Summer is almost here! You’re ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy some much-needed R & R outside, whether it’s at the beach, a cabin in the woods, or at the park.
While you might be ready to move into full-on relaxation mode, there’s at least one thing you don’t ever want to get too relaxed about: caring for your skin. Your skin’s needs in the summer are somewhat different than in the winter, thanks to changes in air quality and the weather. You’re also more likely to be outside during the summer months, which means you might need to focus on protecting your skin more than you do during the shorter, darker days of winter.
As you prepare for some serious summer fun, here’s what you can do to take the best possible care of your skin.
Keep Hydrated
Staying hydrated during the summer isn’t only good news for your skin. It’s also good news for your entire system. The summer heat makes it easier to lose hydration and become parched. When you’re not fully hydrated, you’re likely to feel dizzy and lightheaded. Your skin might feel tight and itchy or look dull.
To keep your skin hydrated, continue to moisturize throughout the summer. You might want to trade your heavier cream moisturizers from the winter for a lightweight lotion so that your skin doesn’t feel suffocated.
To keep your body hydrated, drink plenty of water. Aim for about eight 8-ounce glasses per day. If plain water is too boring for you, you can jazz it up with a slice of orange, lemon, or lime, or some mint leaves and cucumber slices.
Shield Your Skin from the Sun
Wearing SPF is a must all year round. But it becomes even more important in the summer when the sun is blazing and you’re likely to be outside more frequently. During the summer months, you’ll want to up your sunscreen game.
That means committing to reapplying your sun protection every two hours or even more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming. Along with wearing sunscreen, you can protect your skin further with a pair of dark sunglasses with UV protection, a wide-brimmed hat, and swimsuits or other clothing with UV protection.
You also don’t want to forget to protect the skin on your lips from the sun’s UV rays. If you don’t already, start using a lip balm that has an SPF of at least 15. Sunburned, chapped lips are
super unpleasant and uncomfortable. With the regular application of lip balm with SPF, you can keep your lips plump, soft, and sunburn-free.
Exfoliate
It’s important to exfoliate your skin throughout the summer, in order to remove dead skin cells that can contribute to dullness and to help to keep your skin clear. You have a few options when it comes to exfoliation.
You can use a manual device, such as a Clarisonic brush, to slough away dead skin cells while you cleanse. Another option is to use a chemical exfoliate, such as a cleanser with alpha hydroxy acid. To give yourself a fresh start as summer begins, you might also consider a light or superficial chemical peel.
Soothe Your Skin if it’s Stressed
Heat, sweat, and the sun can cause your skin to stress out, even if you do use and reapply sunscreen often. If you notice that your skin is stressed and looks flushed or you find that you’re breaking out more than usual, it’s important to help your skin calm down and relax.
To do that, try to stay in cool areas to keep the heat from upsetting your skin. If you sweat a lot in the summer (who doesn’t?), carry blotting papers with you to mop up excess oil. A spritz of a skin-soothing toner, such as rosewater, can help to cool and calm your skin, too.
If you do get a burn (it happens, even if you use sunscreen), you can use an aloe vera gel to help ease the discomfort. A cold compress can also bring you some relief.
Want more advice on how to care for your skin this summer? Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique, in Houston Texas, offers customized, medical-grade skin care to our patients. Call 281-810-9083 to schedule a consultation and to find out more about how you can take excellent care of your skin while you enjoy the summer sunshin