While a good skin-care routine will benefit you all year, these are the things you should keep in mind as the weather warms up.
Dermatologists spend their summers in the same sun as the rest of us, but their skin remains clear and radiant throughout the season. Sure, it’s part of the job, but even pros have to work a little harder during the summer months to avoid breakouts and limit UV damage. Warm weather brings with it a plethora of skin-care issues and worries, such as “Do I really need to moisturize if it’s 100 degrees outside and my face feels oily?” (Spoiler alert: the answer is yes.) Fortunately, the pros know just how to take on summer head-on.
SPF , SPF, SPF !
It’s the most vital, basic, don’t-leave-home-without-it piece of advice: Apply sunscreen to your skin. All exposed skin should be protected with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater, according to our specialists. Hands, feet, ears, and lips should all be considered. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 55, winner of the Allure Readers’ Pick Award, is a wonderful choice for all of the above.
Make sunscreen the last step in your skin-care routine, even though it’s our first recommendation on this list. “It’s also crucial to remember that sunscreen needs to be reapplied every couple of hours,” Ibrahim adds, “so bring extra sunscreen for long summer days outdoors.” Half a teaspoon for your face and neck, and a full teaspoon for each leg.
Remember to exfoliate as well.
Dermatologists often warn us not to over-exfoliate, yet summer is the perfect time to do just that. We recommend adding “additional exfoliation” to your skin-care routine if you have oily skin. That doesn’t mean you should exfoliate every day with all of your favourite acids, but gradually increase the number of days you exfoliate every week.
To “open up blocked pores and eliminate oils that cause acne,” we recommend alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) pads. Furthermore, they are pleasant and relaxing to stressed-out summer skin. L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Peel Pads, which contain 10% glycolic acid, are one cheap choice. Remember that AHAs might make skin more photosensitive, necessitating the use of sunscreen.
Reduce the amount of time you spend in the tub.
Many of us shower more than once a day throughout the summer, thanks to exercises, beach days, and plain old summer perspiration. Showers should be kept to a minimum of four to five minutes. “Over-showering, or showering with excessively hot water, can dry up your skin, causing inflammation and even eczema in the summer.”
Make certain your cosmetics are noncomedogenic.
Examine the labels of your makeup products and keep only those that are noncomedogenic. This is a fancy term for a product that doesn’t contain pore-clogging chemicals. “Wear makeup that won’t obstruct your skin,” we advise, especially in the heat.
Hope you got our point!
