Do you switch up your skincare products and routine with the change of the season? If you’re anything like me, you probably use the same products year round without much thought (even though we know that technically we should be doing different things at different times of the year – insert shrugging emoji). Which is why this article from Allure is perfect. In it, they spoke with board-certified dermatologists to ask for tips on how to switch things up in warmer temperatures. The dermatologists shared ten easy things that we can all do to ensure our skincare routine will still work for us in the summer. I picked my top five favourite tips.
SPF
This first tip is so obvious I wondered about even including it on this list. Yes, you should in fact be wearing sunscreen every day (even in winter), but you should especially be wearing it in the summer – including you, my fellow dark-skinned friend. I’ve written many posts about sunscreen (read them here, here and here) if you’re interested in learning more.
Vitamin C
I didn’t know that vitamin c was really something that should be added to a summer skincare product line-up, but Omer Ibrahim from the Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology thinks that it really should be. This is because it helps prevent hyperpigmentation and can aid in collagen (aka the thing that keeps skin bouncy and youthful) production.
Coincidentally I’ve been using the Avon Anew Vitamin C Radiance Maximising Serum in the mornings and omg my face has not been the same. I think vitamin c helps make skin more luminous glowy, and clear, while also making it super soft and supple.
Lighter products
This tip was another obvious one. Allure likened it to how you wouldn’t wear a thick coat in the summer, so why should skincare be any different? Likewise, Omer Ibrahim advises this for their patients and suggests they use lighter products.
To be honest not much has changed in my skincare regimen apart from the amount of product I’m applying and changing my night cream (which I changed a few months ago by total chance).
Drink (more) water
Though not exactly a product per se, this next tip is pretty important. Again, if you’re anything like me then you’ll understand how hard drinking the recommended amount daily can be. I’ve really tried to drink a lot more water this summer, and I can honestly say that on the days where I drink more water, my skin and body feel so much better than on the days that I don’t.
Exfoliate
I was very surprised to read this last tip. Usual when summer time arrives, I’ve heard more reducing the amount of exfoliation. However, according to Ariel Ostad, a dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon based in New York City, making sure you keep exfoliating in during the summer months is important if you want to reduce the build-up of oil and blocked pores. That said, it’s important to remember to apply SPF as some chemical exfoliants don’t mix well with the sun and can increase hyperpigmentation.
I’ve been using mandelic acid from The Ordinary and the Fresh Sugar Face Polish in the evenings, and the Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser in the morning. And of course, I always wear my Nivea Sun SPF50 sunscreen.
To see the other five things Allure included in their list, check out the full article here. Have you switched up your skincare routine or products for the summer? Let me know in the comments below.
alice
xo
