Your Summer Skincare Bucket List

When discussing summer skincare, sunscreen is usually on people's minds. And for good reason! Protecting yourself from that fiery ball in the sky is one of the most vital steps you can take for the health of not only your skin but your entire body. According to recent estimates by The Skin Cancer Foundation, UV radiation exposure is responsible for between 80-90% of external skin aging (ouch!), breaking down proteins such as collagen and elastin as well as contributing to wrinkles and dark spots on your body; plus it causes most cases of nonmelanoma skin cancers!

Scary stuff?

Protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays is a fundamental skincare skill. Feel like you need help? No problem; all the information is available here today. Instead, let's discuss all aspects of summer skincare since warmer climates present their unique challenges to skin health.

There are plenty of ways to step up your summer skincare game and ensure your complexion remains looking flawless into fall...

1. Strengthen Your Cleansing Routine: 

Why: Hot and steamy days mean one thing: sweat. Your body contains between two and four million sweat glands - most are found on your forehead and cheeks - meaning your cleansing game must remain strong to ensure pores remain clear and clean.

How: Gel or foam face washes with deep cleaning ingredients like activated charcoal, tea tree oil, or salicylic acid can be particularly helpful during the hotter summer months. We're currently obsessed with our Tea Tree Super Cleanser which leaves your skin super clean! Ideally, use lukewarm rather than hot water when cleansing your face each morning and night (especially at night when you're sweatiest) to keep sweat at bay and ensure thorough hairline cleansing - this area often gets affected by breakouts!

PS: Cleaning your body every evening after being exposed to sunscreen all day can also be very helpful in maintaining optimal skin health.

2. Avoid Pore-Clogging Ingredients

Why: Clogged pores don't just come from sweat clogging your pores in summer; excess oils, dirt, debris, sunscreen, and makeup may also clog them and lead to breakouts on both your body and face.

How: Routine cleansing can certainly help, but for optimal results use non-comedogenic products across your entire skincare regime to help keep pores clear from the start.

Non-comedogenic refers to ingredients that will not block your pores. While rich butters and heavy oils can do an amazing job at sealing in moisture and supporting barrier function, they're far from non-comedogenic compared to lighter moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil and shea butter, or hydrating gems such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid; all three can be found in our Retinol Moisturizer! Contrary to popular belief you CAN use Retinol in summer!

3. Exfoliate (In Moderation)

Why: To combat summer breakouts and keep them at bay, exfoliation should occur more regularly. Exfoliation increases cellular turnover while clearing away dead skin cells that clog your pores.

How: Exfoliation can be dangerous and damaging to skin; one of the many challenges dermatologists face today. But, if you want to step up your game now's the time - just tread carefully: two to three times weekly rather than daily is better, and consider switching out harsh scrubs with fruit shells or nut pieces for gentler alternatives such as Ocean Minerals Super Toner that contains naturally exfoliating glycolic acid instead.

4. Make Friends With Antioxidants

Why: Sun damage is one of the leading sources of free radicals, which have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. They're simply unstable molecules that damage skin by binding themselves to important proteins and DNA strands - leading to oxidative stress which weakens collagen and elastin production and accelerates skin aging. Luckily, antioxidants come to our rescue! These little skincare specialists bind themselves tightly to free radicals to stop them from damaging all that's good about our complexions

How: Antioxidants are essential year-round, but especially so during the warmer months when spending more time outside. We suggest reaching for your top antioxidant weapons: vitamins C and E - an anti-oxidant duo that not only combats oxidative stress but helps prevent dark spots, diminish fine lines, and boost collagen production as well. Simply add a few drops of Vitamin C Facial Serum after cleansing your face each morning after cleansing and before moisturizing to meet daily quota requirements.

5. Don't Stop Believin'... In Moisturizer 

Why: Adding moisturizer may feel counterintuitive during warmer months when your skin appears oilier and sweatier. But natural oils and sweat alone won't keep it hydrated; heat can dehydrate it further which causes even more oil production from your body! To counter this vicious beauty circle, continue moisturizing to maintain skin hydration, promote cell turnover, and preserve the barrier function of your skin barrier function.

How: For best results, opt for lightweight products that won't clog your pores or leave your skin feeling heavy and sticky, such as those rich in humectants like aloe vera gel, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin that attract water molecules to the surface of the skin and help it remain hydrated throughout the day. Try Hyaluronic Facial Serum each night before bed, followed by Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to hydrate and recharge while sleeping.

As always, it is wise to apply broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen daily on any exposed areas of the skin.

But we trust this goes without saying by now…

Checkout our retinol face serum