Summer days come with warmer weather, rippling heat and much-needed vitamin D. Where you may dream of sand-kissed toes and smooth, glowing skin, the reality may look a lot different. From fighting off sweat, sunburn and premature aging, it might be time to overhaul your winter skincare routine and get ready to take on the rays.
Like most things, the devil is in the detail when it comes to revitalizing your skincare routine. Whether you switch up your moisturizing habits or search for a lighter cleanser, there’s a lot you can do with a few simple tweaks.
Start off small
As soon as springtime hits, you start to shed your winter wardrobe quite quickly. Just like your heavy winter clothes, your summer skincare routine may need to be stripped back and made lighter to cope with warmer temperatures and higher humidity.
Rather than stick to your heavy cleanser, make a simple swap to a gentler, foaming one instead. Despite the wonderful hydration your moisturiser you have been using has, you may want to opt for a lightweight product during the summer weights. After all, the central heating is off, and your skin can start to breathe again.
It’s worth bearing in mind, that if you have cracked an optimal skincare routine, leaving your skin to adapt to the changing climate and seasons will allow you to see what’s working and what’s not. So, give your skin time.
Don’t neglect the sunscreen
A bugbear amongst many dermatologists and beauty experts is how so many people neglect sunscreen from their daily skincare routines. Come rain or shine, cloudy or cloudless days; the sun is always present. Therefore, skin ageing UVA rays can still attack your skin even when the sun doesn’t feel that hot.
Applying an SPF 30+ sunscreen daily will help keep the harmful rays at bay and keep your skin in optimal condition for longer. Don’t forget: Sunscreen isn’t just for summer! Make sure you continue to apply throughout the year.
The shade is your friend
We all know that feeling the summer sun on your skin is what dreams are made of, but when things are hotting up especially when the sun is at its hottest, it’s always best to seek out some shade.
Putting on your fave floppy hat, shades and light, breezy clothing will definitely make the hotter days more welcome and your skin will thank you too.
Moisturising counts as essential
Despite warmer, sunny skies and humidity, keeping up regular moisturising should still feature in your daily skincare routine. Not only does it establish a barrier against harmful pollutants – as part of the stratum corneum – but it helps to prevent further dryness and irritation, according to board-certified dermatologist Ariel Ostad.
To make things more simple, switching to a combination moisturiser and sunscreen throughout the summer will keep clogged pores at bay too. Look for a lightweight moisturiser with an SPF of 30 or higher to give you all the coverage you need.
What’s more, adopting a combination daily moisturiser will encourage acne-prone skin to stay clear of breakouts.
Embrace Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of those essential vitamins that not only does wonders for your immune system and body function, but it’s a bit of a miracle serum when it comes to keeping your skin fresh and healthy.
A mighty and powerful antioxidant, applying a vitamin C serum will help prevent hyperpigmentation and improve the appearance of fine lines. By just adding a few drops of serum between cleansing and moisturizing will also encourage collagen production. It may also surprise you that you can also use Vitamin C for acne scarring. Altogether it is a powerful ingredient well worth incorporating into your routine.
Give your lips some attention
Now that you’ve pulled out all the stops for your summer skincare routine, it’s worth giving your lips some attention too. Warmer weather brings dehydration, so dry, cracked lips are all part of the deal.
Applying a hydrating lip balm with an SPF15+ throughout the day will give your lips a boost. For extra umph, and fuller lips, there are a range of lip filler treatments available in London to give you all the pouting power you desire.
Don’t get carried away in the tub
Between beach days, working out and a whole other level of sweat that comes with the summer sun, you probably find yourself in the shower more than once a day during the summer. Feeling refreshed is all well and good, but spending too much time in the shower – especially in hot water – can irritate and dry out your skin. You may experience summertime eczema and bouts of inflammation as a result.
To combat dry skin try and cut down your showering time to less than five minutes, and keep to warm water as you go. When you’re done, apply your favourite lightweight body cream and you’re all set for your next summer adventure.
Combat prickly heat
With all that extra sweat getting trapped under your skin, the summer can bring a whole heap of unwanted itchy skin conditions. Whether you experience prickly heat (milaria) or what is sometimes called a “sun allergy” (PLE polymorphic light eruption), it could be that you are getting too much sun and heat on your skin more rapidly that your body can adapt to the change.
Rather than embracing the summer sun in all its glory, it’s recommended that you expose your skin to the sun gradually. If you find yourself sweating excessively, it’s time to whip out a cooling compress, cooler showers and your airy cotton-based summer wardrobe.
When heat rashes are persistent, and nothing you try seems to work, it may be worth chatting to your local pharmacist or doctor to see what mild hydrocortiscones can help.
Are you ready to embrace the summer sun? With a few simple tweaks your skincare routine can be more effective than ever.
