Yes, I know that title is a little cheesy, but it’s not wrong! Now that we are coming into the summer months, I wouldn’t be your favorite esthetician if I didn’t tell you the best 3 ways to take care of your skin this summer.
1. Always Wear SPF
Always. Everyday the sun comes out into the sky, sending a mix of visible and invisible rays to earth, some of the waves that can be harmful to us are known as UVA (aging rays) and UVB (burning rays). Too much of either and you can end up with a sunburn or prematurely aged skin with a risk of skin cancer.
An SPF of 30+ with reapplication when out in direct sunlight is the safest and best way to protect your bodies largest organ. And yes, to answer the most common question, sunlight does help our skin make Vitamin D, but it is important to not overdue your vitamin d supply while harming the other functions of the skin. Rain and clouds may sometimes help block A small percentage of UVB rays but it is still very important to wear spf to protect yourself from the rest getting through.
2. HYDRATE
This one’s tough for most people on a regular basis, and then imagine all of the extra hydration your body sweats out in the warmer environments?? It is recommended to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces a day, i.e. if you are 160, you should drink 80 oz.
Not enough water intake can result in dry, dehydrated skin with an impaired ability to protect from daily stressors. A good look at your water intake can help you determine your home care routine. If you tend to not get enough water, a routine that includes humectant ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, etc. will help prevent Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) and dehydration.
3. Remember About Antioxidants
Antioxidants are super good all year round but especially in the summers high UV exposure. They help to reduce inflammation, fight free radicals, and fortify the skins barrier aiding in collagen production. You can consume your antioxidants (green tea, blueberries, and strawberries) or use topically through skincare (vitamin c, vitamin e, niacinamide, etc).
The Perfect Summer Days Skincare Routine IMO
AM:
- Cleansing with a gentle creamy or gel cleanser. My go to summer favorites are Dermalogica’s Ultra Calming Cleanser and Clarity RX Cleanse Daily Vitamin Infused Cleanser.
- Antioxidants to support the skin in defending against daily stressors. Currently my two favorites are both Dermalogica, the Antioxidant Mist, and the Biolumin C Serum.
- Protection from the sun and high UV rays. Right now, I’m cycling between 3 different ones depending on my mood and skin concerns for the day. My normal go to for myself is Circadias Light Day SPF and occasionally Dermalogica’s Biolumin C Heat Aging Protector, and in the treatment room right now it’s Clarity RX Skin Defense.
PM:
- Cleansing Oil to remove sunscreen, makeup, and sweat from the day. For my dry skin days i go for Circadias Vitamin Veil and in the treatment room i go for Dermalogica’s Precleanse.
- Cleanser to clean the dirt and debris from the pores. This can be the same as your morning cleanser or I tend to reach for one with some actives in it to help with my specific skin concerns. I love both Clarity RX and Dermalogica’s Glycolic Cleanser.
- Hydrating Serum To restore hydration after a long day and prevent transepidermal water loss. I prefer to reach for a water based like hyaluronic acid in the summer for a lightweight hydration, or an oil based like squalane or vitamin e when I need something extra.
- Eye Cream because it’s never too early to start. I like a hydrating eye cream with some actives to keep the under eye bright and firm.
- Night Cream to do the work for you before bed. My go to is Circadias Nighttime Repair Retinol Cream because it has niacinamide and retinyl acetate. Retinyl Acetate is a Vitamin A Ester that is gentle enough this cream can be used daily, even for us with more sensitive skin.
Thank you for reading this far! Summer is meant to be a fun time do enjoy yourself so don’t stress out about what to do for your skin, just come and see me instead. Together we can build the perfect routine that fills in the gaps of your day to day life. More coming soon. 🙂
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