Summer is just around the corner, and with every season, it can be hard on your skin. Here are 5 great summer skin care tips to keep you glowing year round.
Are you doing all you can to prevent skin damage this summer? The right summer skin care tips will save your skin from premature aging and general damage.
While sunblock is important, there’s more to protecting your skin than just slathering on a new coat.
Did you know that the sun causes nearly 90% of damage to the skin? This means, wrinkles, sagging, and general signs of aging (yuck!), says David Colbert, MD.
And don’t forget about skin cancer. Skin cancer affects more than 3.5 million Americans every year making it the most common form cancer in U.S. adults.
Let’s face it, the summer sun is no joking matter.
Here are five summer skin care tips to make sure your skin stays youthful and healthy all summer long.
1. Prepare Your Skin For Summer
The weather is changing and it's almost time for shorts, tank tops, and swimsuits. That means a lot of skin exposure.
So, like all successful changes in life, there needs to be some preparation.
Here's one of our pro summer skin care tips, it's called a "skin fast."
Basically, you stop using your cleanser, toner, moisturizers and makeup for one week.
It's not as crazy as it sounds.
This allows your skin to rejuvenate on its own and clear up from any winter damage.
Try it out, give your skin a break for a week.
When you're done with your "skin fast," try not to use anything "too heavy or creamy for summer," says L'Oreal Paris celebrity makeup artist Sir John.
Also, try adding a deep-cleansing mud mask to your skincare regimen twice weekly. The clay will draw out impurities and help to rid the skin of toxins.
2. Prevent The Sun From Doing Excess Damage
Unlike in winter when your skin is dry and brittle, the summer brings heat which brings oils and sweat. You're not going to need those winter beauty products any longer.
You'll want to start using products that let your skin breath and hydrate more easily. Ingredients like squalane and glycerin are good things to look for.
This is a good time to incorporate the best retinol serum you can find for daily rejuvenation and anti-aging benefits.
Exfoliating two to three times during the week with a light scrub is another one of our summer skin care tips. Highly recommended by experts, it should be your nightly routine.
Don't scrub too hard, but clearing the skin of the toxins will keep your skin healthy and youthful for years to come.
3. Protect Yourself From The Sun's Damaging Rays.
The sun is good. In fact, it's great!... But there is too much of a good thing.
The easiest way to protect yourself from the sun is to simply stay out of it.
Not too much fun, I know, but take this seriously for a moment. Standing in the shade or covering up when you can are your best defenses against sun damage.
Depending on where you live, most experts say to stay out of the sun from 10 am - 2 pm.
During that window, the sun's rays are directly overhead doing the most damage.
Anytime before or after that window will save your skin... literally.
Wear long, protective clothing when you can.
A light, loose shirt, and wide-brimmed hat will keep the rays off your skin. Even if it's a little hot, remember, you're doing your skin a huge favor.
Even when you're indoors or in a car, the sun's rays can still do their dirty work even when you think you're "safe."
Stay in the shade when you can, but if not, it's time for...
Sunscreen!
Staying out of the sun is your best protection from the sun, but sunscreen is your second best.
The summer skin care tips from The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone should use sunscreen that is:
- Water resistant
- Has an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 or higher
- Has broad-spectrum protection (blocks UVA and UVB rays)
The question then becomes: how much and how often?
Dermatologists recommend using about 1oz of sunscreen to cover the exposed areas of the body (that's about 1 shot glass full).
Also, apply the sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going out into the sun. Applying sunscreen after you're already in the sun is too little too late.
Re-apply sunscreen every two hours for best protection (or directly after swimming or sweating).
And let's not forget about your lips! Apply a lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Chapped lips are one thing, burnt lips are a nightmare!
4. Treat Your Skin Right After Exposure
If you've done your duty and properly protected yourself from the summer sun, it's now time to treat your skin right for maximum rejuvenation.
Drink lots of water to replenish your body inside and out. Juice is good, but coconut water is even better because it'll replace lost electrolytes.
Wash your face gently with a mild scrub to clear your skin of the summer dirt that may have built up over the sunscreen.
Try some yogurt or aloe vera gel to give your skin a comfortable "cool down" from the sun's impact (plus, it just feels really good!).
Start rebuilding your skin cells from the ground up with Swiss apple stem cell serum which will regrow skin cells and drastically reducing wrinkles.
5. Help With Sunburns
If you were naughty and stayed out in the sun too long, or didn't properly apply your sunscreen, you've probably now got a sunburn.
Depending on how severe your sunburn is will depend on the treatment.
For light sunburns, a cool bath and some moisturizer should do the trick (tip: leave a little water on your skin after your bath as you apply your moisturizer -- it'll trap the water).
Aspirin, ibuprofen and hydrocortisone cream will all help with the pain.
If you've got blisters, you've got a second-degree sunburn.
Let your skin heal on its own. Don't use any abrasive products, and simply stay out of the sun. Period.
If you're experiencing serious headaches, fever, or chills, seek immediate medical attention.
The bottom line
The summer sun doesn't have to be your enemy, but you need to be fully armed with these summer skin care tips so you can enjoy all that summer has to offer.
Keep in mind these simple guidelines:
- Prepare your skin before summer sun exposure.
- Take preventative measures to reduce sun damage.
- Protect yourself at all times when under direct sunlight.
- Treat your skin right after a long day out.
- Minimize the damage sunburns can do to your skin.
Goodbye winter, hello beach-time!