Every spring, like clockwork, my skin starts acting different.
Dry, a little itchy… maybe a breakout or a patch of redness that wasn’t there before.
I also notice I’m paying more attention to it. We’ve been inside for months by this point in the year, and now we’re outside more. Whether it’s true or not, it feels like other people are noticing our skin more too.
I might not like what’s happening, but I’ve learned to acknowledge it—this is what my body does. Not something to fight… just something to understand and support.
I wrote a few weeks ago about our lymphatic system and how spring is when everything begins to shift. Part of that shift shows up in our skin too.
Our skin is one of the ways the body helps move things out. And this time of year, when everything is starting to move again, our skin can reflect some of that activity.
That can sometimes show up as dryness, irritation, or breakouts—but that doesn’t mean something’s wrong.
I’ve learned (the hard way) to work with my body—including my skin—instead of trying to force it into what I think it should be doing.
Why “Fixing” Can Backfire
At one point, I thought the answer was to wash more, scrub more, and try to get rid of whatever was showing up.
All that did was dry my skin out even more—especially during a season when it was already trying to adjust.
What I finally discovered after trying product after product was that what worked best for me was much simpler. I started by washing my face with olive oil, using a warm washcloth to gently remove it.
But over time, even that changed. As my skin settled, I found I didn’t need to do as much. These days, I usually just rinse with warm water in the morning, and use a little witch hazel at night to clean off the day.
The routine shifted—but the approach didn’t. I stopped trying to manage my skin and started paying attention to what it actually needed.
What a Lighter Approach Looks Like
What I learned over time was that the simpler I kept things, the fewer problems I had. Using fewer products and letting my skin do its thing usually meant that when something did show up, it didn’t stick around very long.
Since those early days with olive oil, I’ve switched to sweet almond oil because it just feels better on my skin. But there are a lot of oils that can work depending on your skin type.
You don’t have to guess. I’ve put together a simple handout to help you choose an oil that might work well for you if you want a place to start.
Gentle Herbal Support
Once I stopped trying to fix everything, I started seeing herbs differently too—not as solutions, but as support.
I like to infuse oils with herbs depending on what I need at the time.
Lavender is one I use often in the evening. It has a calming effect, and the scent alone helps me wind down at the end of the day.
Rose petals are something I use more regularly in my facial oils—they have a gentle toning quality and help soften the look of fine lines, which is why I keep coming back to them.
Calendula is one I reach for more in the summer months, especially after too much sun, because of how it supports the skin as it recovers.
And sometimes I’ll use witch hazel as a simple astringent at night, before adding just a few drops of moisturizing oil.
None of this is complicated. It’s just a few simple ingredients used in a way that supports what your skin is already trying to do.
This time of year, your skin isn’t failing you.
It’s adjusting. Shifting. Doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.
And sometimes the most helpful thing you can do…
is step back just enough to let it.
What your skin needs right now might not be what it needed six months ago—and that’s okay.
So what’s your experience with spring skin? Do you notice changes this time of year, or are you one of the lucky ones?
