The Breaking Beauty 2025 Spring Skincare Guide Has Arrived

Spring has arrived, and as we stash away our puffer coats for lighter layers, our skincare routines deserve the same refresh. Carlene Higgins and Jill Dunn on Breaking Beauty have provided your dermatologist-approved roadmap to de-thawing your winter-ravaged skin and stepping into your spring glow with intention—and SPF.

The hosts welcomed back board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman for the ultimate seasonal skincare reset. From the serums she swears by to the trends she’s already test-driving herself, this episode was packed with advice that’s worth your money and medicine cabinet space.

Here’s your dermatologist-approved roadmap to spring-ready skin.

1. Say goodbye to heavy creams

According to Dr. Dendy, one of the biggest shifts to make in your skincare routine as the temperatures rise is swapping out those thick, occlusive winter moisturizers for something lighter. Think gels, lotions, and formulations that let your skin breathe.

Her faves?

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel: Lightweight, hydrating, and perfect for oily or acne-prone skin types who fear moisturizers.
• Elizabeth Arden Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide Capsules: A little more luxe, but packed with ceramides to seal in that juicy HA hydration.

Don’t be fooled. Just because it feels light doesn’t mean it’s not doing the work. You want hydration with staying power, not a disappearing act.

2. Reevaluate your retinoids

Dr. Dendy recommends pausing your retinoids if you’re clocking hours outside this season. Vitamin A derivatives are powerful anti-aging tools, but they also make your skin more sensitive to the sun. She makes an interesting point: Even if you’re just walking around Midtown doing some shopping, you still need to be careful of sneaky sun exposure. Most people don’t consider this as an outdoor activity that requires SPF protection (more on this below), especially if you don’t lighten up on your retinoids. 

What to do instead?
Use this time for a “summer skincare fling” with gentler actives—think peptides, niacinamide, or even those aforementioned ceramides. You’ll keep the skin barrier happy without playing Russian roulette with hyperpigmentation.

3. Upgrade your SPF game

Sunscreen is not seasonal, but how you apply it needs a springtime upgrade.

Dr. Dendy recommends:

• ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless SPF 50: A European favorite with DNA repair enzymes. Yes, repair. Not just protection. Tinted, elegant, and ideal for those of us who hate the ghost face zinc can leave behind.
• Prevage City Smart Broad Spectrum SPF 50: Packed with antioxidants and a pollution shield—because city smog is aging us faster than we realize.

She’s also a big fan of powder sunscreens for midday reapplication (especially over makeup). Because, let’s face it, none of us are about to slather lotion over our foundation at a rooftop brunch.

Another tip: Tinted sunscreen with iron oxide isn’t just for aesthetics—it helps fight hyperpigmentation. Especially crucial if melasma is your seasonal nemesis.

4. Add DNA repair enzymes to your arsenal

Here’s a buzzy one: DNA repair enzymes. Sounds sci-fi, but this trend is dermatologist-approved. These enzymes help correct UV-induced DNA damage—think of them as little skin mechanics working overtime.Keep your eyes peeled for ingredients like photolyase and T4 endonuclease V.

These may not roll off the tongue, but your future face will thank you for the long-term prevention. In Europe, they’re actually prescribed to treat sun damage. Here in the U.S., they’re tucked into some cosmeceuticals flying under the “drug” radar.

5. Double down on your cleanser routine

If you’re wearing more SPF (as you should) and sweating a bit more, don’t underestimate the power of a good cleanse. Dr. Dendy recommends double cleansing—starting with a balm or oil-based cleanser and then something a bit more active.

Her go-to?

• Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser: A long-time staple in her own routine with a touch of salicylic acid and AHAs. It gives that clean, minty-fresh feel without stripping. You can use it on your body, too. Consider it a multi-tasker for those breakout-prone areas.

6. Extend skincare below your jawline

Body care is having its moment, according to Dr. Dendy. If you’re showing more skin, treat it with the same love as your face.

What to look for:

• Body retinols and vitamin C serums: Lower concentrations than facial formulations, but effective at smoothing texture and fading sun spots.
• Decolletage-specific treatments: Dr. Dendy loves Revision’s Nectifirm and SkinMedica’s Neck Correct—one even targets the platysmal muscles (those vertical bands that pull your face down like a drawbridge).

7. Mix ingredients strategically

Spring is a time of renewal—not accidental chemical warfare on your skin. A few layering notes:

• Don’t mix benzoyl peroxide with retinoids or vitamin C. It can deactivate them and potentially irritate your skin.
• Vitamin C in the morning, retinoids at night. Easy. Done. Move on.
• Benzoyl peroxide users: Oily skin tends to flare in warmer months, but be strategic. Use this ingredient sparingly and only where needed.

8. Consider in-office treatments

If you’re ready to call in the pros, Dr. Dendy suggests spring is the ideal time to hit reset before summer hits full stride.

What she loves right now:

• Fractional CO2 laser or Fraxel: Collagen-boosting powerhouses that even skin tone and texture. One treatment a year can be enough if your skin is already in good shape.
• PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma): Especially effective under the eyes when combined with laser resurfacing.
• Salmon sperm facials: Yes, you read that right. PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) derived from salmon sperm is rich in healing factors and massively reduces post-treatment redness and downtime.

And no, this isn’t an influencer gimmick—thousands of peer-reviewed Korean studies back it. Just maybe skip the at-home versions. As Dr. Dendy says, let the heavy lifting happen in the (doctor’s) office.

9. Tread carefully with TikTok trends

Liquid microneedling (aka spicules) might be all over your feed, but Dr. Dendy warns that this trend isn’t for everyone. Those tiny “glass shard” particles can irritate sensitive skin, and while they might stimulate collagen, they can also cause microtrauma and exacerbate conditions like rosacea.

Her take? These are best left to the professionals—or used very sparingly, if at all.

10. Exosomes, growth factors, and the wild west of skincare innovation

Exosomes and growth factors are generating buzz, but Dr. Dendy calls this the “Wild West” of skincare—promising but not yet backed by consistent, reliable science. PRP is still the gold standard for now, though she expects the exosome category to evolve.