Spring is my favorite season. The trees and flowers start to bud, the temperatures climb, and the clouds start to dissipate. There's a collective feeling of anticipation—are we, dare I ask, out of the woods of winter and into the sunshine months? It's a time for shedding heavy layers, relishing the warmth, getting out, and being playful again. Give me a week of light jacket weather, and I feel practically reinvented. 

It's no wonder that the spring acts as a cultural cue for a reset. So many of us use the time to clean out our homes, rethink our habits, and revamp our routines. And as a beauty editor, I feel it's my duty to remind you that your skin likely deserves a refresh too. Which is why I've decided to deep dive into seasonal skin care transitions. Here, learn how to help your skin be its glowiest—just in time for a vibrant spring and summer. 

Let me remind you: Your skin comes in direct contact with the world around you. "It's the body's first line of defense against environmental stressors, so addressing the skin is a gateway to overall health and well-being," says board-certified dermatologist Keira Barr, M.D. This means it's greatly affected by changes in your environment—seasonal changes included. As we go from colder months to warmer, most people experience a few changes in the skin. The first is that they may be experiencing some residual dullness from winter-induced dryness. Second, warmer weather usually causes increased oil production (more on that later). Third, this time of year typically means more time outdoors, with more exposure to UV rays and the effects that come with it: dark spots, fine lines, and so on. 

Additionally, seasonal changes can also inspire habit changes—which of course can influence how you care for your skin. For example, perhaps you sweat more this time of year, and thus you're washing your face and body more often—that will influence how your skin looks and feels. 

Even the most diligent skin care devotees can have habits that may be working against them. Here, common skin care practices that may be getting in the way of your best skin yet: 

Let's get into what you can actually do to better support your overall skin health as it transitions into summer weather: 

The outermost layer of your skin is called the stratum corneum, and it's made up of dead skin cells. This layer is the protective buffer for your skin and is a vital part of the skin barrier function. However, buildup of these cells is common, and this in turn leads to dullness. Enter, exfoliation. The point of exfoliation—be it physical or chemical—is to remove that buildup, revealing brighter, more youthful skin underneath. When done correctly, exfoliation does wonders for your complexion. 

However, when you go overboard—you run the risk of compromising that barrier. (Remember, the stratum corneum plays a vital role in your skin's function! You don't want to strip it too much.) "The most important tip is that 'less is more.' You want to exfoliate just enough to increase cell turnover and reveal fresh new skin," Ife Rodney, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Eternal Dermatology, tells us about over-exfoliation. "But be sure to not scratch your skin by overusing these devices or products."

In the quest for glowing skin, antioxidants are going to be your best skin care friends. If you don't have an antioxidant serum or treatment step in your topical routine, take this as your friendly nudge to do so.

Antioxidants work by fighting free radicals and neutralizing oxidative stress—and in doing so, they help support your skin in maintaining a vibrant glow.* "Free radicals lead to changes in the cell that are recognized as signs of aging: decreased collagen and elastin, increased pore size, increased textural changes, and changes in pigmentation," says Morgan Rabach, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical NYC. (If you want a full rundown on how antioxidants work in skin care, we did a guide to antioxidants here.) 

Luckily, there are so many good antioxidant options on the market, from targeted vitamins to nurturing botanical extracts. Here are a few we love for this time of year (and, well, year-round really.)

You're not imagining it—oil production increases with warmer weather. "During the spring and summer, temperatures and humidity levels rise. These changes stimulate the sweat glands to produce more sweat and the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum," says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., about humidity and oil production. "Increased sweat production cools the skin by evaporation, and increased oil production helps to slow the evaporation of sweat to extend the cooling effect." 

So while we're all for a naturally dewy shine around here, we understand that feeling greasy and oil-slick isn't ideal either. There are easy, gentle ways you can keep your sebum balanced: There are plenty of botanicals and actives that help calm and control oil production. For example, "Niacinamide and green tea also have data with decreasing oil production," says board-certified dermatologist Kanchanapoomi Levin, M.D. 

Last, but certainly not least, spring is the perfect time to toss out old SPF bottles, find new options that you enjoy, and reacquaint yourself with proper sun care. While layering on a mineral sunscreen is a good basis, we believe in a well-rounded sun care regime—one that involves smart habits outside of topicals. Here, a few sun care tips we regularly stress:

Looking to go above and beyond? You overachiever, you. Here are some extra tips to supercharge skin: 

While skin health takes a holistic approach, a few product recommendations can't hurt, no? Here's what beauty experts can't get enough of.

Seasonal skin care transitions aren't just marketing—there are real reasons you may need to make some changes to your lineup, including prepping the skin for more time in the sun and opting for lighter textures in the humidity. If you're looking for a refresh, take it from us: Now's the perfect time. For more tips on how to care for your skin in the summer, check out these eight derm-approved ideas.