Ahh, summer. The time for sunbathing, for getting a taste of the sea and sun, for making a splash on pools, for early morning road trips, to late night bonfires with friends. But summer also comes with a whole array of skin concerns that range from skin dehydration, to pigmentation to intense sun burnt skin. How do you enjoy the bright summer days, without letting summer skin problems win? Prevention, and a whole lot of summer skincare. 

As the skin acclimates to the warmer weather, caring for the skin for summer is different from how you would care for it during the winter. But don’t load up on the sunscreen and aloe vera spritz yet - there’s more to summer skincare than simply protecting the skin from the sun. Check out our list of the best skincare products to splurge on for the summer. 

How Summer Skincare is Different from Winter Skincare

During the winter, our skin takes a hard beating from the cold temperature and lack of humidity. Winter skincare is all about intense hydration and moisturisation to replenish moisture loss, and to prevent skin inflammation. Thicker creams are the skin’s go-to during the colder days. 

Summer skincare is on a different level. The heat causes the skin to perspire and produce more sebum. Using heavy creams (specifically ones with comedogenic ingredients) can cause skin congestion and discomfort. Clogged pores, and the added sweat and pollution on the skin’s surface can trigger more breakouts. Opting for lightweight products that have reparative function is a recommended choice. 

Summer Skin Problems and How to Prevent Them

With sun, sweat, sebum, oil, pollution, and sea salt combined, your skin can be one day away from sporting a full-on breakout. Here are a few tips on how to prevent common summer skin concerns so you can take that perfect summer selfie. 

Summer Breakouts

Summer is a fiesta for breakouts. When the summer sweat mixes with oil and increased humidity, the breakout alarm goes off to prompt acne and blackheads to pop out. Thankfully, tweaking your cleansing routine for the summer can minimise this skin issue! 

Use a cooling cleanser that gently removes surface dirt and oil, all while giving your face that refreshed feeling. For a more thorough cleansing, use a cleansing brush to make sure no dirt can sneak out and wreak havoc. 

 

 

 

 

Tight, Dehydrated Skin

Summer heat, seawater, and pool chlorine can leave your skin dry, and dehydrated, parched and flaky. But don’t ditch the Bondi Icebergs photoshoot yet! You can still achieve that dewy, flawless summer skin with just the right hydration routine. 

Skip the heavy creams and look for moisturisers infused with Vitamin E, C, and Aloe Vera. Take hydration up a notch by adding a serum - aka the potent moisturiser - with green tea, argan oil, and hyaluronic acid. 

Sunburn

Sunscreen is not just for the beach. It’s for the entire season, when the sun has no mercy on the skin. Skipping the sunscreen can cause premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. 

Even on a regular daily, make it a habit to apply sunscreen on the face to prevent extreme sun damage. Concerned about overloading on products? Consider incorporating a moisturiser with SPF to your skincare must-haves. 

Oil Overload

When the weather is hot, oil production gets a field day. As the skin gets dry, the more it’s made to think it has to produce more oil to combat moisture loss. This explains the unusual oiliness you get during the summertime. 

For this oily concern check for products that are comedogenic - aka acne-causing - as they can ramp up oil production. Specific ingredients to look out for include heavy oils (chia, coconut, avocado, marula, palm, carrot seed), and comedogenic emulsifiers like coconut and cocoa butter. 

The secret is in moisturisation - you still need to moisturise in the summer. Sounds counterintuitive but to fight excess sebum, you must keep your skin hydrated. Safe options include shea butter, hyaluronic acid, aqua, and glycerin. 

For that instant mid-day freshness, keep a face mist in your stash. 

 

Summer days are the best days - especially if your skin is ready for the adventure. Don’t let summer breakouts spoil the fun - have a skincare routine that will help make summer skin issues a thing of the past. 

Need some help putting together the best skincare routine for your skin type? Try our skin quiz!

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