Summer Skincare: Top 10 Ways to Care for Your Skin in the Summer

Summer is a time for pool parties, beach days, camping, and other outdoor activities. Spending a lot of time out in the sun and in hot, humid weather can negatively affect your skin. It’s important to revamp your skincare routine to fit the season. If you want to keep your skin healthy and radiant during the warmer months, try following these summer skincare tips:

The most important aspect of summer skincare is sunscreen. Your skin needs to be protected from harmful UV rays, which can cause premature aging and increase your risk of skin cancer. You should apply sunscreen any time you step outside and reapply every two hours. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, daily use of SPF 15 can lower your risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by 40 percent. Going a bit higher and using SPF 30 provides even more protection and reduced risk.

Sun exposure and hot temperatures can dehydrate the skin. While it may be tempting to skip moisturizer to keep your face feeling light, it’s still important to moisturize during the warmer months. For your summer skincare routine, you may want to switch to a lightweight moisturizer that will provide hydration without feeling heavy or greasy. A gel-based moisturizer with hyaluronic acid is great if you have dry skin, while oily skin does well with water-based lotions in summer. Make sure you’re also drinking plenty of water to help keep your skin from drying out on hot summer days.

You may want to include less makeup in your summer skincare regimen. Wearing a lot of makeup can feel heavy and uncomfortable on hot, humid days. Plus, it may come off as you sweat. Try giving your skin a break this summer with a lighter makeup routine. This will help your skin breathe and reduce the risk of clogged pores from makeup mixed with sweat. When you do wear makeup, look for products that are lightweight and have SPF for an added layer of protection from the sun. Just remember that SPF in makeup does not replace the need for sunscreen.

Sunscreen and sweat can do a number on your pores. That’s why exfoliation is essential for summer skincare. Exfoliating helps to unclog pores and reduce blemishes. It’s important to avoid overdoing it, though–only exfoliate once or twice per week. This is frequent enough to remove debris from your pores but without damaging your skin. Avoid exfoliating if you get a sunburn until after your skin has healed on its own.

During the summer, you may feel the need to wash your face or shower all the time. Washing too frequently, however, can strip away your skin’s natural moisturizing factors. Stick to showering once a day and after exercising. Try to only wash your face in the morning and at night or after exercise using a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. If you find yourself sweating, use blotting papers to absorb the sweat from your face without water.

It’s tempting to want a glowing tan during summer, which can lead to skipping sunscreen to soak up the sun’s rays. Even if you don’t burn, tanning still harms your skin. This darkening of the skin is a response to UV radiation damaging your skin cells. If you want a sun-kissed glow, use a self-tanner instead. There are a number of self-tanning lotions, gels, and foams that you can apply to your skin to achieve the color you desire.

There’s a common misconception that your summer skincare routine shouldn’t include retinoids because they can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. However, you can still continue to use retinoids in summer to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and acne. To minimize irritation, just make sure you only apply retinoids at night and always use sun protection any time you go outside.

When you think about a summer skincare routine, it’s easy to just focus on what you apply to your skin topically. However, in order to have healthy skin, you also need to nourish it from the inside. Taking certain oral supplements can supply your skin with the nutrients it needs to stay young, healthy, hydrated, and blemish-free. Recommended skincare supplements include vitamin C, omega-3s, probiotics, and collagen.

Eating a diet rich in vitamins and healthy fats can help support skin health. As part of your summer skincare routine, make sure you’re eating a lot of fruits and vegetables each day. Foods rich in vitamin C like bell peppers and citrus fruits help keep the skin firm and strong. Eating foods high in zinc and beta carotene can also be beneficial for your skin. Make sure your diet includes plenty of healthy fats such as avocados, fish, and walnuts to reduce inflammation and keep your skin flexible and moisturized.

An essential part of summer skincare is taking extra care of your skin when it gets a sunburn. As soon as you notice your skin is getting burned, get out of the sun immediately and take a cool shower to bring down your skin’s temperature. You can apply aloe vera gel, an oatmeal paste, or witch hazel to reduce swelling and soothe pain. Make sure you apply moisturizer often to keep your sunburned skin hydrated. This will encourage healing and minimize peeling.

These are some of the best ways to care for your skin in summer. If you want to keep your skin healthy and glowing, make sure you take plenty of precautions against the sun’s harmful UV rays. It takes more than just sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun, so follow these tips on how to protect yourself from sunburn to keep the sun from damaging your skin.