The days are getting longer, the daffodils are in bloom and the sun has got its hat on. Spring is definitely in the air. But even during Spring, the season of new life, hope and colour, nature can be cruel. Have you noticed she likes to give with one hand and take away with the other? Sunny days are fantastic, but the bright light can make your complexion look terrible.

No matter how good your beauty routine, skin that has been through a cold British winter is bound to have a few flaws and if yours is anything like mine, it will have more than a few. To make matters worse, the harsh Spring-time sunshine manages to magnify each and every one of them. I had quite a shock when I caught sight of myself on a sunny morning last week. Somehow, during Winter my face had become a mass of dry patches, broken capillaries and ‘dehydration’ lines. There was only one word to describe how I looked: Bad!

So, this year, I’ve decided to delay spring-cleaning my house (any excuse) and will give my face a once-over instead. Hopefully, it will look positively peachy once I’ve treated it to a refreshing spring-clean. I’m going to start with exfoliation. Exfoliation increases cell turnover and gently removes dead skin and dirt. It’s quick and easy to do (I usually exfoliate in the shower) and the results are pretty much instant.

In my time I’ve tried loads of face scrubs and amongst my favourites are St Ives Apricot Invigorating Facial Scrub, which I used when I was a teenager and still love today; the refreshing and very gentle SUKI Exfoliating Lemongrass Cleanser with Chamomile and Vitamin C is suitable for all skin types, and Primavera Life’s Natural Balance Refining Exfoliating Cleanser is sugar-based with rich organic plant oils that moisturise and clean.

There’s something cathartic about giving your skin a good scrub, it is bound to feel softer, and look brighter afterwards - don’t go mad though, exfoliation should be a gentle procedure. If your skin is sensitive, you might want to substitute exfoliation for a really thorough cleanse. Face-masks can be a relaxed way to freshen up; Deep-C Orange Peel-Off Mask from Jason Natural Cosmetics smells like fresh orange juice and peels off in one piece taking your skin’s gunk with it.