Each season poses unique beauty challenges, and it sometimes feels like as soon as you’ve mastered that season’s challenges, the weather turns and it’s time to get onto the next one. Often more challenging than the new season itself, is the in-between stage where the season is busy changing.

The transition period from winter to spring is usually a welcome one, however, it can have a big effect on your skin and hair. For instance, you may find your skin feeling dry or tight, if you struggle with breakouts you may notice they’re more inflamed than usual. The increase in humidity as we head into spring can also have an impact on our hair. Increased humidity can lead to more frizz and impact our hair’s manageability.

While there’s nothing we can do about this transitional period, there is plenty we can do to counteract the effects it may have on our hair and skin. Follow our advice for healthier and happier hair and skin as we head into spring.

Why does changing seasons affect our skin?

Think of your skin as a creature of habit – it loves consistency. When its environment changes, it has to work harder to maintain moisture and has to adjust to new demands. In the process, the barrier function may become disrupted, you may be prone to inflammation and your hydration levels may drop. When we transition from winter to spring, your skin needs to adapt to warmer weather and higher humidity levels. This can often leave the skin feeling greasy as more oil gets trapped on the surface of the skin (which, in turn, can lead to more breakouts and clogged pores).

How can we counteract these effects?

To keep skin healthy, happy and blemish-free as we head into spring, it’s important to control excess sebum and exfoliate regularly. The two best ingredients to achieve this are glycolic acid and salicylic acid.

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to separate the connections between skin cells in the outer layers of the skin, promoting exfoliation and skin cell turnover. It is effective in fighting breakouts and acne, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, removing dead skin cells and improving tone.

NIP+FAB’s Glycolic Fix range is designed to assist in dissolving dead skin cells, refining skin texture and tone, stimulating collagen production and boosting luminosity. Cleanse twice a day with NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Cleanser(R149.95) to remove all traces of dirt and impurities while giving the skin a boost and retexturising it. Follow with NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Serum (R295.00) and NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Moisturiser (R249.95), a powerful duo that work together to refine pores, smooth the skin’s texture, provide oil-free moisture and to control excess oil production. Exfoliate daily with NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads (R379.95). Soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid, these biodegradable, radiance-boosting pads are formulated to retexture, resurface and treat breakouts.

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) exfoliates the skin and helps clear and unclog pores. It is popularly used to treat acne, breakouts and blackheads and helps reduce redness and swelling of inflamed spots. It also helps soften and loosen dry skin so that it can be shed more easily.

Creightons Salicylic Acid Foaming Clay Cleanser (R75.95) combines kaolin clay with salicylic and lactic acids to help absorb excess oil and maintain healthier, clearer looking skin. Follow with Creightons Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Tonic (R99.95) makes use of salicylic acid and niacinamide to improve an uneven skin tone and texture, leaving skin brighter and healthier. Twice a day, apply Creightons Salicylic Acid Face Serum (R104.95) and Creightons Salicylic Acid Soothing Lotion (R69.95). Together, they help reduce the appearance of blackheads, blemishes and pores; for a clearer, more radiant complexion while offering lightweight moisture.

Why does changing seasons affect our hair?

Humidity has a major impact on the texture and manageability of our hair. The higher the humidity, the more likely you are to experience frizz. Our hair contains bonds known as “hydrogen bonds.” These bonds are weak, and can be broken by water and reset when drying (this is why we can set our hair into different styles with styling tools). These bonds are also broken by water in the atmosphere (aka humidity), and then reset themselves, which is why you’re likely to experience kinks and frizz throughout the day. Your hair and scalp may also appear greasier as the warmer weather sets in, even though your hair may feel drier due to exposure to warmer weather. It’s important to remember that not everyone will experience the same changes when the new season sets in.

How can we counteract these effects?

Your hair care regime for the transitional season is two-fold: you need to pay attention to your scalp as well as to your hair.

For greasy hair: Wash your hair regularly with a gentle shampoo that effectively removes grease without drying out your scalp. We recommend Curls in Bloom Cleanse Me! Sulphate-Free Shampoo (R99.95). It effectively cleanses and removes product build-up and dirt without stripping the hair and scalp of its natural oils.

For dry hair: Invest in a creamy shampoo that adds moisture to your hair and scalp like The Perfect Hair’s newly-launched Grow on the Go Conditioning Wash (R99.99). Specially formulated for very dry hair, this conditioning wash is enriched with castor oil, shea butter and Pro-Vitamin B5.

Scalp care is essential, no matter what your hair concerns. If your scalp gets dry or itchy, apply Nilotiqa Shea & Coco Anti-Itch Hair & Scalp Spray (R99.99) daily or every second day. It is rich and creamy, provides natural hair with optimum moisture from the root and soothes a dry, itchy scalp for up to 48 hours. If you want to stimulate healthy hair growth and base your scalp, use Cantu’s Shea Butter Tea Tree & Jojoba Hair & Scalp Oil (R175.00). It uses the power of some of nature’s most moisturising oils to help protect dry and damaged hair from breakage. It also conditions the scalp to support healthy hair growth.

To counteract frizz, apply a lightweight cream, leave-in conditioner or hair serum to create a barrier between your hair shaft and the water in the atmosphere. We recommend Cantu Shea Butter Daily Oil Moisturiser (R175.00). It harnesses the nourishing power of shea butter to help replenish lost moisture in dry and damaged hair and also helps prevent breakage, tangles and frizz.

If you prefer a leave-in conditioner as opposed to one that washes out, try My Natural Hair’s Leave in Conditioner (R99.95). It coats each strand effortlessly, moisturising your hair for frizz-free and protected natural hair.