I don’t claim my winter skin, Frankly, it’s not one I even recognize. As we turn the page into spring, our complexions are left to deal with the aftermath: dullness, dryness, and pesky amounts of flakiness. While the term “spring cleaning” is often associated with overturning our closets, it’s equally as great of an approach to have for your skin-care routine, too.

“Spring is a time for cleaning and freshening up,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Serena Mraz. “This is the perfect chance to use nature’s cue to ‘turn over a new leaf’ and deep clean your skin-care routine to bring new life to your complexion that has probably sustained months of cold, dry, dormant conditions.”

In other words? It’s not your winter routine—it’s you. Your skin is moving on, and those heavy creams and aggressive exfoliants just aren’t the right match, anymore. Spring calls for a fresh lineup that actually works with the season—lighter hydrators, smarter SPFs, and rejuvenating formulas that help your skin thrive in warmer, sunnier weather.

Ahead, the expert-backed, no-BS guide to transitioning your routine seamlessly into spring—because your skin deserves a glow-up, too.

Glycolic Acid

Spring is all about renewal, and your skin-care routine should be no different. Gentle exfoliation is key to sloughing off winter buildup and revealing fresh, radiant skin. According to Dr. Mraz, Glycolic acid is an excellent choice since it works by dissolving dead skin cells and encouraging cell turnover, helping your complexion look brighter and more even.

“It not only preps the skin so that other active ingredients will penetrate better but it also has effects of helping the skin hold onto moisture and stimulates a collagen-producing benefit,” she shares.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is another ideal skin-care ingredient for spring because it helps balance oil production, preventing breakouts as warmer weather kicks in. It also reduces inflammation and redness, offering relief from environmental stressors. Additionally, niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, keeping moisture locked in as your skin adjusts to the changing season. Niacinamide “is another name for Vitamin B3,” notes Dr. Mraz. “It is an anti-inflammatory vitamin and can be helpful in calming redness and irritation and helps to maintain or restore the skin barrier.”

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential ingredient for detoxifying and refreshing your skin, especially after the winter months. “It helps to target and remove senescent cells—those old, damaged cells that no longer serve a purpose and can contribute to inflammation,” explains Dr. Mraz. By choosing products that treat this concern, it results in brighter, more vibrant skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is essential for replenishing moisture and supporting the structure of your skin. It helps maintain a healthy skin microbiome, which is key for protection against environmental stressors and preventing moisture loss. “This is a powerful humectant which means that it binds to and holds water,” explains Dr. Mraz. “It can hold over 1,000 times its own weight in water in the skin to hydrate and plump the skin effectively.”

Peptides

Peptides are a powerful way to stimulate skin growth and enhance collagen production. Like giving the skin a boost of essential building blocks, peptides help promote the activity of fibroblasts—the cells responsible for creating collagen and maintaining skin structure. “These are chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules to activate fibroblasts in the skin to increase production of molecules like collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid,” shares Dr. Mraz.