Winter has a way of leaving our skin looking and feeling less than its best—think dryness, dullness, redness, and that flat tone that makes even your favourite foundation struggle. But spring is the reset button we’ve all been waiting for, and with the right lineup of skincare, makeup, and clever tools, it’s easier than ever to get your glow back.
Our team has been testing the products that promise to revive winter-worn skin, and we’ve found the ones that really deliver. From exfoliators that bring instant brightness, to vitamin C serums that restore life to dull complexions, to makeup that fakes the best skin day ever—these are our must-haves for a true spring comeback.
SkinCeuticals Discolouration Defense Dark Spot Corrector, $185
When your skin is still holding onto stubborn pigmentation, this is the heavy hitter. With tranexamic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, and HEPES, it targets dark spots, uneven tone, and even the trickier kinds of hyperpigmentation. After a couple of weeks of testing, we noticed spots fading and our overall tone looking brighter.
It layers easily under the rest of your routine and feels lightweight for a corrective serum. It’s definitely an investment, but if pigmentation is one of your main concerns, this is one of the most effective ways we’ve found to reset skin post-winter.
Airyday Bright On LED Mask, $499
If you’ve been curious about LED masks, this one is a standout. With 432 LEDs—the most on the market—it uses blue, red, and near-infrared light to tackle everything from breakouts to fine lines and uneven tone. Our team loved how customisable the settings are, so you can tailor treatments for your specific skin needs.
The best part? It only takes 10 minutes a few times a week to see results. After consistent use through winter, my skin looked calmer, smoother, and more radiant—like I’d had professional treatments without leaving home. It’s non-invasive, comfortable to wear, and the sleek design makes it SUPER easy to fit into a routine.
Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum, $165
For those who find exfoliating brighteners too harsh, this serum is the answer. It combines tranexamic acid, arbutin, peptides, and antioxidant complexes to fade dark spots and even out tone—without irritation. The team loved its silky, liquid-soft texture that sinks in instantly and layers well with the rest of a routine.
One of our journos took this beauty home, and over three weeks, her skin look fresher and more luminous, even on days when winter had left it looking especially lacklustre. It’s the kind of product that feels gentle but delivers noticeable glow-restoring results. You can pick this one up at Mecca.
Alpha-H Enzyme Illuminating Polish, $64.95
Winter often leaves a buildup of dead skin cells that dulls the complexion, and this polish is the perfect reset. A mix of enzymes, kaolin clay, rice powder, and native botanicals gently exfoliates, decongests pores, and instantly boosts radiance.
We loved how soft and luminous our skin looked after just one use, and after a week, texture was smoother and brightness restored. It’s effective yet gentle, so even sensitive skin gets that fresh, renewed glow without irritation—a true winter-skin saviour.
Mecca Cosmetica Future Face Hydrogel Masks, from $13
When your skin feels parched or lacklustre, these hydrogel sheet masks are a quick way to bounce it back. Infused with vitamin C, peptides, and ceramides, they plump, hydrate, and brighten in 15 minutes—undoing the dryness and fatigue that comes with cold-weather months.
I started using these weekly and immediately noticed long-term benefits like smoother, firmer skin. They’re the ultimate glow-on-demand fix. I especially loved popping one on before makeup to help make dull, winter-tired skin look fresh again.
Airyday Pretty in Zinc Dreamscreen, from $25
Sunscreen might not sound like a glow product, but this zinc-based SPF proves otherwise. Designed for sensitive skin but loved by all, it blends niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E to calm, hydrate, and protect—helping to repair the damage winter leaves behind while shielding you from further stress.
We’re big fans of Airyday’s Dreamscreens in this office. We loved the breathable texture that gave a blurred, polished finish without leaving a cast. It’s water-resistant, fragrance-free, and cruelty-free, making it easy to wear every day. Think of it as the essential final step in locking in your glow and preventing new dullness from forming. And if you want to take your glow even further, try the Golden Glow Dreamscreen—it has the same protective, skin-loving formula but with a subtle golden tint that gives you instant sun-kissed radiance without the damage.
Foreo UFO 3, $499 + Bulgarian Rose Masks, $36
Winter leaves skin feeling sluggish, and this device is like a reset button. Using heat, cooling cryo-therapy, LED light, and T-Sonic massage, it supercharges mask treatments and leaves skin plumper, soothed, and more radiant in just two minutes.
Paired with the Bulgarian Rose masks (which you can grab from Sephora), it drenches skin in hydration while calming winter-induced sensitivity. We loved how refreshed and luminous our faces looked after one session, and with regular use, the cumulative glow was undeniable—like at-home facials that bring skin back to life. Stay tuned for our full review and rundown on this one… it’s pretty special.
Paula’s Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA, $52
Glow isn’t just about the face—winter often leaves the body with rough patches and dullness too. This body lotion, powered by 10% glycolic acid, exfoliates away flaky, dry skin and smooths keratosis pilaris bumps, revealing softer, brighter arms and legs.
We loved how hydrating the creamy texture was—no tightness, just silky renewal. I often forget to look after the skin on my body as well as the skin on my face and this lotion helped me kick that into gear as part of my routine. My skin looked healthier and more even, making it the perfect prep for spring when you’re ready to show a little more skin.
Byoma Face Balancing Mist, $25
This ultra-fine mist quickly became a team favourite for rescuing skin mid-winter. One spritz gives instant hydration and helps calm redness—perfect for when your face feels tight from heaters or wind. The Tri-Ceramide Complex strengthens your skin barrier, while allantoin and probiotic ferment soothe and protect against environmental stressors.
We loved that it feels refreshing without being sticky and sits beautifully over makeup. It’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and dermatologist tested, making it a safe bet for all skin types. Honestly, it’s one of those products you’ll want in your bag, on your desk, and by your bed—because one mist is all it takes to revive dull, thirsty skin.
Mecca In A Good Light Illuminating Drops, $45
These drops are like instant sunshine in a bottle. We loved how versatile they are—mix into moisturiser or foundation for a healthy sheen, or tap straight onto cheekbones for that just-back-from-holiday radiance. Unlike some illuminators, this never looked glittery or heavy; instead, it gave our skin a hydrated glow that actually lasted.
With niacinamide to smooth and brighten, vitamin E to protect, glycerin for hydration, and SPF 30 built in, it’s doing more than just making you look radiant—it’s helping your skin stay that way. We especially loved that the shades work across a range of tones, from bronzing to brightening to a sheer flush. It’s the easiest way to fake sun-kissed skin without the sun.
Mecca Max Off Duty Glow Stick Cream Highlighter, $20
This highlighting stick is proof that glow doesn’t need to be complicated. One swipe delivers a fresh, dewy sheen that makes skin look instantly alive—perfect for those mornings when winter has left you looking flat. We loved how it melted seamlessly into skin—no glitter, no chunky shimmer, just that post-facial glow.
It’s compact, foolproof, and flattering on all skin tones. For us, it’s been the easiest way to fake looking well-rested after months of dull, tired skin, making it an instant pick-me-up in any glow-revival routine.
Smashbox Pore-Vanishing Photo Finish Primer, from $28
Dry air and heaters can leave skin looking uneven, which makes makeup sit badly—this primer smooths everything back out. It instantly blurs pores, evens tone, and controls shine, giving your complexion that polished, soft-focus glow even before foundation.
We loved that it never felt heavy or greasy, and the pro tip of patting it over makeup gave us a mid-day refresh. It’s become a must for transitioning winter-worn skin into spring, creating the flawless base that helps your natural radiance shine through.
L’Occitane Immortelle Reset Overnight Oil-in-Serum, $119
This serum works overnight to undo winter’s toll on skin. Packed with antioxidant-rich immortelle oil and soothing extracts, its golden micro-bubbles hydrate, smooth, and brighten while you sleep—so you wake up with skin that looks well-rested, plump, and glowing.
This serum is liquid gold in a bottle, and there’s a reason it’s a cult classic. It’s always light and non-greasy, which is a relief coming into spring after enduring heavier winter creams. It’s the perfect transition product for spring, helping restore radiance while protecting against future stress and fatigue.
St Saj Radiant Super C Serum, $109
Vitamin C is one of the fastest ways to bring back glow, and this serum makes it gentle yet powerful. With stabilised vitamin C, Illumiscin®-Glow technology, salicylic acid, and glycerin, it works to brighten dullness, smooth rough texture, and deeply hydrate.
We loved how quickly this new powerhouse helped restore radiance and even tone, even when our skin was still showing signs of winter fatigue. It’s the kind of serum that not only treats lingering dullness but also keeps your glow strong into the warmer months ahead.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
