10 Steps for Summer-Ready Skin
Summer is here! But so is that hot, sticky weather. Heat and humidity, increased sweating, and extended exposure to chlorine and harmful UV rays are all causes of summer skin troubles. Don’t let summer get the best of your skin. Change up your routine to help combat the new challenges facing your skin. Warm weather brings a whole slew of skin-care challenges and questions like, “Do I really have to moisturize even if it’s 100 degrees out and my face feels oily?” (Spoiler alert: Yes.) Now let’s talk about the secrets to flawless summer-ready skin…
- Get Your Mask Game On!
Face masks are always a great skincare option when dealing with troubled skin. It is good to only use a face mask once a week or less, and during the summer they can be great for unwanted blackheads and acne. The summer weather brings along excess oil and you might find it tough to keep your skin balanced. The key for summer-ready skin is to start with a simple hydrating face mask, so you’ll keep your skin moisturized and maintain cool, hydrated skin.
- Ramp Up Your Exfoliating
Summertime is prime time for exfoliating. If you suffer from oily skin, especially during the summer months, exfoliating should become your new best friend. That doesn’t mean a daily dose of all your favorite acids, but try slowly increasing the number of days you exfoliate per week. Plus, exfoliating feels nice and soothing on stressed-out summer skin.
- Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen.
The. Most. Important. Step! SUNSCREEN. Even if you’re not spending a lot of time in the sun, sunscreen is a must for flawless summer-ready skin. Try to find a foundation that contains sunscreen if you have a hard time remembering to apply. Also, when shopping for sunscreen, finding a sunscreen specially formulated for your face will be less oily and absorb better into your skin. Remember, we all want youthful, radiant, and healthy-looking skin. But overexposure to sunlight can increase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In other words, using sunscreen can help protect against the harmful effects of premature aging or skin aging.
- Use Matte Foundation
Many of us choose to skip foundation or pretty much swear off all summer makeup in order to avoid looking like a melting contour palette in the heat. We get that. But let’s be honest: We don’t always have the best skin days, and sometimes a little foundation can save everything. Seriously, the last thing you need when you’re trying to beat the heat outdoors is hot-mess summer makeup. Find yourself a great lightweight and oil-free matte foundation for summer to keep your makeup looking on-point even on summers hottest days!
- Switch Up Your Moisturizer
Note: That extra layer of sweat on your face does not count as a moisturizer. If you live in a humid climate or the heat is making your skin sweat, that does not mean it’s okay to skip the moisturizer. Even if your skin already feels oily, you should always follow cleansing with a moisturizer. Moisturizers reestablish the stratum corneum, your outermost layer of the skin, which protects from harmful pollutants and chemicals and prevents further irritation or dryness. Find a good, lightweight moisturizer for summer. A lightweight texture will help keep that outer layer nourished without feeling too heavy on your skin. Try MintPear’s Vitamin Rich Daily Moisturizer.
- Focus On Your Eyes
The skin around your eyes is often overlooked in a summer skincare routine. Heat and seasonal elements can be particularly harsh on the fragile skin around the eyes. It is a great time to add a great high-quality eye cream to your daily beauty regimen.
- Control The Excess Oil
Controlling excess oil in summer comes down to more than just one factor. Be sure not to overwash your face, as this can actually cause your face to create more oil because overwashing dries out your skin. Also, keep some handy blotting papers on hand for when you’re out and about and notice your skin to be oily. They can be super convenient when spending the day outside and won’t ruin your makeup!
- Don’t Forget Your Lips!
One simple lip care tip to keep your lips soft in summer is to drink water. As the summer sun gets hotter, your lips need extra water. Also, find a nice chapstick that has sunscreen in it to protect your lips. Often when applying sunscreen I don’t even think about my lips until it’s too late and they are burned and dry. A sunscreen chapstick is a great way to keep them moisturized and protected from those summer rays.
- Cool Off With A Face Mist
On hot summer days, keeping cool and staying hydrated is easier said than done (especially if you’re spending a ton of time out in the sun). Face mists can easily be thrown in your bag and sprayed on your face whenever you need a refresh from the heat. Not only do they deliver an instant dose of hydration to your skin, but they boast major complexion benefits, too. They are the true secret for cooling down on a hot summer day.
- Treat Those Dark Spots
There are many different skincare concerns you may deal with as you get older—and dark spots are one of them. But what exactly causes these spots to show up on your complexion? According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the main cause of dark spots is sun damage. This is one reason why wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher (and taking other sun protection measures) is important year-round – especially in the summer. If you have dark spots, consider adding a dark spot corrector serum formulated to address this concern to your skincare routine.
Summer-ready skin is right around the corner if you follow my easy steps. Want to know more about how keep my skin looking radiant in the summer? Check out my summer skincare roundup.
