Longer days and warmer weather help define the summer season. You can't wait to grab your bathing suit, get out in the sunshine and put the dreary, cold winter behind you. Wait, slow down for a moment. You're ready to go, but is your skin ready?
It's June, but your complexion may still be stuck in January. The harshness of the colder months can wreak havoc on the skin due to low humidity, dry air, biting winds, indoor heating and even hot showers. It's time to prep your complexion with a simple summer beauty routine.
1. Never, Ever Skip SPF Protection at Any Age
Everyone's skin is vulnerable to the powerful sun's UVA and UVB rays, especially during summer. The sun's angles vary with the seasons; the UV or ultraviolet rays are most intense during the hot summer months. Dermatologists recommend applying a high-quality mineral sunscreen in your everyday beauty routine.
For instance, a mineral sunscreen with SPF-30 delivers excellent everyday skin protection. A lightweight mineral sunscreen formula glides smoothly across the skin and leaves a healthy, sheer tint. Its nourishing ingredients protect the moisture barrier and help fight the visible signs of aging.
The lips are sensitive and also need protection against the strong rays of the sun because they lack oil glands. There's nothing worse than dry, cracked lips during the summer. Protect your lips with moisturizing lip treatments that feature SPF protection and soothing ingredients such as avocado oil, marine collagen and peptides.
2. Replace Moisturizers With Lighter Formulas
Your skin is unique and has different needs throughout the seasons depending where you reside. Generally speaking, the elements can rob the complexion of moisture, especially during cold winter weather, and a heavier base can help the skin counteract dryness, flakiness and itchiness. A thick moisturizer can help fortify the skin's moisture barrier to prevent water loss. In other words, it keeps the hydration inside the skin.
During spring into summer, make the switch to a lighter moisturizing formula to revitalize the lipid shield after the long winter season. Dermatologists recommend replacing your moisturizers with lighter formulas. One of the best skincare weapons for maintaining a gorgeous complexion is hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is perfect for getting your skin summer-ready because it gives a lightweight feeling to the complexion and is absorbed quickly without residue. As a humectant, hyaluronic acid attracts and retains moisture. That allows it to leave the skin looking dewy and plumper. HA leaves your skin feeling refreshed instead of oily. Recent studies show that a hyaluronic acid cream or serum is a game-changer for more beautiful skin.
3. Exfoliate to Start the Summer Glow Up
Regular exfoliation and radiant skin go hand-in-hand, but it's even more important to perform this step during the spring months to take you into summer. This skincare process can help dissolve and remove the dead skin cell layers that have accumulated over the winter months.
Exfoliation can be achieved physically via a granular substance or chemically with acids or enzymes. Exfoliation formulas can be found in cleansers, clarifying pads, tonics, masques and more. Manual exfoliation tools often include scrubbers, cloths and sponges.
Exfoliation can deliver a brighter, fresher, more balanced complexion and smoother skin texture. It's not just for the face, either. Dry brushing is another form of exfoliation for the body, and just in time before summer. Skincare experts recommend using a coarse, natural fiber brush to stimulate blood flow and gently remove dry, flaky skin. This is a wonderful pre-shower ritual that results in buffed and glowing skin, and it feels fabulous.
4. Build Up Collagen and Brighten With Vitamin C
A topical vitamin C serum is another exceptional product to prep your skin for summer. This incredible antioxidant has the backing of science. A high-quality vitamin C serum can result in several skincare benefits, including preventing sun damage, slowing down the skin aging process and improving the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles. A topical vitamin C serum can also smooth the complexion, help reduce inflammation and speed up the process of healing acne.
Dermatologists recommend applying your vitamin C serum during your morning skincare routine. A reliable vitamin C serum can help brighten and revitalize your complexion following the long winter months and keep it supple and protected during the summertime. It's essential to use a serum that maintains its stability and potency because the base form of vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid, degrades rapidly. For example, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is a type of vitamin C that does not degrade quickly, and it's particularly gentle on skin. Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and THD ascorbate are two other stable forms of vitamin C you might want to look for in your serum.
5. The Perfect Time to Let Your Skin Breathe
Many people admire glowing skin, and during summer, you can show off your radiant complexion by paring down your regular makeup routine. Wearing fewer cosmetics allows your skin to breathe. You don't need a heavy layer of foundation when the spring into summer temperatures start heating up. Less is more, and your pores will thank you later. High humidity levels can increase sebum, clog pores and make the skin feel clammy.
You can also apply self-tanning face drops mixed with a light, quick-absorbing moisturizer for a sun-kissed look. Try face drops in an alcohol-free formula. Fewer cosmetics can feel more comfortable on a super steamy summer day.
A long list of celebrities have also embraced another option, the makeup-free trend. Some have posted bare-faced selfies online and showed up at red-carpet events makeup-free. Stars say they feel liberated and like having their inner beauty shine through. A clear, radiant complexion is appealing at every age, with or without cosmetics.
Are You Ready for Summer?
Winter is in the rearview mirror now, and it's time to get your glow-on going! You don't need a bucket of products for more beautiful skin. Keep it simple and follow the five tips outlined above; they'll work for people of all ages and skin types.
