☀️Can you believe summer is just around the corner? It’s time to soak up the sun and enjoy long, bright days filled with adventures and fun! The beaming sun, drying chlorine, and shifting seasons can wreak havoc on our complexions if we aren’t proactive about prevention. Dullness, dryness, breakouts, and irritation are par for the course. But with my skincare tips, you can maintain a gorgeous, glowing complexion all summer long!
In this month’s blog, I’ll be sharing my top product recommendations, daily habits, ingredients to look for, and lifestyle tweaks to get your skin in tip-top condition. Consider this your guide to achieving goddess-level radiance this sunny season. Read until the end to check out my recommended products! Let’s get glowing!
Protect With SPF☀️
First and foremost, sun protection is non-negotiable for summer skincare. UV exposure is the number one cause of premature aging, dark spots, and skin cancer. Making SPF a daily habit is crucial.
Here are my sun safety tips:
Apply broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen every single morning, even if indoors. Reapply every 2 hours spent outside.
Look for lightweight gels or fluids that won’t feel heavy. Chemical SPF ingredients tend to be more cosmetically elegant.
Mineral SPF formulas provide physical UV blockage if your skin is sensitive. Look for zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Sunglasses and wide-brim hats give eyes and delicate facial skin extra defense against rays.
Seek shade during peak sun hours between 10 am and 4 pm. Better yet, plan more activities in the cooler early morning and evening.
Don’t forget spots like ears, lips, tops of feet, and hands! Apply SPF balms or sprays there too.
With diligent SPF habits, you can play all day in the sunshine without worry!
Double Down on Hydration💦
Intense summer sun and heat cause water loss leading to dry, dull, flaky complexions. Boosting hydration is essential to restore that coveted summer glow. Here are my top ways to quench thirsty skin:
Apply antioxidant-rich facial oils morning and night. Sweet almond, jojoba, rosehip, and marula oils are great options. Let skin fully absorb before layering other products.
Use an essence lotion or toner with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid right after cleansing when the skin is most absorbent.
Opt for creamy, emollient moisturizers that seal in hydration rather than lotions which can feel insufficient. Look for shea butter, plant oils, and ceramides in the formula.
Misting your face with a spray bottle of pure rose water provides an instant hydration refresh at midday or after exercising. Store it in the fridge for extra cooling benefits.
Eat more foods with high water content like cucumber, watermelon, strawberries, grapefruit, and lettuce to hydrate from within.
Carry a reusable water bottle everywhere and sip constantly throughout the day. Proper hydration shows in glowing skin!
Quenching dehydrated summer skin leads to that coveted natural radiance. Don’t let tight, flaky complexions steal your glow!
Exfoliate Strategically🧼
When skin is drier in the summer, it’s smart to avoid over-exfoliating with abrasive scrubs or acids which can worsen irritation. But strategic, gentle exfoliation is key to revealing fresh, smooth skin by sloughing off dead cells.
Here are smart tips for exfoliating in summer:
Use a soft net sponge daily with a cleanser for very gentle physical exfoliation. The unique material won’t tear delicate skin.
Try enzymes like papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin which dissolve dead skin cells without irritation. Look for enzyme masks and cleansers.
Opt for a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) toner containing gluconolactone which is gentler than AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid. Start by using it twice a week.
If using facial scrubs, pick a formula with spherical beads rather than jagged particles, and massage in gentle circles avoiding sensitive areas.
Schedule a professional light chemical peel at your dermatologist’s office. In-office procedures are safer for sensitive skin.
Assess regularly and pull back if skin ever feels raw or irritated post-exfoliation. Hydrating and nourishing is better than overdoing it.
By exfoliating mindfully and stopping immediately if any stinging occurs, your complexion will reap the brightening rewards of cell turnover without redness or inflammation.
Repair Summer Skin Damage🌤️
No matter how diligent we are with SPF, summertime skin woes like sunburns, bug bites, chlorine dryness, or saltwater irritation are bound to happen. Having products on hand to counteract skin damage helps get your glow back fast.
Here are my top soothing remedies:
Sunburn relief: Apply aloe vera gel or a cold compress. Avoid direct sun until healed.
Chlorine detox: Rinse skin after swimming then apply a vitamin C serum to neutralize chlorine effects.
Bug bites: Dab anti-itch creams with menthol, calamine, or hydrocortisone to ease itching and swelling. Avoid scratching.
Windburn: Intensely nourish chapped skin with thick ointments like Aquaphor to reinforce the moisture barrier.
Saltwater therapy: Post-beach, rinse with fresh water, and moisturize the skin to counteract the ocean’s drying saltwater and minerals.
Overexposure: If the skin is extra sensitive to too much sun, use soothing creams with niacinamide, oats, aloe, and ceramides to calm and replenish.
Having these healing remedies for common summer skin woes can quickly get you back to feeling beachy and bright. Don’t suffer dry uncomfortable skin another day!
Eat Skin-Loving Foods🍉
You’ve likely heard the phrase “you are what you eat.” Well, it’s especially true for getting that summer glow! Feeding your body antioxidant and nutrient-rich foods from within creates visible radiance.
These are my top glow-boosting summer foods to eat regularly:
Watermelon: Hydrates and provides skin-smoothing electrolytes
Citrus fruits: For immunity and vitamin C radiance boosts
Leafy greens: Packed with hydrating phytochemicals
Avocados: Healthy fats and vitamins nourish deeply
Tomatoes: Contain collagen-protecting lycopene
Berries: High in antioxidants to fight free radicals
Cherries: Packed with melatonin to promote sleep
Carrots: Vitamin A protects from sun damage
Pineapple: Contains enzymes and vitamin C for brightening exfoliation
Salmon: Rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3s to reduce redness
A diet filled with vibrant fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and antioxidants manifests in a vibrant, healthy complexion. Time for your skin to glow from the inside out!
Get Your Beauty Sleep😴
While we all want to soak up every precious minute of summer's long sunny days, shortchanging your sleep really takes a toll on skin health. Restorative sleep is when skin cells regenerate and repair damage.
Follow these sleep habits for beauty benefits:
Turn off electronic devices at least one hour before bed to minimize blue light disruption.
Sleep in a cool, pitch-black room which promotes melatonin release.
Cut off caffeine intake after 2pm since it impedes quality sleep.
Engage in relaxing activities before bed like meditation, reading or soft music.
Invest in silk pillowcases, which are gentler on skin and hair.
Wash makeup and sunscreen off thoroughly before bed so pores can detoxify.
Apply rich night creams before bed that hydrate and replenish skin overnight.
Prioritizing deep, high-quality sleep allows your body and skin to recharge for radiance. Don’t dismiss its importance!
❗️BONUS PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS❗️
Sunscreen: 60+ SPF
Body Sponge: Mesh Net Sponge
Exfoliator: Matcha Body Scrub Collection
Everyday Moisturizer: Shea Butter
Sunburns: Vitamin C Serum
This summer, armed with my skincare survival tips, your complexion will look sun-kissed and vibrant rather than drab and damaged. Feed your skin nourishing ingredients. Let me know if you discover any other glow-getting secrets! Enjoy a beautiful summer, inside and out.
Xoxo,
Amore Alimah
Nice blog post! im in need of good sun screen!