Summer. Time for refreshing fruit salads, swimming and water sports, long weekends, and shorter work days on Friday. Who doesn't love that?
Summer skincare tips
During summer we spend a lot more time outdoors. The warm temperatures, blazing sun, humid conditions, and salt- and chlorine-infused water can wear out your skin.
You might suffer from dry/irritated skin, sun allergies and burns, folliculitis, and acne breakouts.
KEEP YOUR GLOW ALL SUMMER
Follow these nine tips, and your skin will be glowing all season long.
1. Wear SPF
You've heard this before: wear SPF every time you're outdoors, even if there is cloud cover. Up to 80 percent of UV rays can pass through clouds.
Reapply sunscreen after swimming and excessive sweating. Apart from the face and neck, also apply to the ears, behind your knees, lips, and tops of the feet.
NOTE: Foundations and face powders with SPF aren't enough to protect your skin. Clothing won't protect you either.
Invest in an SPF 30 or higher.
2. More antioxidants
Antioxidants give you extra protection that SPF doesn't.
One of the best ways to infuse antioxidants into your skin is by using a concentrated serum with ingredients such as niacinamide, vitamins E and C, resveratrol, polyphenols, coenzyme Q10, green tea, flavonoids, and glutathione.
Retinol (vitamin A) is fantastic, but it's not recommended in the summertime as it increases sun sensitivity. It's more suited for fall and winter seasons.
3. Moisturize after swimming
Constant hydration of your skin is equally as important as drinking water. Any time you sweat, your skin loses its natural oils. Therefore it's essential to cleanse your skin and rehydrate.
4. Exfoliate
Chlorine, sun, and saltwater contribute significantly to flaky skin. Regular exfoliating your face and body will encourage revitalized skin.
Exfoliating also helps your skincare products work more efficiently because they penetrate the skin better instead of remaining on top of dead cells. A mildly abrasive scrub with an enzyme ingredient will dissolve all dead skin.
Remember: Never exfoliate sunburned or broken skin as you'll only cause further irritation. Avoid skin peels as well during the summer.
5. Water temperature
Ensure you wash your face and shower with lukewarm water to prevent irritating skin exposed to the sun.
6. Drink up!
We're referring to water, of course. You can quickly become dehydrated when spending time out in the sun, so you should have water with you at all times. Water helps your organs function properly, including the skin.
7. Mask once a week
Most people view masking as taking too much time, but these days there are various instant formulas. For instance, you could replace your night cream with a super-hydrating sleep mask one or two times a week. The mask applies like a moisturizer, so don't need to worry about getting the product on your pillowcase.
8. Ease up on your makeup
Sweaty, oily skin does not take makeup well, so lighten up your routine to prevent breakouts and clogged pores. Go for waterproof mascara, a tinted balm with SPF, and a tinted moisturizer with sun protection instead of a face of heavy makeup.
9. Fake it
You can still glow even if you've applied sunscreen from head-to-toe. Here comes the fake tan.
Professional airbrush tans give a perfectly even glow that lasts from seven to ten days. There are also loads of great over-the-counter formulas for easy tanning. Take your pick from creams, aerosol tanners, gels, or mousses. Remember, don't rush the application process and do it on exfoliated and shaven skin.
Don't neglect summer skincare!
The elements during summer can strain your skin. Adjust your regimen to support your skin's current needs, and you'll enjoy radiant skin for weeks.
Check out these simple DIY skin care recipes for glowing skin in the summer:
Cooling Cucumber Face Mist (for all skin types): Cucumber feels extremely soothing on the skin. For this face mist, grate one cucumber and strain the juice through a cheesecloth. Mix the juice with a tablespoon of rosewater, mint leaves and, a teaspoon of lemon juice in a spray bottle. Spritz it on your face throughout the day.
Soothing Cucumber and Mint Eye Mask: A refreshing eye mask can instantly take all the tiredness away from your delicate eye area. For this easy eye mask, blend a few mint leaves, extract the juice, and mix it with half a cup of cucumber juice. Add rosewater to it. Dip cotton pads in this mixture and place them on your eyes. If you want, you may place the soaked cotton pads in a ziplock bag and refrigerate it for 15 minutes before using it. You will love the cooling sensation of this eye mask.
Pore Tightening Egg White Face Mask: This is an easy homemade face mask. Mix a teaspoon of orange juice and a pinch of turmeric powder with one egg white. Apply this mask on your face. Let it dry for 15 minutes before washing it off.
Strawberry and Lemon Face Pack: If you love fruit face masks, you are going to love this one. Combine mashed strawberries with a tablespoon of yogurt, half a teaspoon of lemon juice, and honey. Apply this on your face as a face mask and wash it off after it dries. Make sure that you dilute the lemon juice before using it on your skin. Since lemon makes the skin photosensitive, use a sunscreen before you go out after using this face pack. Avoid lemon juice if you have sensitive skin.
The beautiful summer days are numbered. However, the rashes and patches that your skin develops during this period will stick around for a long time unless you take good care of your skin. These tips and recipes can help restore your skin’s natural balance and keep it well protected and glowing in the summer days and nights!.
With love,
The Sole Toscana Beauty Team
