Transitioning our skincare routine: From winter to spring/summer

WORDS BY JELENA BOJIC PHOTOGRAPHY: TREVOR TSOI

Our skin is very sensitive to the world around us, and as winter is leaving this winter city we call home (well, maybe a few surprise visits are still in the books for us), it is time to make some adjustments to our everyday skin care routine.. For those of you who take skincare seriously - from the 10-step regime including serums for days and nights, jelly masks, to all other things in between - we are talking to one of the top dermatologists in the city, Dr. Nakatsui, for tips on preparing our skin for warmer months.

Get that honeymoon skin glow with advice from Dr. Nakatsui

In terms of our skincare routine, Dr. Nakatsui says that as we transition into the spring season, we are less exposed to the dry, cold air outside and the dry, heated air inside our homes. It's now important to switch to agents that aren’t as heavy since our skin doesn’t require as much protection. Another thing that’s important to our routine is exfoliation as one of the steps we shouldn’t skip. “While it’s important to exfoliate, it’s also important not to overdo it. Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser rather than a harsh scrub; be gentle to your skin and watch out for excessive irritation.” He recommends a gentle exfoliating agent twice a week.

Nothing we do at home can replace a professional facial treatment, and one of the most popular treatments at Nakatsui Dermasurgery is a HydraFacial MD. The name alone sounds like something spectacular and hydrating, so we wanted to hear more. “You may have heard of microdermabrasions, which are good treatments, but we have transitioned to HydraFacials, which are a step up, as they exfoliate and hydrate, leaving your skin rejuvenated. We were happy to be the first in the city to bring HydraFacials MD, and now many facilities offer this great treatment.”

Moving on to moisturizers, Dr. Nakatsui’s advice is to find one that’s not too thick, and preferably water-based. With spring, the humidity level rises, and we tend to sweat more, so our skin is naturally oilier, meaning light moisturizers are the best choice. Another step that shouldn’t be missed is sunscreen. More than 80,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year, so this step is particularly important. There are many good sunscreens out there, and the active components are divided into chemical and physical sunscreens. “Theoretically, physical sunscreens such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide may be the best type of sunscreen but can leave a slightly white residue on the skin. Choose a sunscreen that is at If you are considering adding retinol to your skincare, Dr. Nakatsui points out that retinol is a type of vitamin A derivative, available in over-the-counter products. They help improve wrinkles, acne, and lighten dark spots by stimulating collagen production, increasing cell turnover, and unclogging pores. “The prescription version of retinol is called Retinoid,” explains Dr. Nakatsui, “and it’s stronger and more effective.”

One of the terms we’ve been hearing lately is “baby botox” so we had to ask Dr. Nakatsui about that. “It’s

a trend where lower doses of Botox are used to relax

but not immobilize the target muscles. Instead of using 25 units in a given area, I might only inject 12 units, which decreases the activity of the muscles without immobilizing them too much. This can be used to prevent lines with younger patients, decrease the risk of side effects, and can be more affordable as fewer units are required.”

Finally, Dr. Nakatsui wants you to remember the following skincare recommendations, for that glowing and healthy skin:

• Wear sunscreen, practice sun protection, and start early. The younger you start, the better off you will be in the long run. Not all things in life are guaranteed, but if you protect your skin from the sun, I can virtually guarantee that it will look younger for longer

• Unless you have oily skin, hydrate it frequently and use a lighter product in the spring and summer to avoid clogging your pores

• Exfoliate gently but remember to avoid harsh exfoliants

• Don’t underestimate the power of water – make sure you are drinking ample amounts of it!