Transitioning your skincare for Summer
Our skin is the largest organ in the body and goes through many changes throughout our life and can be affected by hormones, diet, lifestyle, age, genetics, and of course, environmental changes.
As the weather begins to warm up, we see changes in humidity, sun exposure and temperature which can disrupt the skin barrier, causing a change in skin texture, perhaps an increase in oil production, congestion and more sensitivity.
As we (slowly) transition to summer, you may find it necessary to switch out some of your old faithful products to welcome in products that will balance and hydrate throughout the warmer months and we wanted to share our tips for making this transition as seamless as possible.
1. CLEANSE
Cleanse with milk or gel cleansers to keep your oil production balanced and prevent stripping the skin.
2. SWITCH UP YOUR MOISTURIZER
You may find that the rich moisturizer that your skin was drinking up in December might now be feeling heavy, that's because heavier creams are rich in emollients to prevent moisture loss from your skin. As the temperature rises, you'll sweat more and your skin may feel greasy after applying a thick moisturizer to your face. To balance this, consider swapping rich creams for gel moisturizers or lightweight facial oils, that absorb quickly into your skin.
It's important to remember that all skin types need hydration and moisture in the summer months. Since skin will be losing water faster than usual, skipping on moisturizer is not the answer, try reaching for one that is rich in natural moisturizing factors such as hyaluronic acid or linoleic acid. These ingredients will prevent moisture evaporating from your skin but will not clog pores.
Noto Moisture Riser Cream, $68
3. EXFOLIATE
Generally, we need to slow down on exfoliation during winter to avoid irritating our skin and disrupting our skin barrier. However, in Spring, the layers of dead skin cells that may have piled up during colder days need to be sloughed off. Your spring/summer skincare routine for exfoliation should involve using either physical or chemical exfoliants. But remember that over-exfoliating your skin can cause irritation and inflammation. Exfoliate twice weekly or if you have dry skin exfoliate once a week. With some gentler products, you may be able to increase exfoliation but always start slow and build up to see how your skin tolerates it.
NatureOfThings Clarifying Facial Polish, $83
Josh Rosebrook Daily Acid Toner, $42
4. UP THE SPF
If you haven't already, take a peek at our last blog post for a more in depth look at SPF. Long story short, SPF should be worn everyday, rain or shine (you'll get sick of us harping on about this but it is important!) but it is most crucial in Spring/Summer when the suns rays are at their strongest. A Broad Spectrum SPF 30-50 will do the trick and should ideally be reapplied every couple of hours to protect you from the UV rays that can cause sun damage and hyperpigmentation.
5. ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants protect your skin against free radicals. These destructive radicals are released from the sun’s UV rays and air pollution. They damage your skin in a process called oxidative stress, resulting in sun damage, premature skin aging and even skin cancer in the long run.
By neutralizing free radicals, antioxidants protect your skin from the signs of premature aging as well as prevent the breakdown of collagen and reduce inflammation.
Powerful sources of antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A (Retinol), Niacinamide and Green Tea Extract.
Josh Rosebrook Active Infusion Oil, $92
6. COMBAT OIL WITH OIL
During summertime, you may also notice an increase in breakouts and oiliness. As the temperature increases, your skin’s sebaceous glands produce more sebum to regulate your body temperature. This excess sebum can clog pores and cause breakouts but using a lightweight facial oil will help those with oily and acne prone skin. By rebalancing your sebum consistency and replenishing your skin, you'll notice fewer breakouts and happier skin.
7. KEEP IT SIMPLE
For healthy skin in summertime, the fewer products the better. Skip the many layers and keep things simple. Create an easy regimen of cleansing, antioxidants, exfoliation, hydration and sunscreen. If you're a makeup wearer, try to opt for lighter products that will allow your skin to breathe such as tinted SPF and maybe choose to keep skin products at a minimum and highlight other features on the face instead.
Cle Cosmetics CCC Cream SPF 50, $45
Henne Nourishing Lip Tint, $27
8. SPRING CLEAN
Take time to spring clean your beauty cabinet and say goodbye to any beauty products that are past their expiration date. Look for the period-after-opening (PAO) symbol on the back or bottom of any product, which looks like like an open tub with a number next to or inside it. This tells you how many months your product should be effective for after opening.
Wash all beauty tools including face cloths, re-usable cotton pads, ice-rollers and makeup brushes even more regularly in the summer months as these can be breeding ground for bacteria, which transfers to your face and can clog pores.
All of this to say that simplicity and consistency are key when it comes to creating a summer skin routine that keeps your skin happy and healthy. If you're unsure of where to start or need help with recommending products, book in for a skincare consultation and we'll have a chat about your existing routine and guide you towards products for your skin type and concerns!
