Summer is definitely the most fun seasons of the year! It is the season to kick back, relax, and just enjoy being outside without the cold breeze, but it's surely not the time to slack on your skincare routine. Ultraviolet rays are harmful in any season of the year but are especially damaging during the summer month when our exposure levels are higher thanks to spending free days at the beach or in the park. 

              The blazing sun and the scorching heat can be unforgiving, especially to your skin. Pollution and other environmental contaminants take away your skin’s natural radiance, leaving it oily, dull, and blemished. This is why it is extremely important to up your skincare game during this hot season, in addition to maintaining your regular skincare routine.

It can be tough to know where to start when switching over your products for a new season, we have combined 15 useful skincare tips to take into consideration when the summer month is approaching.

1. SPF all day long!

The most important step comes first, it goes without mentioning that sunscreen is highly crucial any month of the year. Especially, during summer, your skin needs sun protection at all cost, if you want your skin to age gracefully and staying flawless, do not ever skip applying sunscreen. Whether if you are planning to stay home or outdoor, sunscreen is always a must!

If you dislike the sticky texture of sunblock, the good news is there are plenty of formulas in the market, take your time and find the perfect sunscreen for you. It is also crucial to acknowledge that sunscreen must be reapplied throughout the day, especially if you spend a long period of time outdoor, to maximise the full benefits of sunscreen, ensure that you reapply every 3-4 hours.

2. Do not forget to exfoliate

People often skip exfoliating to avoid irritating sensitive skin, the truth is when you exfoliate correctly, it should leave your skin with nothing but softness. Dermatologists often remind people to not over-exfoliate but don’t skip exfoliating as a whole! It is an important step in taking great care of your skin, during this process, you are unclogging your pores from dirty particles and dead skin cells.

Without this step, your skin cannot naturally get rid of dead skin cells efficiently. These impurities cause many issues such as breakouts, scaring and irritations. Especially during summer, where you tend to sweat more than usual, the pores catch on to those particles quickly filling in those gaps with oil. Therefore, don’t forget to take care of your skin and exfoliate 1-2 times every week.

3. Moisturise religiously

This is old news; moisturising is vital in every month of the year. If you could one thing right for your skin, choose your moisturiser wisely. A great moisturiser will not only keep your skin moisturised (like its name suggested) but it will also control the oil produced, when your skin is receiving enough moisture and hydration, it will not produce excessive natural oil to combat the dryness.

Just because in summer your skin seems to be more moist than usual, do not skip applying moisturise.

4. Keep your skin hydrated

It is never a good sign when your skin is dry, in summer, there are plenty of things to do to keep your skin hydrated. We highly suggest carrying a hydration mist in your purse or your car, it acts as an on-the-go hydration booster to give you an immediate refreshing sensation even in 35 degrees weather!

5. Do not over moisturised your skin

While keeping your skin hydrated is extremely important, it is crucial to keep in mind that nothing is ever good when it is done at such an extreme. Keep it cool, keep it calm. You do not need to moisturise more than twice a day during summer.

6. Avoid comedogenic products

Take a deep look at the ingredient list of your skincare products and only keep those that are non-comedogenic. You might be a little confused on what it means. “Non-comedogenic products are products that are safe for acne-prone skin,” says board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Yoram Harth. Essentially these products contain ingredients that will not clog the pores and not cause more blackheads or whiteheads.

While some skin types may not be directly affected by comedogenic products, it is a good habit to start reading the ingredient lists and monitor what ingredients are in your skincare products. There is no harm in practicing a good habit! Like mentioned, in summer, the pores have a much higher chance to get clogged due to the humid temperature, sweats and polluted air, therefore choosing non-comedogenic products will make your life much easier!

7. The lighter the better!

During the summer months search for a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser. Since the air contains more moisture, a rich and thick formula cream will make your skin feel weighed down and heavy. You may sweat more during outdoor activities, therefore choose the right oil-free moisturiser will not clog pores. If you can’t be bothered with skincare and aim to do the bare minimal, find a moisturiser that contains SPF of at least 30.

8. Treatment and mask regularly

One thing that you must keep in mind is that during summer your skin can experience burning sensations or red rashes. These reactions are surprisingly more common than you might think, it can be caused by a direct interaction with the sun.

This is when treatments and masks come in handy, applying hydration or sleeping masks will give your skin an immediate boost of hydration and softness. Applying a thick layer especially around burnt area or irritated area will allow your skin to properly heal and replenish.  

9. Avoid harsh ingredients

This come to no surprise, avoid ingredients that will cause irritations, allergy and inflammation during summer. Allow your skin to do its thing without applying harsh chemicals that will only cause damage to your skin.

10. Drink water

Drink water, drink water and drink water! In fact, our body is made up of 70% water molecules, the more water you can get into your system, the better your body will function. In reality, hydration from within is probably the most important parts of skincare. No matter the amount of moisturiser you apply, nothing beats natural moisture from your body. Even better, drinking water has been proven to reduce tiredness, exhaustion and blurriness.

11. Invest in Vitamin c serum

Vitamin c is legendary for a reason, it has various benefits that can improve your skin complexion and radiate healthy shines. It works in a way that penetrates deep down into your skin barrier and fixes the uneven skin tone, rough texture, fine lines, acne scars, general dullness and many more! You can name any common complexion concern and there’s a high chance that vitamin c can fix them!

12. Don’t skip eye cream and eye protection

People often neglect applying moisturiser to the eye areas, in reality, moisturiser can be applied everywhere around your face. This is the same goes for sunscreen, sun exposure will gradually thin the skin under your eyes and cause wrinkles. Protect the delicate areas of your face with appropriate creams and balms is necessary.

13. Introduce antioxidants into your routine

We highly suggest investing in a good antioxidant serum during the summer. Not only does an antioxidant serum hydrates your skin, but it can also protect your skin from environmental damage. It helps to boost collagen production and will prevent skin damage. Remember that you can include antioxidants in your skin care regimen by adding them to your diet as well. Stock up on citrus fruits, green and leafy vegetables, green tea, nuts, and whole grains to have youth less looking skin!

14. Go with a refreshing toner

Using a good toner can help exfoliate your pores. This is important in summer to prevent oil accumulation in the pores. The t-zone of the face has the largest concentration of sebaceous glands and will tend to formulate acne and pimples during the summertime. Pay close attention to this zone while toning your face. Use a cucumber or Aloe Vera based toner which is light and refreshing.

15. Nothing beats natural remedies

Skincare products on the market does wonders for many people, however, sometimes it is great to take a step back and appreciate the natural ingredients that you have in your cabinet! Your kitchen might be a storehouse for the best facial cleansers, toners, and moisturisers. Ingredients such as oatmeal, coffee grounds, grated cucumber, plain yoghurt, and sea salt can be used as skin care products in the summer.