Here's a task for your free time: Spring clean your skincare and makeup stash

If you do it right, a seasonal switch-over doesn't have to be a dreaded task. Instead, as you luxuriate in the many more hours you spend at home, put away old favourites, abandon products that don't serve you, and have fun along the way. Not sure where to start? These six things might help you streamline your beauty wardrobe without it feeling like a menial chore.

Wash your brushes

Since you're taking everything out, it's a great time to throw your brushes in for a deep clean. While once a week is the ideal washing schedule, it can be easy for this step to fall to the wayside.

While you're sanitising everything around you, sanitise your brushes with dish soap to de-grease all the silicone and oil, and then wash with a gentle shampoo or body wash to cut all the dirt, residue and bacteria buildup. While you're doing this, root out any blenders that may look mouldy, or brushes with split bristles.

Throw away anything old

If your mascara feels a little crusty, or your lipstick has melted down in the tube, it might be time to throw it out, even if it's your trusty go-to. Makeup and skincare products do expire, and using too-old products can cause breakouts and infections if used. If it smells weird, has changed colour or texture, or simply isn't working like it once did, it's time to toss it. An easy way to check the expiry date? Look for the open cream jar symbol on the back, which indicates the number of months a product is safe to use (like 12M or 24M.)

Figure out your new five-step routine

While you may have the luxury of time now, it might serve you well to figure out your new routine – for work, for going out, or even just for online meetings. Do you have a foundation you love? Put it in the front, and set it up with your blush, mascara and lipstick for a quick on-the-go fix. If you've got a perfume you never wear, or a too-bright concealer shade that just doesn't sit right, move it to the back until you've figured out how to work it into your repertoire.

Change up your skincare routine to match the weather

Since the weather is getting warmer (and more humid), putting your thick winter-appropriate moisturisers to the back will help to prevent breakouts and irritation. Instead, reach for gel-like products, adding salicylic-acid based cleansers to the mix, and smoothing on light, hydrating layers instead of thick, moisturising ones. You'll want to look for the products in your repertoire that are non-comedogenic, as the sweat can increase clogged pores.

Bring back your sunscreen

Even if you're going out only minimally, sunscreen is still ultra-important. If you're sitting by the window and working (or you head out for a grocery run), sunscreen is important to prevent skin ageing, fine lines, sun spots and skin cancer. Plus, since you're sitting in front of your TV, computer and phone all day, blue light from the devices is more likely to affect your skin, and can cause melasma or hyperpigmentation.

Reach for all your masks and peels

If you've been wanting to include a new product into the mix, add it in now. If it's a face peel you haven't used before, or a retinol that you're not sure how you'll react to, first apply it as a test to your inner arm to test for any reaction. If it's all clear, add it to your skincare routine (nobody will see if you have sudden redness or hives).