Summer Skincare Tips You Need to Know

Longer hours of daylight and hot, dry, or humid weather can affect our skin differently than the colder and darker days of winter. Summer is typically warmer and sunnier than winter and you are exposed to air conditioning. It’s only natural that your skin has different needs and your skincare routine should reflect that!

For us here in Palos Heights and the surrounding areas, it means protecting our skin from sun, dehydration, dry weather, or air conditioning. Love your skin this summer and update your routine with these skin care tips.

1. Wear sunscreen every day year-round

Sunscreen is commonly viewed as a product used to protect you from harmful UV rays that cause skin cancer. It's also an important aging beautifully tool. In the summer if you choose the right sunscreen it can actually be your daytime moisture. But selecting a sunscreen can be confusing. Here are some tips on selecting the right sunscreen for you.

Make sure it is a broad spectrum - protects you from UVB (burning) & UVA (aging)rays.

The sun protection factor (SPF) should be between 30 & 50. Remember no sunscreen gives you 100% protection. You might be surprised to see there is only a slight difference in protection between a 15 & 50 SPF - only 5% points. And as you go beyond 50 SPF, the protection is minimal.

So what does the SPF really do?

The SPF factor measures your protection against UVB, responsible for the burning effect of the sun. Broad Spectrum means it protects you from UVB and UVA, however only the PA rating lets you know how well you are protected from UVA, which is responsible for the aging effects of the sun. This is an important distinction because SPF measures only UVB protection while the PA rating only measures UVA protection.

What is the PA in sunscreen - I told you it gets confusing…

The PA grading system was established in Japan and is meant to inform users of the level of protection from UVA rays. Currently, only five countries utilize UVA testing: Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Australia.

The first thing you need to know is that PA is short for “Protection Grade of UVA.”

P+ means your sunscreen or cosmetic provides some protection against UVA rays, PA++ provides moderate protection, and PA+++ offers the best protection of the three. Recent advancements have seen the introduction of PA++++ products in certain countries. However, the latter rating is rare, as this level of protection is found in few products. An easy guide when shopping for sunscreens and cosmetics that utilize the PA+++ rating: the more plus signs on your product, the better.

Sunscreen Application

When it comes to sunscreen application, apply at least 20 minutes before heading outside and reapply every 90 minutes —more often if you plan on swimming or you’re doing a strenuous workout. This is the part that is tricky for people. A great product that helps is a dry sunscreen that can be applied right over your makeup. Jane Iredale Powder-Me-SPF is great.

A lot of clients use makeup that has sunscreen in it. That’s fine, but you don’t use makeup on your neck or decollete. In the summer, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen under your makeup, and be sure to cover your neck & decollete with it.

Also, don’t forget about protecting your lip and another great Jane Iredale product is their Lip Drink that conditions lips with a 15 SPF.

Sunscreens today are very sophisticated and offer more than sun protection. They moisturize, have anti-aging and anti-oxidant ingredients as they protect from the sun and the environment.

If you are concerned about blue light some sunscreens provide that protection. This is great if you spend considerable time on the computer.

2. Punch up your antioxidants inside & outside

Antioxidant is a word you hear a lot in the wellness world, and skin care. Antioxidants are a group of naturally occurring compounds that protect your cells from damage. Your body makes antioxidants and you add more with foods or supplements.

Another layer of protection comes with antioxidants used in your skin care routine. Their role is to protect your skin from exposure to excessive sun, pollution, radiation, and cigarette smoke. Antioxidants reduce the free radical damage caused by these exposures. If not protected, free radical damage causes inflammation and prematurely aging skin.

Common antioxidants in skin care include: antioxidants

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin E

• Green, white, Cada Oil

• Coenzyme Q10

• Niacinamide

• Resveratrol

• Curcumin

• Avocado Oil

• Ginger Root Essential Oil

Many sunscreens have antioxidants in them. Then you are all set. If not, look for a product that contains several of them for extra protection. They must be absorbed by the skin for them to do any good. How well they are absorbed depends largely on how the skin care product is formulated.

Remember there is a difference between over-the-counter and medical-grade products. A medical-grade will have a higher concentration of the active ingredients and will penetrate the skin.

To get the full benefit of your skin care product it is important to be consistent with your skin care routine. Antioxidants and sunscreens are musts for your daytime regimen. Remember to protect your skin during the day and treat your skin at night.

Research continues to find even more effective antioxidant ingredients for skincare products. And to get the full effect of antioxidants it’s important to eat fruits and vegetables so you have a program that works on the inside as well as the outside.

Here are some of the most powerful antioxidants foods:

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Artichokes

• Goji Berries

• Raspberries

• Kale

• Pecans

• Dark Chocolate

• Red cabbage

• Beets

• Spinach

• Broccoli

• Red beans or kidney beans

• Blackberries

• Prunes

• Apples

• Sweet Potatoes

• Dark leafy vegetables

• Avocados

Applying antioxidants topically is not enough. To maintain radiant skin, you need to nourish it accordingly. Consume lots of fruits and vegetables. They contain essential vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants that boost collagen production, reduce inflammation, and protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.

Eating a wide variety of foods rich in antioxidants can boost your blood levels of antioxidants. Combined with your topical antioxidants you will have significant protection.

3. Keep moisturizing

Even though you don’t need a heavy moisturizer in the summer as you do in the winter, it is still important to maintain moisture in your skin. Air conditioning and dry days can drain lots of moisture out of your skin leaving it skin lackluster and dull.

Using a hydrating serum under your moisturizer or sunscreen can help - one that contains hyaluronic acid or a hydrating mist to spray over your moisturizer or makeup throughout the day to replenish your skin. That will keep your glow.

4. Exfoliate once or twice a week

Sunscreen and sweat both can do a number on your pores. Exfoliating helps unclog pores and reduce blemishes. It removes the debris from sweat, sunscreen, and oil. But don’t overdo it. Once to twice a week and never on sunburned skin.

5. Self-tan for a healthy glow

Tanned skin can be beautiful. I have several clients recently who came in with a beautiful color. But tanned, not sun burnt skin is still sun-damaged. And sun damage leads to premature aging and in some cases skin health issues like skin cancer. If you want that beautiful color, consider a good self-tanner.

6. Wash your face — but not constantly

When it’s hot, you may feel the need to wash your face more but don’t. Too much cleansing can cause dehydration, just as hot showers can too. Or it can cause your oil glands to overwork. Stick to cleansing your skin only morning and night, plus shower only once a day. If you work out, cleanse directly afterward but don’t add an additional cleanse. For excessive oil or sweating consider blotting your skin with specific facial blotting papers.

Facial Cleansers

If that’s not enough consider changing your face wash. Your face tends to produce more oil during this time, so you may need to change your cleanser accordingly. For oily skin, you may want to switch to a cleanser with salicylic acid to keep pores clean. If you have dry skin and experience redness or rashes, use a creamy cleanser.

Or consider a good toner that keeps your skin oil-free and clean. It also reduces the appearance of pores. When applying toner, pay attention to your T-zone as it is the part of your face that secretes the maximum oil during summer.

7. Keep Yourself Hydrated

Drink plenty of water and don’t forget to carry a water bottle with you wherever you go. Keep sipping from your bottle. This is important to keep your skin hydrated, flush out toxins from your body, and feel refreshed during the hot summer days.

8. Do Not Forget Your Feet

Your skin does not end at your neck. Most of us tend to forget our feet. Now that you have replaced your winter boots with summer sandals, you need to take care of your feet as well. Give yourself a pedicure at home to add to your summer skincare routine. Use a scrub to remove the dead and dry skin cells. Moisturize your feet, and don’t forget to apply sunscreen lotion on them.

9. Don’t stop exercising

Exercise is equally important for maintaining healthy skin during summer. Physical activity improves blood flow, which means your skin cells get more oxygen. Thus, your body heals any tissue damage (like a sunburn or acne) easily. Any form of exercise is good for your health but especially important to your summer skincare routine.

10. Don’t Cut Down Your Resting Time

Your body needs time to repair itself and maintain healthy skin. That’s why no matter what schedule you maintain, try to take out enough time to rest. This is crucial because, during the summer months, the days are longer, and most of us tend to be more active.

11. Do Not Forget The Eye Area

The area around your eyes is more delicate than the rest of your face and needs special care. Whenever you are stepping out in the sun, do not forget to wear sunglasses. And if you want extra protection, consider an eye cream that has an SPF for daytime use. This will prevent the formation of wrinkles around your eyes.

Don’t forget to apply a moisturizing eye cream both during the day and at night. Massage the area around your eyes every night to relax the muscles.

12. Cool Off With A Face Mask

A cool face mask works wonders on a hot and humid summer day. It helps in soothing sunburns and inflammation and makes your skin look fresh and dewy.

Apply the mask after you exfoliate your skin. And if you use an eye gel put it in the refrigerator and apply cold. While refreshing for summer, it reduces under-eye puffiness too.

13. Use multiple protection methods

For most of us, the best protection for summer skincare comes through a combination of methods. Wear sunscreen, and don layers of clothing to keep your skin protected from the sun’s rays. Also, remember:

• wide-brimmed hats

• UV-400 sunglasses

• dark-colored clothes with woven fabrics or UV absorbers

Summer Skin Care Routine Tips Conclusion

Summer is a wonderful time for outdoor fun. As I tell my clients, we have two seasons - summer and winter, each requiring different skin care tweaks. These summer skin care tips should guide you through the summer with healthy glowing skin.