Summer is winding down but it’s still here for many of us! A time for vacations, beach, pool, and great parties, It’s also the perfect time for a skin do-over. Our summer beauty mood board game may include glowing and clear skin, but the reality is that it isn’t always that. Our skin can react negatively to the hot weather and overexposure to the sun causing us to have sunburns, dark spots and even sweat-induced pores.
With consistency, the perfect suncare routine would work for you all year round, but here are a few tweaks that can reduce the seasonal side effects summer can have on your skin keeping them healthy and happy all summer long.
- Become BFFs With Your Sunscreen: If there is one thing you can do for your skin this season is to never let a day pass without applying your sunscreen. Protecting UV rays is even more important this summer because they become stronger and we spend long hours outside. Sunscreen should be applied every day to areas that are more exposed like the chest, hands, lips, face, and ears and it’s important to reapply every two hours or sooner if you’re sweating or swimming.
When choosing a sunscreen, look for one with at least SPF 30 or higher, and broad spectrum protection which means one that protects skin from both UVA and UVB rays. It’s also important to follow the two-finger method when applying to your face and neck.
- Keep Moisturizing: Although the air isn’t as dry in the summer as it is in winter, it can still dry out your skin. Moisturizers renew the outer layer of the skin which can be ruined as a result of toxic pollutants and chemicals. It’s advisable to find a moisturizer with an SPF to give you that extra layer of protection but know that it can’t replace sunscreens.
If your skin is dry, apply a moisturizer with a thicker consistency such as the Cetaphil moisturizing cream, and for oily skin, you can use a gel-based moisturizerlike Clinique’s Moisture Surge.
- Go Easy On The Makeup: We love a good face beat but during summer, applying makeup can be an unnecessary extra layer, and it comes off more easily and begins to cake when you sweat. Ditch your heavy powder and foundations and replace them with lips balms and tinted moisturizers in your everyday routine. Ensure you pay attention to the labels and go for non-comedogenic products which are made without pore-clogging ingredients. Remember, the fewer layers on your face, the better. Your skin will enjoy the break.
- Exfoliate Thoroughly: Although exfoliating is a great skincare routine, it’s essential you keep it in check. Exfoliating is good, it helps reduce blemishes and unclog the pores. While it’s okay to exfoliate more frequently during summer, it’s best to limit it at least once or twice weekly. It’s also advisable not to exfoliate when you’re sunburned and allow the skin to heal on its own without any extra irritant. Examples of gentle exfoliators you can use are Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub or Clean & Clear Watermelon Juicy Scrub.
- Wash Your Face Properly: During summer, we tend to sweat more due to the outdoor activities we engage in, so it is important to wash your face and even up to your hairline as this area tends to be overlooked and can result in breakouts along the hairline or the outer edges of your face. Also, ensure your cleanser is mild, ph balanced and alcohol-free. Examples of good cleansers are CeraVe’s Renewing SA Cleanser, for oily skin, a cleanser such as Neutrogena’s deep clean foaming cleanser is good and Bioderma’s Sebium Gel Moussant Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel for dry skin.
- Wear Sun-Protective Accessories and Clothing: It’s important to revamp your wardrobe as well. Fabrics such as linen and cotton are suitable for this season because of their ability to be light and not cling to the body and thus preventing rashes. Other accessories suitable for this season are wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses preferably UV-protected sunglasses.
It’s also important to take it easy on your skin because you might be tempted to go overboard with your skin goals this summer. Taking it easy doesn’t mean skipping your routine, it’s just tweaking them according to these new weather conditions. Try these skincare routines and watch your skin keep skininggggg.
