Yayy summer is almost here! Hello, sunshine. Now, you can sashay in all those light, colorful and alluring clothes and bask in the warmth of summer.
But there is one little problem – the soaring temperature with its attendant heat and dehydration, the exposure to the sun, and its effects on your beautiful skin. Oh, and not forgetting that oil and grime will easily clog your pores. Talk about roses and thorns.
To smoothly navigate through summer, you need to be well-prepared. There are certain measures you can take to keep your skin glowing and some must-have skin essentials to help protect your skin.
A lot of people do not understand that seasonal changes should come with corresponding changes in the skincare routine. Yes, your skincare routine and the products you use during winter should be different from the ones for summer.
To help you take better care of your skin during summer, we have compiled 6 essential beauty products you must have in your skincare arsenal this season. This will further be enhanced with the tips on how to protect your skin during summer.
Let’s look at the 6 skin care essentials for summer
1. Cleansers
Naturally, cleansing the skin is vital to optimal skin health, but it becomes more important during summer.
Lots of dust and dirt fly around this season, plus sweating. These could result in acne and other skin conditions because they clog your pores. This means that you need to cleanse your skin twice daily using suitable skincare products.
This is where mild cleansers for your summer beauty care regimen come into play. More importantly, look for cleansers that can remove oil, especially if you have oily skin.
Deep-clean the skin, at least every night. This practice will keep your skin clean and radiant.
2. Moisturizers
Your skin needs hydration during summer more than any other time, otherwise, you may crack your skin. Invest in quality moisturizers that have a mattifying effect on the skin.
You are better off with moisturizers containing glycolic and hyaluronic acids, as well as vitamin C.
Moisturizers for summer should be light and non-sticky, preferably in gel form.
It should also be easy to absorb into the skin. The Aloe vera plant is a good choice if you want a natural moisturizer.
Your choice of skincare products should be determined by your skin type, to a large extent.
If you have dry skin, you are better off with moisturizers containing omega-3 fatty acids, urea, glycerin, sodium lactate, or other humectants. Other skin types can use light moisturizers in lotion form.
You can also add hydrating mists like rose water, for good measure, especially if you are in a haste.
3. Antioxidants
Wondering why you would need to add an antioxidant to your summer skin essentials? For starters, antioxidants help shield the skin from the free radicals that can hurt it when it is exposed to external pollutants, ultraviolet rays, and other harmful chemicals.
When antioxidants protect your skin, your skin will look smoother as the antioxidants will reduce the spots, wrinkles, and any other aging signs on the skin.
Obviously, antioxidants will work perfectly with your SPF during summer to protect and pamper your skin.
You can find antioxidants in Vitamins A, B3, C, and E.
4. Exfoliators
Exfoliators become more necessary as one gets older. The body’s ability to shed old and dead skin cells decreases with age. That is why you need exfoliators to help remove these dead skin cells. Without exfoliation, your skin will begin to look dull, dry, and blotchy.
There are chemical and organic exfoliators but we will advise you to go organic. Some natural exfoliators include oats, clay, baking soda, milk, apples/apple cider vinegar, coffee, flaxseeds, etc.
Look for skincare products containing these natural elements or alternatively, prepare them at home. You can mix them with honey and essential oils.
5. Serum
You should add serum to your summer skincare essentials. A good serum will help to keep the pH of your skin balanced, leaving your skin in the perfect tone. Serums also work well with moisturizers, helping them to get properly absorbed into the skin for optimal results.
6. SPF
Thought we forgot the SPF? No way.
Do you wear your SPF all year round as recommended? Well, even if you don’t, you cannot skip it during summer.
In fact, SPF must be part of your summer skincare essential. Long exposure to ultraviolet rays can have many adverse effects on the skin, including wrinkles and skin cancer.
Sunscreen will help your skin to retain moisture and protect it against the harmful rays of the sun.
When choosing a sunscreen, choose the one that is mousse or gel-based. Your choice will also depend on how frequent you are exposed to the sun. The more time you spend under the sun, the higher the SPF you should use.
Tips on how to protect your skin during summer
Apart from using the products we have discussed so far, there are other things you can do to protect your skin during summer.
– Wear the right clothing. This is a no brainer, wear light clothes during summer to help your skin breathe
– Wear suitable sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection to help protect your eyes and the surrounding skin
– Adorn wide-brimmed hats to protect your face and neck
– Avoid the sun as much as you can, especially when it is at its peak
– Choose to live healthily. Avoid smoking as it damages your skin, eat a healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and drink lots of water
– Avoid bathing with hot water as this will reduce the amount of essential oils in your body.
Summary
Your skin is like a mirror to your body. A luscious, radiant skin instantly communicates a healthy and attractive body. This is still possible to achieve during summer. You only need to use these skin essentials and follow the healthy tips to ensure an all-season glowing and healthy skin.
