When the days get longer, and the sun finally comes out, we know it’s time for our new summer skincare routine. Just like we do a seasonal wardrobe change, in summer we need to adjust our skincare to protect our us from UV rays, heat, sweat and pollution. Here are some of our top tips to hydrated and glowy skin:
Cleanse, cleanse and cleanse
It is okay to wash your face with some lukewarm water in the morning. But in the evening, it is crucial to cleanse your skin well to get rid of makeup, suncream, sweat and dirt. The best way to wash your face thoroughly is to double cleansing. An oil cleanser like the Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser from CeraVe melts away your SPF and makeup and removes oils and dirt on your skin while keeping it soft. Therefore, your second cleanser can clean much deeper into the pores. You can use a cleanser with ingredients that will benefit your skin, for example, the Salicylic Acid Cleanser from The Inkey List.
If you don’t feel like double cleansing, you can use micellar water instead of your oil cleanser. CeraVe Micellar Cleansing Water with Niacinamide & Ceramides gently removes makeup, dirt, and pollution. At the same time, it also supports and strengthens the skin barrier.
Don’t over-exfoliate
Chemical exfoliators are great for removing dead skin cells and achieving glowing and bright skin. However, in summer, it is important not to over-exfoliate. AHAs and BHAs remove some of the skin’s UV protection and make our skin more sensitive to the sun. As long as you apply the right amount of your SPF daily and avoid spending a long time in the sun, you can still enjoy the benefits of chemical exfoliators. Only use them once or twice a week in the evening. The Fenty Skin Pre-Show Glow Instant Retexturizing 10% AHA Treatment is the perfect exfoliate to smooth and refine your pores.
Glow
Another way of gently exfoliating your face is by using a toner, for example the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner. It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin. At the same time, active ingredients gently exfoliate your face, leaving you with smooth and radiant skin.
Cool down with face mists
Face mists are not necessary, but they are an excellent way to cool yourself down on a hot summer’s day. But you can also spritz your face mist on your skin after cleansing to hydrate your face even more and improve the absorption of moisture. We love the Fresh Rose Instant Hydration Mist, which locks in moisture and leaves a glowy finish while also soothing your skin.
SPF is a necessity
Sun exposure damages the skin, even if you don’t get burned. Therefore, it is vital to protect our skin with sun creams. The benefits of using sun cream daily are reducing the risk of skin cancer, reducing signs of ageing, and brightening the skin. Sun creams are only effective if correctly applied. To achieve the SPF on the bottle you must use two milligrams of sun cream per square centimetre of skin. That means you need half a tablespoon of sun cream for the face and neck, and 1 teaspoon for each leg, arm, and back. Also, your sun cream should be reapplied every two hours if you are exposed to the sun. South Korean sun creams like Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream SPF 50 are very lightweight and don’t leave a white cast on your face. If you are looking for a more affordable option, you can try the Garnier Face fluid SPF50+.
Hydration is key
During summer we can lose moisture in our skin through sweat, sun exposure and temperature changes. Applying the Fresh Face Masks once or twice a week will restore lost moisture in your skin and leave your skin nourished and soothed. If face masks are not your thing, you can use the Garnier’s super hydrating Moisture Bomb Sheet Masks instead.
Luscious lips
Dry and crusty lips are not trendy anymore. This summer is all about glow and hydration. Our poor lips are often forgotten when it comes to skincare. But the summer’s heat can damage and dry out the thin skin on our lips. If you want to save your lips this year you can use an overnight lip mask like the Sugar Recovery Lip Mask Advanced Therapy which repairs and hydrates your dry lips overnight. During the day you can moisturise and protect your lips with the Bondi Sands SPF50+ Strawberry Lip balm.
Goodbye tired eyes
Our under-eye area is the first to show signs of ageing. Even though laughing and smiling are healthy, we don’t necessarily want wrinkles. Therefore, try to hydrate and look after your under-eye area as good as possible. You can brighten and reduce the appearance of fine lines with the Drunk Elephant Multivitamin Eye Cream. It contains cucumber and peptides, which will cool and soothe your skin and promote firmer-looking skin. Suppose you need a quick 5-minute SOS treatment. In that case you can count on the Patchology Flashpatch Illuminating Eye Gels which target dark under- eye circles and hydrate your dry skin.
Words by Maxi Pfeifer
Photo Credits: Gossip Girl
