How to Get Glowing Summer Skin
Can you hear summertime calling?
While I’m sitting in front of my window watching the world turn green, the coats disappear, the birds chirp, and sun blind my face I hear it calling loud and clear.
And I can’t wait.
Summer is my favorite. I love the energy, the promise, the warm.
But my skin didn’t always agree. At least until I started to pay attention to the changes of the season and implement tweeks in my skincare routine.
Having a summertime glow is so important.
Summer acne and dry skin can kick rocks, because I’m going to tell you how to do your skincare routine in the summer.
Let’s start with why skin may freak out just a bit during the summer season.
Heat can cause us to dehydrate quicker. When we are dehydrated our skin can get red, irritated and dry.
Sweat can cause the production of more oil than what we are used to. It also encourages quick skin cell production. Both of these can lead to dry skin.
Sun causes damage to the skin’s moisture barrier and results in less elasticity and more dryness.
AC even though we love it, our skin just sees it as a moisture sucker and leaves our skin both irritated and dry.
A few notes on melanated skin to highlight why our approach to our skin in the summer is elevated.
Melanated skin:
Generally comes with larger pore sizes which means more oil production
Is more sensitive to hyperpigmentation - as we all know is the result of inflammation
Has a harder time retaining moisture
So here is your game plan.
Develop (and stick with) a skincare routine. Remember a good skincare routine is four steps - Cleanse - Prep - Treat - Moisturize.
Add antioxidant products. For example vitamin c is an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from environmental elements. It acts as protection for your skin.
Make sure you’re adding toner. This falls in your prep step. Toner removes excess oil and dirt and prepares your skin to full absorb whatever treatment products you’re using - like vitamin c possibly?!
Exfoliate. Gently because our skin is sensitive (remember: hyperpigmentation). Choose something meant to be gentle.
Wear sunscreen. I’m not saying anything else - just wear sunscreen.
No heavy makeup. Find a tinted moisturizer - or better yet a tinted sunscreen.
Hydrate. Think beyond water here. You can be doubling down on your hydration game by incorporating fruits and vegetables that have high water content.
Alright. Now go get your summertime glow on, sis!