I love being out in the sun year-round, but especially during summer. But I also know the importance of taking care of my skin for the long term. Below are my top five summer skin care tips for staying hydrated and protected.
5 Summer Skincare Secrets for Flawless Skin
1. SPF
I cannot stress the importance of a good SPF enough. Test out a few to find out what works for your skin. You know your skin best, and if you are sensitive, you will need a gentler formula. Some sunscreens will get runny when you sweat, and others might be too thick and cause breakouts. Make sure you are using at least SPF 50 for maximum protection. Don’t forget your lips, ears, and neck! Supergoop! has a great line of sun protection and care products that are formulated sans parabens and other harmful chemicals.
Everyday Sunscreen, Supergoop!, $19
2. Hydrate!
Great skin starts from the inside out, and luckily for us, summer fruits and vegetables are exceptionally hydrating. Both watermelon and cucumbers have a naturally high water content, so they will be your best bet. Bring some watermelon slices as a beach snack and throw some cucumber into a bottle of water for maximum hydration benefits. Speaking of water, it is the original skincare essential and is essential year-round, but especially so in the hot and dry summer months.
3. Strawberries
According to skincare guru Kate Somerville, a strawberry can be both your face and mouth’s best friend this summer. Cut a strawberry in half, take a fork and poke the flesh to get the juice out. Swipe the liquid across your face and leave on for about two minutes before rinsing off. This is a natural sun and age spot treatment.
4. Exfoliate
We all want smooth, supple skin, right? With the sun more prone to drying out our skin in the summertime, exfoliation is key to remove dead skin cells and keep skin soft.
Lumière de Vie® Volcanic Exfoliating Mask, $51.95.
5. Take cooler showers
I love a hot shower just as much as the next person, but combined with the intense summer heat, this can be really harsh and damaging to your skin (and your hair!) Try taking cool showers in the summer. You can gradually make it colder throughout your shower so that you aren’t freezing when you first get in. More cooling showers will help avoid drying out your skin even more and also help with circulation.
Share your favorite summer skincare tips in the comments section below or tweet me @lorenridinger. Happy Summer!
