Spring cleaning

There's something immensely satisfying about spring cleaning your home; pulling out cupboards, banging dust from cushions, or scrubbing surfaces until they gleam - everything emerges sparkling clean. As the weather warms, it's the perfect time to do the same with your face; banish grey, wan winter skin with a spring overhaul, using the multitude of new detoxifying and rejuvenating products and treatments.

"Skin is dry and dull during winter months, and an increase in rich food and alcohol consumption can leave it in a stressed and lifeless condition," explains Brigitte Weber, director of beauty at The Strand. "Your skin is the largest organ of the body, and toxins are easily visible to the naked eye. It is necessary to detox, not only your body, but also your skin."

The best way to start is with a change to your skincare routine: cleanse every morning and night, changing from a cream to a foam or gel cleanser to get a better result. Try exfoliating dry skin cells two to three times per week with an enzyme-based exfoliator for sensitive skin types (try Perricone MD's new Intensive Pore Treatment), or grain exfoliator for normal skin types (Bobbi Brown's Buffing Grains for Face).

Weber favours Algotherm's Radiance Exfoliating Gel and Murad's AHA/BHA cleanser. She strongly recommends also using a mask two to three times per week, especially Murad's Purifying Mask - for removing blackheads - along with Thémaé's The Detox Face Mask, which can be used on congested and dry areas. Other effective masks on the market include Valmont's Purifying Pack with clay, silt and burdock extract to regulate sebum secretion; Fresh's Umbrian Clay Mattifying Mask for normal to oily skin; and the Detox Face Mask from New York cult brand Malin+Goetz, which is suitable for sensitive skin. Lastly, remember to moisturise morning and night, and apply sunblock during the day.

To kick-start your spring beauty detox regimen, visit a facialist or aesthetician (skin specialist). Yumi Kwan, treatment manager at the Mandarin Spa, advises having a detox/rejuvenation facial once a week, incorporating steam, exfoliation, lymphatic massage and a mask. For a deep-cleansing facial, she recommends the Eve Lom or the Super Hydradermie Facial. The first incorporates a paraffin wax facial mask to open the pores, while the second uses micro-currents to purify the skin in both the epidermis and deeper dermal layer.

Kwan says it's imperative to rejuvenate the face after cold weather. "In winter, a common complaint is dryness, and therefore more nourishing, moisturising and replenishing facials tend to be performed during this period. In the warmer months, the trend is more towards detoxification and deep cleansing."

So, exactly what benefits can you expect to see from your detox? According to Kwan, an effective treatment will clear both surface and deeper layers, as waste is taken away naturally by lymphatic massage. "This creates an opportunity for cells to rejuvenate naturally by hydration and nutrition," she says.