Summer Skin Care Tips to Apply in 2019

Summer season can be a challenging time of year for your skin. The sunshine and heat can be unforgiving, especially for your skin. Pollution and environmental contaminants can steal your skin’s natural glow and radiance. This can leave your skin oily, dull or even worse, blemished. Understanding the key steps to take to avoid the drastic skin changes that come with the summer season is the first step to maintaining your radiant and healthy skin.

So How Does Summer Impact Your Skin?

For starters, summer comes with increased temperatures, heat, and humidity. This results in increased activity within the sebaceous glands. This can make oily skin appear oilier and dry skin to look rough and patchy. The sun’s rays become intense during this time as well. This increases melanin pigmentation and results in tanned skin. While a lot of us may already know about melanin effects on darkening skin, few know about sunburn and its aging and cancer effects. Excess heat also forces pores to open up. Open pores are exposed to dirt, oil, and bacteria that can cause acne, pimples and or blemishes.

What to do?

Before you start thinking that summer is all doom and gloom for your skin, there is a lot you can do to be safe. This routine is a perfect place to start;

Consider a Change of Face Wash

Changing seasons can also mean changing your face wash. The winter to summer transition means changes in weather which impact your skin. As such, your face wash has to change with the season. During winter, a simple, well-done face wash gets the work done. In summer, you have to do things a bit differently. You will require a face wash that draws out excess oil from your skin. For dry skin, make sure to use a non-foam cleanser. This also applies to people with combination skin. Finally, make sure to clean your face enough times during the day to maintain a clean and refreshed skin.

Hydrate Your Skin at All Times

Summer is a time that makes your skin need extra moisture and hydration. I always recommend you invest in a quality hydrating mask. A good mask can be used at least a couple of times within the week. Before applying a mask, make sure to wash your face first. Next, apply the mask and let it work its magic overnight. A mask repairs rehydrate and soothes the skin and help treat some unwanted skin conditions like dryness, excess oil and acne. The right mask will help you take care of stress, fatigue, and blemishes from your skin.

Cut Down on the Makeup

The Summer season demands that you cut down on the makeup. Refrain from wearing too many layers of makeup and instead keep it simple for the good of your skin. Minimal makeup allows your skin to breathe more easily. Increased heat and humidity suppress the skin’s ability to breathe comfortably, therefore stressing it out. Avoiding heavy makeup in place of a smooth moisturizer allows your skin to get some rest during the hot season.

Exfoliate Regularly for Smoother Skin

Exfoliation is an important part of your skin care routine during summer. Exfoliating helps remove dull skin debris and stagnant dead cells. All this skin debris and piled up dirt stops the skin from breathing properly. Exfoliate carefully with the right cleanser and get the results you deserve. More importantly, remember to exfoliate the whole body and not just the face.

As far as exfoliation goes, make sure you neither overdo or under-do it. Over-exfoliating will end up bruising your skin while under exfoliating will leave dead cells on the skin. A mild exfoliator is the best option for many people with tender skin.

Include an Antioxidant in Your Facial Skin Care Routine

It’s always a good idea to invest in an antioxidant serum. An antioxidant serum not only hydrates your skin, but it also protects it from environmental factors. Additionally, it helps boost collagen production in the body and helps eliminate harmful free radicals to help prevent skin damage. Apart from cosmetic products, another easy way to incorporate an antioxidant in your skin is by adding it to your diet too. Stock your meals with green and leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, green tea, whole grain and nuts for younger looking skin.

Wear Sunscreen 24hrs

Sunscreen should be your number one friend during the summer. Make sure to choose a sunscreen product with a broad ultraviolet spectrum. (SPF of 30 or higher). That’s not all, you should reapply sunscreen after every three hours whether you spend the whole day outdoors or not. Don’t miss a spot! Apply sunscreen on your hands, feet, shoulders, and neck thoroughly.

Apply Toner

Using the right toner helps close open pores on your skin. This stops excess oil and dirt from piling up and causing blemishes. The t-zone on the face is one of the places with a large concentration of sebaceous glands and tends to look the slickest during summer. Keep a close ‘eye’ on this zone when applying your toner.

Drink More Water

Water is the most vital ingredient for healthy skin. Water helps keeps your skin soft, supple and radiant. Make sure you carry enough around and drink on average 2-3 liters a day. Water also helps the skin and body flush out unwanted toxins through sweat and urine.

Take Special Care of Your Under Eye Skin

Consider the sensitive under-eye skin area when choosing your next toner or moisturizer for your face. Remember your under the eye skin is much thinner and more delicate compared to the rest of the face.

The under eye skin is thinner and more delicate compared to the rest of the face. As such, pick the right under eye gel with the right ingredients like hyaluronic acid, cucumber or just honey. These help keep the skin around the eyes hydrated and stop wrinkles from forming.

Upgrade Your Moisturizer

You have to do away with shea butter laden moisturizers and heavy cold creams. Instead, opt for a lighter moisturizer. This does not mean that your skin does not require moisturizing in the hot season. Skin maintenance during this time works best with a lighter and grease free conditioner to suit the weather.

Treat Your Feet Too

We pay too much attention to the face because it is what people see first. Unfortunately, we fail to give our feet the care they deserve. Your feet ferry you around all day and need protection as well. Make sure to exfoliate the skin on your feet well enough. A moisturizer or sunscreen should do a great job here especially if you are planning to wear open footwear.

Conclusion

Apply sunscreen and carry a cooling mist when you go out. Use it to keep your skin cool and hydrated throughout the day. Take cold showers too to prevent itching and drying of the skin.

When summer hits, the right skin care regimen will help you see out the season with your beautiful skin intact.