By BlackDoctor.Org

With the transition to Spring and warmer weather, now is the best time to take a look at your beauty routine with fresh eyes and revamp for the new season. Beauty expert, dermatologist and Vaseline ambassador Dr. Brooke Jackson shares her key tips to help you minimize clutter, better utilize the products you love, and even try something new.

1. Turn down the heat & Turn up the humidity: In the winter, we tend to shower with excessively hot water, so now that spring upon us, dial down that steamy heat to a comfortable warm (not hot) temperature and keep it to 10 minutes or less. Long hot showers feel great for the moment, however they will dry out your skin and will ultimately make it itchy, which can exacerbate other skin conditions like eczema. If you shower at night, sleeping with a small humidifier in your bedroom can also help replenish moisture in the air, ultimately benefitting your skin.

2. Tune up your shower tools: Moist, wet Loofahs and bath sponges can harbor bacteria on the surface and in all those small holes. Over repeated use will introduce this to your skin potentially causing infection (folliculitis) to your skin so make sure to clean and dry them or replace them every month.

3. Treat that bumpy winter skin: People with naturally curly hair tend to have bumpier skin because of the shape of the hair follicle. This is particularly noticeable on the backs of arms and legs. Gentle weekly exfoliation with a salt or sugar scrub can help to smooth skin.

4. Lighten up your moisturizer: Spring and summer bring increased humidity in the environment (nature’s moisturizer) and heavier beauty products may be too occlusive. Change from a moisturizer that you scoop from a jar to a lighter version such asVaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant lotion, specially formulated with 100% pure cocoa butter and micro-droplets of Vaseline Jelly to help heal dry skin while revealing its natural glow.

5. Spring Clean: toss & declutter: Just as you spring clean your closets, kitchen and pantries, it is important to do the same for your beauty cabinet. Once the seal is broken on the product and it is opened, the product becomes exposed to bacteria, air and light which can cause break down over time making the product less effective. Even those that remain sealed can break down due to storage conditions (heat, humidity, light) some of which occurred prior to your purchase. Many beauty products are not regulated by the FDA and are therefore not required to have an expiration date.

Dr. Brooke Jackson is a board certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon. After completing two fellowships, Laser Surgery at Harvard and a second in Mohs, she founded the Mohs Surgery Unit at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She then moved to Chicago, where she founded the Skin Wellness Center of Chicago and held a clinical faculty position in the Department of Dermatology at Northwestern University. In 2013, Dr. Jackson relocated to the Triangle area. She was an Associate Professor of Dermatology at UNC, Chapel Hill, until opening her private practice Skin Wellness Dermatology Associates, PA. Dr. Jackson’s practice philosophy focuses on patient education and skin wellness. She is a frequent and sought after guest and resource for national and local media on dermatology concerns. An avid runner and budding triathlete, Dr. Jackson has completed 10 marathons (26.2 miles). She is married with three very active children.