Summer – it’s the perfect time to start over, recharge, and relax. As the temperature changes, your beauty skincare routine should too. No need to put away all your spring skincare products, just update your regimen with these tips to protect your skin from the warm, humid and sunny months.
First things first: Adjust your skincare routine. Exfoliate your skin 3 times week to get rid of any spring flakiness and switch to a slightly lighter moisturizer to protect your skin for the warmer weather. You should still use spf30 sunscreen EVERY DAY to protect skin from the sun’s damaging rays.
Step 1 – Cleanse: With warmer weather approaching your face wash is the #1 item in your skincare routine that you should switch out. Instead of a moisturizing cleanser, opt for a more clarifying oil-absorbing cleanser. Never use a cleanser with any detergent (SLS). The common “foaming agent” found in many skin care face washes sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) is the same ingredient found is dish washing soap and laundry detergent…need I say more!
This ingredient can be incredibly harsh and irritating to the skin, so read your ingredient labels! Instead, try a soothing and purifying facial cleanser that is natural and non-drying. Look for ingredients such as silver and salicylic acid (clarifying and brightening) as well as resveratrol (super anti-oxidant and detoxing). These cleansers will not only dissolve make up and dirt, but will leave your skin calm, clean and clear.
Step 2 – Exfoliate: It’s so very important to exfoliate your skin. Your body sheds skin cells at an amazing rate every minute of every day. If you don’t get rid of them, they’re just sitting on your skin, making you look dull and dry. No matter how much lotion you use you’re never going to have glowing skin if you don’t exfoliate.
Especially when you are transitioning from spring to summer- you want to reveal a fresh young complexion! Grab a gentle facial exfoliator and hit the shower. The steam will gently soften your skin and allow the scrub to easily slough off dead dull skin! Gently rub your exfoliator in circular movements on your face for 2-3 minutes and rinse with warm water. Continue to do this 2-3 times a week for beautiful skin.
Step 3 – Treat & Prevent Pigmentation: Now that summer is approaching we want to also transition into effortless and minimal make-up. Nothing looks worse than the sun reflecting on caked on make-up that’s attempting to cover up an uneven complexion. So now is the time to not only lighten uneven pigmentation- but prevent it as well. Try wearing a lightening gel or treatment underneath your moisturizer. Look for ingredients like Bellisperennis (extracted from a Daisy flower) that works to lighten and brighten spots as well and protect skin from reacting to the sun and developing future damage. This is a genius breakthrough ingredient – I find it so helpful and have been working with it on a daily basis to help treat my clients. I recommend using a product like this 1-2 times a day with an spf30. If you are going to be in the sun or if your skin is more sensitive then use once a day only in the evening.
Step 4 – Nourish & Protect: Oil-free products are not always the answer (even during warmer months); some oils are actually GOOD for your skin. No doctor would tell you to avoid all fat in your diet and eat 500 calories a day- you would starve! Why would you avoid nourishing oils and starve your skin. While olive oil is praised for its health benefits, so are flax oil and grape seed oil for their cosmetic ones. Avoid mineral oil (I call it the lard of skin care) and look for cosmetic grade flax seed oil and grape seed oil rich in anti-oxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that are often found in hydrating serums. They help nourish the skin from the inside out and actually help balance and control skin’s natural oil production. Everyone from rosacea prone- acne skin types can benefit from a little oil. And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE wear an spf30- EVERY DAY on you entire face and body!
Don’t forget your body! Summer is the season for tank tops, shorts, halter tops and other reveling clothing. You should focus on transitioning the skin on legs, arms, chest, and shoulders too!! Follow these 3 steps for glowing skin from head to toe!!
- Exfoliate your entire body in a warm steamy shower 2-3 times a week.
- Apply a good quality body oil as soon as you get out – apply on damp skin for best absorption. If you shower in the morning follow with a layer of sunscreen spf30 to protect your skin.
- Treat body blemishes as you do facial ones. This mean have a spot treatment handy for little pesky body breakouts- so nothing gets in between you and your summer wardrobe