It’s no secret that our skin changes with the seasons, usually reacting to the new outside factors we are suddenly faced with. However, summer often presents a unique set of challenges, as the hot and humid weather outdoors leads to sweat, excessive oil production, and clogged pores, while the dry, air-conditioned indoor environment might cause a dehydrated and dull complexion. Due to these factors, creating a good summer skincare routine is especially important. Here are 7 tips that will help you maintain a healthy and glowing complexion all season long:
1. Always Prioritize Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen regularly is one of the most important beauty habits your skin will thank you for in the future. It’s the only way to properly protect yourself from damaging sun rays that can lead to skin damage, hyperpigmentation, premature signs of aging, and a higher risk of skin cancer. For that reason, it’s recommended to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on your face, neck, and any other exposed part of your body everyday. Don’t forget to reapply the sunscreen approximately every two hours when outside, to ensure proper protection.
2. Change Up Your Daily Cleanser
During the summer, our skin tends to produce more oil, and the more time we typically spend outdoors during this season also leads to dirt and grime accumulating in our pores more quickly. The combination of these factors means that our summer cleansers should be more thorough when clearing our complexion. Gel-based cleansers are recommended for oily and combination skin, while dry skin could benefit from more hydrating water-based cleansers. It might also be a good idea to include an oil-based cleanser into your summer routine, in an effort to remove built-up makeup and sunscreen more effectively, while also helping with wrinkles.
3. Focus on Regular Exfoliation
Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells and any built-up debris that can lead to congestion. This allows other products to penetrate deeper into the skin, leading to a more even, healthy, and radiant complexion. For the most effective results, it’s generally recommended to opt for chemical exfoliation in the form of AHAs and BHAs. They should be used no more than once or twice a week when first starting out, in order to avoid sensitivity and irritation. Keep in mind that not all acids are the same, however, as dryer and more sensitive complexions often benefit from lactic and azelaic acids, while salicylic and glycolic acids are more suited to oily, combination, and acne-prone skin.
4. Include a Vitamin C Serum
While there are many active ingredients that could be beneficial for different skin types, vitamin C is one of those universal ingredients that can truly be a blessing for any complexion. It helps to even out the skin tone, reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots, and might even help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. What makes vitamin C especially important during the summer is that it can work beautifully with your sunscreen to achieve higher sun protection.
5. Replace your Daily Moisturizer
Despite the weather being quite hot and humid during the summer, hydration is still necessary for protecting our skin from dryness and irritation, and leading to a more supple and glowing complexion. But instead of the thicker and heavier moisturizers you might find useful in winter, summer is ideal for more lightweight formulas. These formulas help to deliver proper hydration without clogging your pores and leading to acne and blackheads. Ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid can be great for hydrating during the summer, and you might want to opt for a moisturizer that also contains an SPF factor.
6. Don’t Forget Your Eyes and Lips
Although focusing on our complexion helps us to achieve healthier, more youthful, and more glowing skin, we often forget the smaller parts of our face, such as the eyes, lips, neck, and ears. Taking care of these features is incredibly important, especially during the summer when we are more exposed to harmful sun rays. To ensure full protection, it’s recommended to also apply your daily sunscreen to your ears, continue your entire skincare routine down to your neck, and apply an SPF lip balm daily. It is also essential to wear sunglasses every day, in an effort to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays and prevent any premature signs of aging.
7. Know How to Treat Damaged Skin
Even if all protective efforts have been made, people with lighter complexions might still experience some damage in the form of sunspots or sunburns when spending more time in direct sunlight. And while one single burn might not always be that serious, it’s still important to know how to take proper care of your skin, in order to keep it healthy and prevent further damage. At the first sign of redness, it’s recommended to apply a gentle and soothing cooling gel made from efficient ingredients such as aloe vera and vitamin E, in an effort to reduce inflammation and prevent the skin from peeling.
Even though the hot, sweaty, and humid nature of summer might take a significant toll on your skin, the incredible skincare tips mentioned above will allow you to maintain a healthy and radiant complexion this season regardless of the weather.
