Glowing Summer Skin
Summer is a time for beach days, pool parties, and vacations. It’s also a great time for a skin care makeover. Longer hours of daylight and hot, dry, or humid weather can affect our skin differently than the colder and darker days of winter.
The beauty tips below will help you enjoy the sunshine with skin health in mind.
Apply sunscreen often
It’s essential to apply sunscreen daily to reduce your risk of skin cancer, no matter the weather. If you don’t apply sunscreen often the sun will age your skin faster, giving you freckles, age spots and wrinkles. Look for sunscreen that’s broad-spectrum SPF 30+ and reapply every 2 hours. And don’t forget about your lips, too!
Go lighter on the makeup
On warmer days, wearing a ton of makeup can feel like an unnecessary extra layer. And, if you sweat, your makeup will come off more easily. Embrace the season and pare down your makeup routine. Your skin will enjoy the break.
Exfoliate once or twice a week
Sunscreen is important, and sweat is the body’s natural way of cooling off. But both can do a number on your pores. That’s where exfoliation comes in. It helps unclog the pores and reduces blemishes. It’s best not to exfoliate if you’re sunburned. Let the skin heal on its own without an added irritant.
While it’s OK to exfoliate more frequently in the summer than in the winter, but limit it to once or twice per week. Otherwise you’ll get a windburned look, where the skin gets tight, cracked, and scaly. You just want to remove the debris from the sweat, SPF, and oil.
Self-tan for a healthy glow
People who are more prone to tanning than burning might want to skip the sunscreen - but, even if a tan isn’t painful, it’s still technically sun damage. There’s no such thing as a healthy tan, the skin darkening is in response to UV radiation causing damage in your skin cells. Get a sun-kissed look by using a self-tanner.
Wash your face — but not constantly
When it’s hot, you may feel the need to wash your face or shower constantly. Experts advise against it. Your body makes natural moisturising factors that hold water in the skin. When you wash those away, the top of the skin can be dehydrated. Instead, stick to showering once per day and after exercise. Rinse your face with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water in the morning and at night. You can also wash with lukewarm water after sweat sessions.
Takeaway
Summer is typically warmer and sunnier than winter. It’s only natural that your skin has different needs. When you’re spending more time in the sun, it’s important to be mindful about sunscreen. Find a broad-spectrum SPF 30 and reapply every 2 hours to protect your skin from premature ageing and skin cancer. Try a lightweight moisturiser and go lighter on the makeup, exfoliating no more than once per week. If you want a healthy glow, opt for a self-tanner.
A summer-friendly beauty routine will keep your skin happy and healthy all season long.