Spring Skincare
A change of season also means a change in the state of your skin. To ensure your largest (and most visible) organ stays in tip-top shape, it’s a good idea to adjust your routine slightly. This four-step process should see you through the transitional skin blues.
Protect
Spring means terrace weather in Shanghai and as the masses leave hibernation to spend their time drinking in the vitamin D (and wine), sun protection becomes even more important. Besides applying regular, old sunscreen, or the host of tinted moisturisers, BB and CC creams that come with good UVA and UVB SPF protection built in, don’t forget to protect your lips.
The first signs of ageing are often betrayed by lips, which are particularly vulnerable to sun damage, but often overlooked when applying sun protection. Our number one desert island lip balm is Fresh’s Lip Sugar Treatment, which smells divine, makes lips feel incredibly soft and includes UVA/UVB SPF 15 sun protection.
Price: Fresh Lip Sugar Treatment (4.3g), RMB 150.
Exfoliate
Slough off the dead skin you’ve accumulated body-wide throughout the winter months with regular exfoliation in springtime. As the weather warms up, it’s harder to hide that pale, dull and (perhaps) unkempt mess underneath layers of long johns and knee-high boots. For an organic exfoliating experience, which is both gentle and effective, try Bretagne Ocean’s exfoliating organic soap with marine algae and green clay. Algae have been used in skincare for thousands of years because of their inherent strengthening, moisturising and healing properties; the algae farmed in the mineral-rich waters of Brittany are particularly prized.
Price: Bretagne Ocean Exfoliating Organic Soap (100g), RMB 88. Web: www.mylohasbeauty.com
Hydrate
It can seem like an impossible task to keep skin hydrated when we switch from artificially heated to artificially cooled interiors almost overnight. It certainly does nothing for the complexion, but it’s nothing a good dose of H20 can’t fix. As well as upping the amount of water you drink, you can give your skin an extra hydration boost with H20+ products, which are (as the name suggests) focused on hydration, and available from Sephora stores in Shanghai.
We particularly love the Oasis 24 Hydrating Booster – it’s a godsend for travelling.
Price: H20+ Oasis 24 Hydrating Booster (25ml), RMB 500. Web: www.sephora.cn
Rejuvenate
With the added sun and sunscreening spring inevitably brings, your skin can get a little damaged. Keep it smooth and healthy on a budget by investing in rose hip seed oil (which can be purchased online for less than USD 10). Rose hip seed contains trans-retinoic acids, which help to regenerate damaged skin tissue. It’s also a great skin hydrator and contains antioxidants, essential fatty acids and vitamins.
Price: Now Solutions Rose Hip Seed Oil (30ml) from RMB 32. Web: cn.iherb.com
New Season Nail Trends
After years of increasingly elaborate nail art stealing centre stage, manicures are taking a simpler turn this season. Two colours are dominating in the world of nails and the best news is, they look good on everybody and go with everything!
Feel super fresh with snow white fingernails or take the sophistication up a notch with navy blue. We particularly love OPI’s Alpine Snow and Keeping Suzi At Bay shades (pictured).
Keep the shape natural, rather than too square or round (use the natural curve of your nail as a guide) and aim for mid-length – though white and navy also look pretty good on both shorter and longer nails.
