are not the number one worry for women when it comes to ageing. “The first sign of ageing is actually pigmentation, not wrinkles,” says Emma. “Pigmentation causes skin tone to become uneven, which makes the skin appear older.”

Discolouration is the war you need to win in the battle of ageing gracefully. The sun is a common cause, but hyperpigmentation can also be triggered by stress, trauma or inflammation, including breakouts. “Hyperpigmentation results from the skin producing excess pigment, causing uneven skin colour as well as freckling,” says Emma. “This ‘patching’ can be mild and may appear in only one area, such as the forehead, or it can be quite dark and pronounced and cover both the face and neck.”

SKINCARE SOLUTION: vitamin boost