Spring Is in the Air… and So Is Pollen. Hello, Allergy Season!

You step outside, the sun is finally warm again, and your cheeks are glowing like you just fell in love. Cute, right? But if that rosy flush comes with itching, burning, and doesn’t budge even after three layers of cream… we hate to break it to you: it’s probably not romance. It’s likely spring allergies, also known as pollinosis.

Most people associate pollen with runny noses and endless sneezing, but it turns out, your skin might be just as affected.. and it’s not always as obvious.

Pollen: The Invisible Troublemaker

The main offenders? Birch, hazel, and alder pollen. While they’re busy floating through the air, they also land on your skin and that can lead to all kinds of irritation, especially in areas most exposed to the elements.

Here’s how your skin might react:

• Dermatitis – dry, flaky, red patches that itch like crazy. Usually shows up on the face, neck, and hands aka spring’s most exposed real estate.
• Hives (urticaria) – fast-appearing, itchy bumps that can flare up from just a brush of pollen or even from inhaling it.
• Eye-area swelling and dryness – the skin around your eyes is delicate, and pollen + rubbing = a recipe for puffiness, redness, and irritation.
• Eczema flare-ups – if you already deal with atopic dermatitis, pollen can be a trigger that makes symptoms worse by weakening your skin’s barrier.

Wait… Can Food Set It Off Too?

Surprise: yes. During allergy season, your body can confuse certain foods for pollen. Things like apples, carrots, nuts, and birch sap contain proteins that look just similar enough to confuse your immune system. So that innocent snack? It might lead to an itchy mouth, sneezing, or even a rash.

So How Do You Protect Your Skin This Spring?

1. Wash It Off (Properly)

Yes, washing your face and hands is basic, but in spring, it’s essential. Throughout the day, pollen builds up on your skin like dust on a windowsill. If you’re rubbing your eyes or touching your face (guilty!), you’re pressing allergens in even deeper.

And while we at LUMI usually prefer to go easy on soap, this is one time when water alone won’t cut it. Use gentle, fragrance-free soap for your body and our Moisturising Cleansing Milk on your facial skin to clear away pollen without stripping your skin.

2. Repair and Reinforce Your Skin Barrier

Think of your skin barrier like a castle wall. If it’s dry, cracked, or irritated, allergens can sneak right in.

Your first move? Moisturise. Daily, and generously. Start with BIO-KLINIK’s Restorative Moisturiser to build up your defenses. It’s gentle, clean, and full of plant-powered goodness. With 16 botanicals, 5 prebiotics, and natural hyaluronic acid, it hydrates deeply, soothes irritation, and restores balance to your skin’s microbiome.

When the pollen count spikes, your next line of defense is zinc. Lullaby Rescue Balm is packed with 25% zinc oxide to strengthen your skin’s barrier, soothe irritation, and shield against environmental stressors. Zinc helps block irritants, allergens, and pathogens, calms flare-ups like acne or rosacea, and even offers mild UV protection. 

3. Nourish from Within

Healthy skin starts on the inside. Load up on omega fatty acids (like the ones in PĒLL hemp seed oil) to fight inflammation. And prep your gut for allergy season with a course of probiotics – because a balanced gut helps regulate your immune system.

Also worth keeping on hand:

• Zinc – helps keep your immune system balanced and your skin barrier strong.
• Selenium – calms inflammatory reactions when your body’s overreacting to pollen.
• B vitamins – especially B6 and B12, to help your nervous system handle allergy-induced stress (because yes, stress = more inflammation = cranky skin).

4. Know Your Enemy (and Avoid Its Prime Time)

Late morning to early afternoon is prime time for pollen to party in the air. If you can, plan your outdoor time earlier in the morning or later in the evening.

If you do have to head out during peak hours, think of your face cream as armor. Our Arctic Face Cream is a seasonal MVP – its mix of plant oils, extracts, hyaluronic acid, and beeswax deeply nourishes and shields your skin from irritants. It’s like a soft, soothing force field for your face.

5. Accessorise for Defense

Sunglasses and a hat aren’t just stylish, they’re practical. They keep pollen out of your eyes and hair (which, fun fact, holds onto pollen almost as well as your favorite sweater holds onto pet hair).

When you get home? Change your clothes, rinse your skin, and let your indoor space stay pollen-free.