You need to tweak your skincare routine this summer - here's how!
We know - it’s tempting to skip our usual skincare routine when it's so hot and sticky in the summer. However, whatever the weather is, it's important to stick to a good routine in order to get rid of skin issues or maintain healthy skin. Here are a few tips on how to tweak your current skincare regimen this summer!
Keep your skin moisturized
Moisturizers are probably the last thing you’d want to slap on your face in this heat. But before you skip this section of the article, hear us out.
Aside from the natural oils on our skin, it also has natural moisturizing factors (NMFs). These NMFs, as the name suggests, are our skin’s natural way to moisturize itself. When our skin is exposed to the sun, these NMFs are reduced, making moisturizers a non-negotiable in our summer skincare kits.
Fortunately, many beauty oils mimic the NMFs in our skin, like Jojoba, Coconut and Sweet Almond Oil. But if you’re like me who find oils too heavy, gel moisturizers are great alternatives to restore lost moisture. Some of the best are Gel De Lamer, Estee Lauder Nutritious Gel Emulsion, and Origins Make A Difference Plus Rejuvenating Treatment. For cheaper alternatives, there’s Ponds Dewy Rose Gel, Etude House AC Clinic Daily Gel Lotion, and SebaMed Clear Face Gel to name a few.
Use SPF products AND apply enough of it
Using SPF products is default summer skin care advice, but we might not be using enough of it to get the SPF rating on the label. The sufficient amount is roughly about a shot glass quantity applied PER LIMB. On the face, it should be around one-fourth to a third of a teaspoon. If you haven’t tried using this much sunscreen yet, it’s a LOT of product. It can feel oily if you have oily skin and use cream SPF.
Instead, opt for a watery sunscreen with a high SPF rating, at least SPF50 PA+++. We highly recommend the Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence for the face and the Sunplay Watery Sunblock for the body. Gel and watery sunscreens have a thinner, more comfortable consistency so that you can load up without feeling sticky.
Image via beautywithcharm.com
Use an after-sun care product with vitamin E
Last year, we read a study that UV rays absorbed by our skin continue to do DNA damage even a few hours after sun exposure. The study opened up a demand for companies to create an “evening after sunscreen” that can stop this process. To this day, this type of product is not available in the market yet but early experiments show that vitamin E can stop the damage.
Thankfully, vitamin E products aren’t too hard to find. We recommend The Body Shop's Vitamin E line. Nivea also makes an After-Sun Spray with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E.
Wear your sunnies
Invest in a pair of good quality sunglasses with UV protection. Make sure that the lenses are dark enough. To check, look in the mirror while wearing the sunglasses. You shouldn’t be able to see your eyes!
Keep yourself hydrated
Heat and sun exposure causes us to lose more water than we realize. Dehydration causes dry and dull skin that lacks that “summer glow”, so find a way to remember to keep drinking water. You can either download a reminder app on your phone or leave a big transparent tumbler on your desk so you can see how much water you have left to drink. Cold juices are also great for keeping you cool and refreshed when it gets unbearably hot, but it's best to opt for fresh fruits without the additional sugar.
Tip: Drink twice as much water if you’re a tea or coffee drinker. These drinks are diuretics, meaning, they cause us to lose water, too.
That’s it, guys! If there’s anything you do differently in your skincare routines during summer, feel free to share in the comments section! We love reading about your beauty routines.
Sources: practicaldermatology.com,paulaschoice.com, news.yale.edu,time.com,
