Spring Clean Your Skincare Routine

Spring is here, and just like your home, your beauty routine could use a deep cleaning! Warmer temperatures, increased humidity, and more sun exposure mean it's time to swap out heavy winter products for lighter, glow-boosting essentials. Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to toss out expired products that could be doing more harm than good. Let’s dive into how to spring clean your skincare routine!

The Hidden Dangers of Expired Skincare and Makeup
Using old, expired products can lead to breakouts, irritation, and even infections. Over time, active ingredients lose their potency, making them less effective. Worse, bacteria and mold can grow in creams, serums, and makeup, especially products applied to eyes and lips—yikes!

Expired sunscreen, for example, may no longer provide full UV protection, putting your skin at risk of sun damage and premature aging. Old Vitamin C serums can oxidize and actually introduce free radicals to your skin, doing the exact opposite of what they're intended for. Instead of brightening and protecting, they can accelerate damage and contribute to premature aging if used past their prime.

To check if a product is still safe to use, look for the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol on the packaging. This logo looks like an open jar with a number followed by an M/ For example, 6M means it’s good for six months after opening. If you can’t remember when you first opened a product, an easy trick is to write the date on it with a Sharpie as soon as you start using it. Regardless, if you ever notice a change in smell, color, or texture of a product, it’s a sign that it’s no longer safe to use.

Personal Experience:

When I was in my early 20s, I was absolutely obsessed with beauty products. I’d buy a ton, use them for a little while, then get distracted by the next shiny new thing and totally forget about what I already had. One time, I rediscovered a gorgeous, high-end eyeshadow palette I used to love. I figured, why not? I used it for a full glam look and wore it all day. That night, I washed everything off like normal and didn’t think twice.

But the next morning, I woke up with a painful, swollen stye on my eyelid. It turns out, old eye makeup can harbor bacteria, and that bacteria can get into the tiny oil glands along your lash line, causing an infection. That’s what a stye is: an inflamed oil gland that’s clogged with bacteria. It can be red, sore, and in some cases even filled with pus.

Treatment usually includes applying warm compresses several times a day to encourage drainage, keeping the area clean, and avoiding makeup until it fully heals. In more severe cases, antibiotics or surgical removal might be necessary. Lesson learned—if you haven’t used your eyeshadow (or any other beauty product) in a while, it’s better to toss them than risk dealing with something like that!

Products That Need a Refresh for Spring
Winter skincare tends to focus on intense hydration and barrier repair, but as the weather warms up, your skin craves lightweight, breathable formulas and SPF becomes even more important. Here’s what to swap out your old, expired products for at Skin Sanctuary this month:

• Heavy Creams → Lightweight Moisturizers

  • Try: Arbonne HydrateMe Dewy Gel Cream for weightless hydration that won’t clog pores and helps maintain a healthy glow for up to 48 hours

  • Try: Cosmedix Skin Thirst Moisturizing Cream for lightweight hydration that blurs the appearance of fine lines and large pores for a more vibrant-looking complexion.

• Thick Cleansers → Gentle Exfoliants

  • Try: Arbonne DermResults Solutions Radiance Peel Pads which are biodegradable exfoliating pads that brighten, hydrate, and smooth skin while improving tone and texture.

  • Try: Cosmedix Purity Clean Exfoliating Cleanser as your 2nd step in your double cleanse to exfoliate, hydrate, and brighten dull winter skin.

• Heavy Facial Oils → Antioxidant Serums

  • Try: Arbonne DermResults Glow Illuminating Skin Concentrate for a lightweight, oil-based Vitamin C and bakuchiol serum that helps protect skin from sun damage and reduce pigment

  • Try: Cosmedix Affirm Firming Antioxidant Serum for a water-based serum that contains 10 antioxidants and a peptide to help firm and brighten skin

• Last Summer’s Sunscreens → New SPF

  • Try: Arbonne DermResults Soft Focus Veil SPF 30 for a breathable, mineral sunscreen with universal tint that doubles as a makeup primer

  • Try: Protect UV Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Moisturizing Spray for a mineral SPF that doesn’t contain pore clogging oils and can be used from head to toe

• Cakey Foundation → Skin Tint

  • Try: Arbonne Sheer Coverage Skin Tint which is makeup with skincare benefits, containing ingredients like hylauronic acid, Vitamin C, and niacinamide for lightweight, hydration while reducing redness

Tips for Smart Product Usage
To get the most out of your skincare, keep these simple hygiene and storage tips in mind:

• Store products at the right temperature. Most skincare should be kept between 68°F–77°F. Avoid leaving products in hot bathrooms or direct sunlight, which can degrade ingredients.

• Never dip your fingers into jars. Use a clean spatula or scoop to keep bacteria out.

• Wash your hands before applying any skincare. Clean hands help prevent contamination and keep your products effective.

• Clean your makeup brushes and sponges regularly. Aim for once a week to remove product buildup, bacteria, and oils.

• Keep lids tightly closed. This helps prevent air and bacteria from getting in and spoiling the formula.

Exclusive April Promotion
To celebrate the season of renewal, I’m offering 15% off your entire skincare refresh when you bring in 2+ old or expired products to swap AND 20% off all antioxidant products to help fight springtime free radical damage!

Spring is all about new beginnings—give your skin the fresh start it deserves. Need help picking the perfect products? Let’s chat and customize your routine! 🌿✨