Not only do we like to show more skin during the hot summer months, but we also often need to adjust our skincare regimen in hot and humid weather. We don’t just need extra sunscreen protection on our skin in the summer. In addition to that, we need a skincare and makeup routine that keeps our skin healthy and flawless, even in hot and humid weather.
High temperatures, more sweating, and excess moisture in the air could leave you battling blocked pores, excess oil, dripping makeup and acne breakouts.
Humidity envelops the skin in excess heat and moisture, which can cause pores to expand or skin rashes to occur, among other skin problems.
Fortunately, all you really need to keep the look and health of your skin on track when the weather changes, is incorporate a few changes to your beauty and skincare regimen. Following the right steps for skin preservation, and switching out a couple of your day-to-day skin products, could be all it takes to upgrade your skincare routine to suit summer weather.
Below are some tips for keeping your skin looking great and feeling healthy in the summer:
1. Update Your Skincare Routine
Washing and cleansing your skin regularly is one of the most important steps for keeping it in good condition during the summer. While a good cleansing strategy is important year round, it’s particularly crucial when the weather is hotter, because you’re more likely to produce large volumes of oil and sweat. This can clog your pores and make acne outbreaks more likely.
Start by making time to wash your face thoroughly at least twice each day, once when you wake up, and once before you go to bed. If you exercise in the summer heat, you’ll want to cleanse your skin when you get home. Regular showers to rinse excess sweat from your body can help prevent pimples from popping up elsewhere as well.
Pay attention to how your skin responds to the heat. If your skin seems dryer than usual, you might experience more rashes and redness during the summer. Soothing cleansers with aloe and peppermint can be wonderfully refreshing when added to your skincare routine.
If you notice a lot of excess oil on your skin during the summer, try a foaming cleanser with salicylic acid to help purify your pores and prevent blockages. A little extra exfoliation can be helpful too, as it will get rid of any dirt on your skin which might be making it harder for your epidermis (the upper layer of skin) to breathe.
Exfoliating is crucial for a skincare routine, especially in the summer, when you’re outside more and getting your skin dirtier.
Invest in a high-quality facial exfoliant as well as a separate body scrub, from your local high-end spa.
2. Hydrate Inside and Out, and Use Humectants
Your skin needs hydration to be healthy. Hydration is something everyone should be taking seriously during hot and humid months. While it’s easy to forget about drinking water when you’re living a busy life, every part of your body needs adequate water to operate properly. Failing to drink enough water on a regular basis doesn’t just have a drying impact on your skin, it can also lead to other issues such as fatigue and headaches.
In general, you’ll need around 3.7 liters of water per day as a man, and 2.7 liters as a woman, but pay attention to what your body asks for. If you’re particularly active during the summer, you’ll need to drink extra water to replenish the moisture you lose in sweat.
Remember, drinking water will nourish your skin, while also helping to flush out unwanted toxins, and improving skin texture.
Outside of drinking plenty of water, you can also use certain skincare products to add more moisture back to your skin directly. A light moisturizer will help to lock in the moisture you need, and prevent it from evaporating too quickly when you’re outdoors. Look for an all-in-one moisturizer and SPF lotion if you’re worried about weighing your face down with too much product on hot days.
Oil-free moisturizers are usually a good idea if you’re worried about excess oil production during humid weather. You can even look into whipped moisturizers with extra oxygen built-in, to create a lighter finish.
The best skincare products for humid weather will include humectants such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Humectants are moisturizing agents that pull water from the air into the skin cells.
3. Increase Your Intake of Antioxidants
Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants don’t just keep your internal organs healthy, they’re useful for protecting your skin health as well. Some antioxidants are particularly valuable for your skin during the summer months, when oxidative stress and free radical exposure might be high.
For instance, Vitamin B3 is excellent for improving skin texture and tone, while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also excellent for reducing inflammation, which might be ideal if you find yourself looking redder and blotchier during the summer months. Vitamin E is another excellent pick during summer, as it helps to accelerate the skin’s healing process, and protect it from outside factors.
These days, there are plenty of creams, serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens which come with an additional dose of antioxidants to protect you during any month of the year. For instance, a moisturizer with added vitamin C is great for reducing environmental damage and boosting collagen production, to keep you looking youthful during summer.
Of course, creams and serums aren’t the only way to give your body the extra nutrition it needs. Healthy eating during summer is valuable too. Consuming lots of fruits and vegetables will give you access to huge doses of nutrients and vitamins, while protecting your skin against the damaging effects of the sun. They can also help with moisture.
High-water foods such as cucumber, watermelon, and apples are great for keeping you and your skin hydrated.
4. Adjust Your Makeup Routine
Choosing the right cosmetics is important during the summer months. Most of your standard foundations and creams will simply melt off your face when exposed to high levels of heat and humidity. This means you may need to reconsider your options, looking for products with a higher degree of staying power.
Using a primer underneath your foundation is also extremely useful, as it works as a barrier to keep your makeup looking fresh and clean all day. A primer with added SPF protection is often a good choice if you’re going to be lounging in the sun for long periods of time.
In hot and humid weather, consider switching your liquid and creamy concealers with stick concealer, as liquid alternatives lose a lot of their staying power during the summer. It’s also worth looking into mattifying sprays and blotting papers to replace your standard powder foundations. Powders can soak up too much moisture and clog your pores, leading to a higher risk of breakouts.
When possible, it might be best to avoid wearing makeup in the summer. Switching out your foundation for a tinted SPF moisturizer could be a good way to get an extra glow while allowing your skin to breathe during hot and humid days. Don’t forget to switch to waterproof mascaras when possible as well. Even if you’re not jumping in a pool or heading to the beach, the waterproof formula will hold strong in humidity.
5. Pamper Your Skin Regularly
Your skin takes a beating on a regular basis, thanks to its constant exposure to wind, free radicals, and other environmental factors. However, during the summer months, your skin is likely to be under significantly more pressure than usual. It’s worth investing in some extra pampering, such as:
- Skin drinks: Skin drink serums and creams are high-performance moisturizers designed to soak into the deeper layers of your epidermis and replenish your appearance. Apply these at the end of each day to help your skin recover from exposure to the sun.
- Face masks: The occasional face mask can work wonders during hot and humid months. Clay masks are excellent for cooling the skin and reducing inflammation, while products with aloe vera, honey, avocado, and coconut oil are excellent for home-made masks. Focus on ingredients designed to moisturize and replenish the skin’s surface.
- Serums: Summer is the perfect time to upgrade your skincare routine with some anti-aging serums and creams. Harmful UV rays can quickly increase the breakdown of collagen, making your skin look duller, and more wrinkled. To protect against premature aging, try using serums around the eyes, mouth, and forehead to stimulate collagen production.
Remember, it’s not just your face you need to think about if you want to keep your skin flawless and healthy all year around. Moisturize your body regularly as well. Investing in a high-quality lotion for your body, hands and feet will help you to feel your best every day.
Apply skin-hydrating creams or lotions a couple of minutes after a shower while your skin is still damp, to lock in moisture.
6. Wear the Right Sunscreen
It might sound obvious, but sunscreen should be one of your most important beauty and skincare products during the summer. Even if you’re trying to get a tan, it’s important to protect yourself against harmful UV rays. Whenever the weather outside is warm, apply a layer of high-quality sunscreen to every exposed inch of skin before you go outdoors.
UV rays can easily penetrate into the deeper layer of the skin, affecting blood vessels, connective tissues, and elasticity. This can increase your chances of premature aging, and cause you to look older during the summer months. The sun also emits UVB rays which can cause burning and even increase your chances of skin cancer.
Apply a good SPF, even if you’re only going out for a short period of time, and make sure you re-apply regularly, particularly if you’re going to be taking a dip in a pool, or wading through the sea. Today, you can get all kinds of sunscreens designed for sensitive, oily, or even dry skin, so explore your options to see what works for you.
It’s worth investing in a high-quality sunscreen product for your face. The skin on your face deserves high-quality ingredients, and you probably shouldn’t put a cheap sunscreen on your face.
7. Get Enough Exercise and Rest
Finally, during the summer months, it can be easy to let your standard self-care routine fall to the wayside. When the summer heat rises, you may not feel like hitting the treadmill or going for your morning cycle as often as you once did. However, while lazing around in the garden might be more preferable at first, it won’t help your skin.
Staying active is crucial to increasing blood flow, which means the cells of your skin get more oxygen. When you have good circulation, your body can heal tissue damage such as acne and sunburn faster. Plus, exercising will help you to sweat away toxins, which you can rinse off with an invigorating cool shower.
While exercise is essential for protecting your skin and body, remember to rest regularly as well.
As much as you’re enjoying your time outside, you still need to rest and recuperate. During the summer months, longer days often encourage us to stay active for longer, too. However, lack of sleep can increase the signs of aging, and make it harder for skin to repair itself.
Getting plenty of beauty sleep each night in a cool, dark room will help to refresh your body, and keep you looking your best.
Beautiful Summer Skin
While everyone has different needs when it comes to protecting and nourishing their skin, it’s fair to say most of us struggle a little more maintaining good skin during the summer months. It’s hard to stay looking your best when your makeup is constantly melting away, and humidity is causing skin rashes, blocked pores or other skin problems.
How your skin reacts to different weather is partially genetic. For example, some people are genetically more prone to acne breakouts, which means they’re at higher risk of humid weather causing more breakouts. Others are genetically more prone to sunburn.
A full genetic skin traits report is available from CircleDNA. The skin reports are some of hundreds of other reports about yourself you can learn through this at-home DNA test.
References
- Nutrition and healthy eating (Mayo Clinic) https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
- Antioxidants in Skin Care: How Do They Work and Which Ones Are the Best? (Dermstore) https://www.dermstore.com/blog/antioxidants-in-skin-care/
- Benefits of Exercise (MedinePlus) https://medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html
