What’s not to love about summer? The weather warms up, which means you’re not cooped up indoors all of the time. There are summer vacations, trips to the beach, family picnics, and outdoor concerts, whoa, lots of fun stuff outdoors in the sun! While the summer has plenty of good to offer, there’s also a major downside. The summer weather can wreak havoc on our skin.
High humidity frequently causes breakouts, and thats not only on senstive skin. Most have a love/hate relationship with the sun. Love the warmth of the suns rays, but hate the damage that occurs from sunburn that leads to pigmentation, sun spots, red capillaries and wrinkles. If you swim, chlorine in pool water can dry the skin, as well as cause skin irritation. However, you don’t have to endure these issues to enjoy the warmer weather. Instead, you can protect your skin by adjusting your daily skincare routine.
Daily Summer Skincare Routine
Cleanser. Hot, humid air can cause the skin to become oilier. You may sweat more than you did in the spring and much more than you did in the winter. Humid air can cause your pores to open, leaving them vulnerable to build up that can increase your risk for breakouts. In order to keep your skin clean and healthy, we recommend cleansing twice a day. However, you don’t want to be using the same types of cream-based cleansers you might have used in the winter. Instead, you want a lighter cleanser, which might be a gel-based or foaming cleanser. Lighter cleansers help to remove dirt, oil, and other contaminants without clogging your pores, leaving your skin clean while also helping to prevent unwanted acne. Those with oily skin might need to step up to Clarity Clarifying Cleanser, which is specifically formulated for oily or acne-prone skin.
Moisturizer. While the humidity is higher in the summer, moisturizing is still very important for keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. The problem, though, is that heavier day creams that are recommended for the winter months can mix with sweat and oil on your skin, causing major issues for your pores. Like with your cleansers, you should switch out your heavier winter moisturizer for a lighter one that absorbs faster. If your daily winter skincare routine includes Clarity Moistulush, consider switching to Clarity Light and Tight for the summer. This is a clear, moisturizing serum that helps to make your skin firmer and more supple. In addition to moisturizing during the day, you should also moisturize at night. This can help to hydrate skin that may have spent several hours out in the drying sun. In addition to moisturizing, don’t forget to drink plenty of water to help keep you, and your skin, hydrated.
SPF. While you might enjoy spending time outdoors in the warmer weather, the sun can cause some serious harm, including sunburn. To protect your skin, it’s imperative that you wear sunscreen. In addition to applying it on your body, your face needs protection everyday, regardless if the sun is shining. We recommend choosing an SPF with zinc oxide, this mineral forms a physical barrier on top of the skin which deflects the suns damaging rays – zinc is not absorbed into your skin. Todays zinc formulas are sheer and lightweight. We carry the Elta MD line of jsunscreens. The UV Facial moisturizer with 30 SPF might be a little too heavy for summer, consider switching to Elta UV Clear with SPF 46. This is a lighter formulation that’s perfect for acne-prone/sensitive skin and for hyperpigmentation.
Remember to reapply SPF. SPF should always be reapplied throughout the day for the best skin protection. Throughout the course of the day, your SPF loses its effectiveness, which puts your skin in harm’s way. How long you’re outside, how much you sweat, and if you’ve been swimming can all affect how long your SPF protection lasts. SPF should be reapplied frequently throughout the course of the day, especially when you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, and regardless of whether it’s sunny or cloudy.
Treatment serums. Serums like retinols are excellent anti-aging treatments. They help to increase collagen production and cell turnover, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, decreasing collagen loss, and improving skin tone. However, these products can actually be harmful in the summertime increasing your risk for burns. Because of this, the use of retinol serums should be suspended during the summer. Fortunately, there are plenty of retinol alternatives that can help you to keep your skin looking young and gorgeous without the added risk of burns. These alternatives include vitamin A-rich oils, AHAs, and BHAs.
READ MORE: Too Much Fun in the Sun This Summer? These Three Treatments Can Help!
Common Summer Skin Issues – Solved
If breakouts occur. Even with great skincare, breakouts can still happen. When they do, Clarity Clarifying Pads are perfect for absorbing excess dirt and oil to keep skin clear and blemish free.
Postpone. There are numerous treatments available for helping to improve the appearance of your skin. Some of these treatments, however, shouldn’t be done in the summer months. If you’re considering a light-based treatment like IPL or laser, or you’re thinking about getting a chemical peel, postpone these treatments until the fall. These treatments are perfect for undoing the damage caused by the summer sun and weather. They can help to get rid of sunspots, uneven tone, and uneven texture, and can help to keep your skin looking great as we enter back into the winter months.
Melasma prone skin. Melasma is a common skin condition where the skin develops brown or gray patches. These patches typically occur on the face, particularly on the forehead, around the mouth and cheeks. They can also appear on the neck, shoulders, and forearms. Sun exposure is one of the triggers of melasma. We offer a prescription-strength Melasma Emulsion to help protect your skin. Start now to help keep melasma at bay.
For a quick cooldown. For a quick cooldown, consider a facial mist. Mists are a great skin quencher that are typically infused with toner agents and essential oils. They help to cool your skin down immediately while also helping to give you a fresher complexion. Mystic by Cosmedix is a molecularly heavy water that can be spritzed all over the face when your skin needs a refresh. You can also spritz it on your neck to help cool you down in the summer heat.
Additional Summer Skincare Tips
It’s no secret that hot showers can dry out your skin. Taking a hot shower after a day out in the drying sun can dry your skin even further. A cooler shower, on the other hand, can help to avoid this issue. A cool shower after sweating can also help to clear your skin of environmental pollutants, reducing your risk for breakouts. In addition to taking cooler showers in the summer, you may also want to go lighter on your makeup. In addition to making your skin feel heavy, a lot of makeup can clog your pores (not to mention, sweating can cause it to melt!). Going a bit lighter on your makeup can help to make your skin feel less weighted while also helping to avoid breakouts.
Adjusting your skincare routine for the warmer summer months is essential for keeping your skin healthy, beautiful, and glowing. The products that provide much-needed moisture in the winter are too heavy for the more humid days of summer, which can lead to breakouts and other issues. Not sure where to start, or what products to choose for your skin? Our clinical staff would be more than happy to consult with you to formulate a skincare routine that is right for you. Consults are complimentary. Contact Clarity to schedule your appointment today!
Please note, results may vary. Your treatment options will be clearly reviewed with our medical professionals during your complimentary consultation.
