Essential Summer Skincare Tips For Everyone

Summer is here, and it’s time for sun-soaked picnics, beach trips, and outdoor adventures. This delightful season can be taxing on your skin. The sun’s UV rays can cause sunburn — and with prolonged exposure, serious health issues like melanoma — but they can also exacerbate oily, dry, or acne-prone skin conditions. Taking proper care of your skin during these warm months is crucial. To help you, we’ve curated a list of essential summer skincare tips for everyone.

Our advice has got you and your family covered so you can enjoy a safe and comfortable season outdoors!

 

General Summer Skincare Recommendations

Here’s a list of general summer skincare tips everyone should know:

 

1. Hydrate Inside Out:

Staying hydrated is the fundamental step towards healthy summer skincare. When the temperature rises, your body loses more water due to sweating, which can dry your skin. Make sure to drink at least eight glasses of water every day. Also, include water-rich fruits and vegetables in your diet. Some fruits and veggies include watermelon, cucumber, oranges, and strawberries.

 

2. Sunscreen is Your Best Friend:

Your summer skincare routine is complete with good sunscreen. No matter your skin type, applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is necessary. It will protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Make sure to use it at least 15-20 minutes before stepping outside. Reapply every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating heavily. Remember often-neglected areas like your ears, neck, and the back of your hands!

 

3. Don’t Skip the Cleansing:

Summer means sweat, oil, and dirt on your skin. Regular cleansing can keep your skin clean and healthy. Opt for a gentle, non-foaming cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils. If you have oily skin, consider using a cleanser with salicylic acid. Those cleansers control excess sebum production.

 

4. Exfoliate, But Not Too Much:

Exfoliating your skin once or twice a week can help remove dead skin cells and improve skin renewal. It ultimately gives you a fresh and radiant complexion. But, over-exfoliation can lead to skin damage. Choose a gentle scrub or a chemical exfoliant suitable for your skin type.

 

5. Don’t Forget to Moisturize:

Even in summer, your skin needs hydration. Opt for a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer. Those alternatives will hydrate your skin without clogging your pores. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid can help your skin retain moisture. Those with cooling properties like aloe vera can soothe sun-exposed skin.

 

6. Nourish Your Skin at Night:

Nighttime is the best time to repair your skin. Incorporate a good quality serum or a rejuvenating night cream into your routine. Ingredients like retinol can help combat signs of aging. Vitamin C brightens your complexion and enhances your skin’s resilience against sun damage.

 

7. Cool Down with a Face Mist:

Face mists are a great way to keep your skin hydrated and refreshed during hot summer days. Look for mists with calming ingredients. Rose water or chamomile can soothe irritated skin.

 

8. Wear Protective Clothing:

While sunscreen is crucial, you should also consider wearing clothes that protect your skin from the sun. Loose, long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses provide an extra layer of defense.

 

9. Stay Healthy:

Remember that your skin reflects your overall health. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and reduced stress levels can significantly improve your skin’s condition.

 

10. Soothe Your Skin with After-Sun Care:

If you’ve spent a long day in the sun, it’s essential to soothe and hydrate your skin afterward. Aloe vera is a well-known natural remedy for sunburns, thanks to its cooling and healing properties. You can apply aloe vera gel directly onto the affected area or look for after-sun lotions or creams that contain aloe vera.

 

11. Make Use of Antioxidants:

Antioxidants play a significant role in protecting your skin from environmental damage. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and green tea extract are well-known antioxidants that neutralize harmful free radicals and boost your skin’s natural sun protection. Include these antioxidants in your skincare routine and diet for the best results.

 

12. Take Extra Care of Your Eyes and Lips:

The skin around your eyes and lips is much thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your face. Wear sunglasses that block out UVA and UVB rays to protect your eyes. Apply a lip balm with SPF to keep your lips moisturized and protected.

 

13. Know Your Skin:

Everyone’s skin responds differently to the changing seasons. It’s essential to understand your skin type. Whether dry, oily, combination, or sensitive. This wisdom can help you find the right products and create a sound skincare routine.

 

14. Seek Professional Help When Needed:

If you notice any abnormal changes in your skin, such as severe acne, persistent rashes, or suspicious moles, seek advice from a dermatologist. Don’t rely solely on over-the-counter products when dealing with serious skin issues.

 

15. Don’t Forget Your Feet:

Feet often get neglected in skincare routines, but they need as much care as the rest of your body. Keep them clean, exfoliate regularly, and moisturize them to prevent dry, cracked heels.

 

Tips for Children’s Skin

There are several ways to keep your baby’s delicate skin safe in the sun, but the predominant method is limiting overall sun exposure.

 

  • Water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is recommended for children six months or older. Many dermatologists prefer sunscreens made of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which deflect sun rays, rather than a “physical” sunscreen that absorbs them.
  • No matter which sunscreen you choose, remember to reapply every two hours and even more often if your child splashes around.

 

Tips for Dry Skin

The summer heat signals dry and irritated skin for some. Here are a few ways to combat this:

 

  • Be sure you’re taking cool-to-lukewarm showers; hot showers will only dry out your skin more.
  • After bathing, while your skin is still slightly damp, apply a high-quality moisturizer to your face and body specially formulated for dry skin, packed with things like hyaluronic acid — which can hold 1,000 times its weight in water — and other fortifying hydration.
  • Be sure to keep your insides hydrated by drinking lots of water and eating melon. Melons are primarily comprised of water, contain many essential antioxidants, and can even boost your natural SPF protection.

 

Tips for Oily / Acne-Prone Skin

It’s common for people who have oily or acne-prone skin to experience increased oil and breakouts during the summer due to humidity and sweating. Here’s how you can help your skin combat oil and acne:

 

  • Although it may seem counter-intuitive, avoid the temptation to wash your face more often. Overwashing your skin can lead to higher oil production as your body tries to compensate for the excess dryness.
  • Wash your face twice a day as you usually would, using facial blotting tissues throughout the day to control oil and shine.
  • Exfoliate your skin 1-2 times per week (doing so more often will overstimulate the skin and could cause more breakouts), as removing the dead skin cell layer will help reduce acne flare-ups from clogged pores.
  • Invest in a good, oil-free, non-comedogenic sunscreen made specifically for your face.
  • Wear minimal makeup, especially foundation — and be sure it’s also oil-free and non-comedogenic

 

Tips for Sunburned Skin

Even if you’re outside for a short time, you should always wear a minimum of SPF 30 sunscreen on your exposed skin. Reapply every two hours, depending on the overall length of your sun exposure and if your skin is getting wet. If you get sunburned, do the following:

 

  • Stay out of the sun until the sunburn heals.
  • If you venture outside while sunburned, cover up as much as you can and use zinc oxide sunscreen, which will be more soothing to your skin than traditional sunscreen.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothes.
  • Don’t scratch peeling skin or pop any blisters.
  • Apply (unscented) aloe lotion to cool the burning sensation.
  • Rest and stay hydrated.

 

Key Takeaways

Summers in sunny San Diego are perfect for fun-filled outdoor adventures, but they’re also when our skin needs extra care and attention. Keep these summer skin care tips in mind, and you and your family will be well on your way to healthy, glowing skin all summer long!

If you want to find the perfect summer skincare routine for your skin type, seek advice from a doctor to get the best results and a personalized plan. Check out our articles for helpful tips to get the most out of your summer!

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