8 Essential Summer Skin Care Dos and Don’ts
Fact Checked By Skin Formulations
| Aug 6, 2021
Introduction
Hooray for summer. It’s finally here again!
While you conduct your days in summer clothing and enjoy the longer days that blend into hazy evenings, you need to be paying careful attention to your skincare routine and amend it according to the new hotter weather.
It is essential to amend your skincare routine with the seasons to ensure that you are taking the proper care and actions with your skin as it changes, as we do, throughout the changing climates. Summer is the most critical season to get your skincare spot on!
So what should you be doing with your skin to make it suitable for the summer days and nights? And how do you make sure that you are doing the right things your summer skin will love you for?
Let’s have a look at some essential Dos and Don’ts for summer skin.
1. Sunscreen!
Whether you can physically see the sun or not, using sunscreen daily is one of the best skincare habits you can make. Sunscreen can either absorb the sun’s rays or block them altogether. The sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays are among the biggest causes of premature aging and melanomas, so it’s crucial.
Be sure to choose the best sunscreen that fits your budget with the highest SPF rating you can find, but it should be at least a factor of 30.
2. Get Lighter!
We all associate the summer months with our skin getting more color. Still, we should be doing the opposite without moisturizers and switching to lighter formulations.
Heavy cream moisturizers will not be ideal in the hot summer months. Lighter fluids to moisturize the skin can and should be applied liberally and more than once a day if needed to keep the skin hydrated in the heat.
Water-based moisturizers are the best for the summer, and those that contain hyaluronic acid will be the very best for summer skin hydration. The lighter fluids will also be absorbed by your skin a lot easier!
3. Hair Removal!
Hair removal is often thought of as the most necessary but most painful element of summer! There are many ways to remove any unwanted body hair. Still, not all of these may be suitable for summer skin that is more sensitive and exposed due to the heat.
A top consideration for removing hair is using a method that causes the least irritation, so shaving and waxing are probably already out of the game! However, when you are planning to summer, a course of electrolysis may be suitable as this reduces the regrowth rate.
If you absolutely must shave in between beach days, make sure you use a wet shave method and plenty of shave gel to assist the razor’s glide over the skin, which can drastically reduce irritation.
4. Switch Your Base!
While you may be well versed in the ritual of the flawless face, summer is the time to drop the foundation and pick up the oil-free tinted moisturizer! They are the savior for skin that needs a little coverage, but a whole lot of hydration, and they allow your skin to breathe properly on the hot summer days.
The coverage of a tinted moisturizer can vary greatly, so be sure to get one that matches your natural skin tone and gives you the best hydration benefits.
5. Stay Hydrated!
Speaking of hydration, drinking plenty of clear fluids is essential in the summer months. At a base recommendation, it is said that 2 liters of water a day is optimum, but in the summer, you need to be at least doubling this to counteract the heat!
Not only will water keep you cool and allow your body to function correctly, but it will also help to plump up your skin from within, making it look fresher and fuller.
If you struggle with water, adding a small dash of sugar-free cordial, frozen berries, and ice or even fresh pineapple into the water can make drinking water a bit better on those sweet-tooths!
6. Avoid Mermaid Skin!
Long hot summers often mean hours of being in and out of a pool or the ocean, which is heavenly! But, you need to pay particular attention to your all-over skin hydration when you are in the water for prolonged periods, as well as how a chlorinated pool or the salty ocean can dehydrate your skin. The ocean is full of natural salts and minerals, but this can actually have a dehydrative effect on your precious skin, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water every hour and applying a light spray moisturizer all over, in between dips!
Chlorinated pools can strip the essential oils from the outer skin layers, making it look dry and sometimes scaly, so be sure to repeat this above process as much as is needed!
7. Summer Lip Care!
The lips are often the most forgotten part of the body when it comes to summer! The skin is susceptible to sunburn, leaving them sore, dry, and cracked.
The best way to avoid a lip issue this summer is to choose a hydrating lip balm with SPF. They aren’t expensive, and they give you sun protection, as well as making your lips look glossy and feel hydrated. You can even choose one with a tint for that extra dressed-to-impress look!
If you happen to get parched lips, the best thing to intensely moisturize and repair them is an overnight lip mask.
8. Summer Food!
In summer, there is no better way to indulge guilt-free in the best foods than in summer!
Summer gives us an abundance of all of the ripest fruits and vegetables that have crucial vitamins A, C, and E, which are so good for feeding your skin from within!
Top 5 Skin Friendly Summer Foods:
- Avocado – full of skin-friendly oils!
- Citrus fruits – packed with Vitamin C
- Fresh oily fish such as salmon and mackerel- fab for the essential B Vitamins and oils
- Leafy Greens such as spinach and kale – great for adding to your Vitamin A
- Red and Yellow Peppers – full of Vitamins A & C
Conclusion
Summer is the most fantastic time of the year to relax in gorgeous weather, making those important memories!
We know that skincare is essential all year round. Still, summertime holds some special considerations to the actions we can take with our skin to make sure it is in the best condition possible over the hottest season of the year.
Sunscreen and hydration are essential, and if you achieve nothing else on this guide, at least make a promise to yourself to make daily sunscreen and plenty of water a habit!
With mother nature’s abundance in the summer months, it’s easy to achieve eating the best foods to keep your skin looking amazing from within.
Enjoy the sunshine and stay safe this summer!
