Summer is officially here! And warmer temperatures, dryer heat, and more time spent outdoors mean that some summer-friendly changes to your skincare routine are in order. Don’t worry - we’re not saying that you need to completely overhaul your routine! But a few small tweaks and shifts will certainly make a difference.
Here are our top 5 summertime skincare tips.
1. Consider lighter products
If you’re still using any heavy creams or ultra-moisturizing products from your winter routine, now is the time to swap them for more lightweight counterparts.
For example, switch your heavy night cream for a moisturizing night gel or your oil-rich cream cleanser for a formula with antioxidants and exfoliating glycolic acid.
2. Take out a few steps to prevent breakouts
In the same vein, consider streamlining your daily skincare routine and applying fewer layers on a daily basis. Why? Particularly if you have acne-prone or oily skin, applying thick layers of product can actually clog pores and encourage inflammation and acne in the summer months.
That said, don’t skip important steps like a moisturizer even if you feel like your skin is sticky or oily. The right moisturizer helps reestablish the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin) and protect your skin’s natural barrier, which you need to protect the skin against environmental pollutants, bacteria, and more.
Instead, consider using a moisturizer with vitamin C - rather than applying a separate serum - or a multi-tasking moisturizing and exfoliating treatment with hyaluronic acid and glycolic.
3. Incorporate vitamin C
If a vitamin C product isn’t already a part of your routine, summer is the perfect time to add it in. This powerful antioxidant protects against sun damage, prevents hyperpigmentation, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even stimulates collagen production - all helpful when facing harsh summer sun.
Want to ease into it or opt for a lighter, everyday moisturizer? Then opt for an everyday whipped moisturizer with vitamin C. Alternatively, if you want a more concentrated treatment to help you tackle hyperpigmentation, age spots, or acne scars, consider a more potent vitamin C serum.
4. Exfoliate regularly
Ok, so we know that you’re always warned not to over-exfoliate, but summer is the time to start slowly upping this part of your routine. We’re not saying to scrub your skin everyday, but you should slowly increase the number of days that you exfoliate until you’re adding this step to your routine around 3-4 days a week.
This will help open up blocked pores and remove any trapped oil or dead skin cells that might contribute to summertime acne.
Don’t know where to start? We recommend a combination of physical and chemical exfoliation. A revitalizing physical exfoliant will help you accelerate cell turnover while sloughing off any dry, dead skin. Similarly, a gentle AHA exfoliant (you can read more about AHAs and BHAs here if you need to brush up) can evenly exfoliate the skin while encouraging cell turnover, increasing skin repair, and helping nutrients reach the inner layers of the skin.
Need both? You can find a complete exfoliation routine - including a cleanser, brightening treatment, physical exfoliant, and mask - here.
5. Keep your showers short
Between hot summer days, sweaty workouts, beach days, and unforgiving summer sun, it can be tempting to hop in a cool shower and stay there as long as possible. But here’s the thing - overwashing can majorly strip the skin on your body and your face, leading to dryness, itchiness, inflammation, and even skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
So try to keep your showers short - under five minutes, if possible - and make sure they’re not too hot.
6. Don’t forget your SPF
This one might seem obvious - but you have to wear sunscreen in the summer (and all year round). We recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Unlike regular sunscreens, broad-spectrum formulas protect against both UVA and UVB rays, and in studies, SPF 30 is shown to effectively protect against most rays.
And make sure that you don’t forget easy-to-miss areas like your lips, hands, and eye area - these are all delicate and often overlooked.
7. Use skin-friendly makeup
Finally, you want to make sure that your makeup isn’t undoing all of the hard work that you put in with your skincare routine. Look specifically for non-comedogenic makeup products and stick to lighter, non-occlusive formulas like an oil-free primer and a lightweight foundation.
Ready to get started? You can find all of your summertime skincare essentials in our G.O.A.T tote. Happy summer!