How to Change Your Skincare for Summer
Early summer is the perfect time to inventory your skincare products and make some changes for glowing, healthy summer skin.
The summer months are hotter and often more humid. You are likely spending more time outdoors, with increased sun exposure. As the weather changes, your skincare should too.
This article is packed with summer skincare tips. Keep reading to learn how to uplevel your summer skincare routine. We will cover:
- Summer skincare tips + sun protection
- Tips for acne-prone and oily skin
- The best sunblock solutions from NassifMDâ
Let’s get going!
Summer Skincare Tips for Safe, Healthy Skin
In the winter, skin tends to be more dry, and heavier moisturizers and creams help with skin hydration and protection. As we shift from the colder months into warmer ones, we begin to think more about skin protection, lighter hydration methods, antioxidants, and more.
Many of these topics are covered in How To Transition Your Skincare Routine from Winter to Spring. It’s a must-read!
Skin Protection from Sun Exposure
If you’re going only to take away one tip, this is it: protect your skin from the sun.
Exposure to UV radiation from the sun accelerates skin aging, impairs skin cell function and DNA, and may lead to cancer. Over time, you may notice a decrease in skin elasticity and increase in crepey skin, (link to crepey skin article) along with fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and other symptoms of photodamage.
Apply Sunscreen Often
Sunblock, or sunscreen, is a practical way to minimize sun-damaged skin and aging. Choose a moisturizing product with at least SPF 30 broad-spectrum protection that protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
How often should you apply sunscreen?
For sun-exposed skin, apply sunscreen every two hours. Reapply after being in the water or sweating. In addition, you may need to adjust the timing based on how easily your skin burns. And don’t forget your lips!
If you’re wondering when to apply sunscreen in your skincare routine, apply it as the last step before makeup.
Limit Sun Exposure
The most apparent skin protection solution for how to prevent sunburn is to avoid the sun. Here are some ways to limit sun exposure this summer:
- Seek out shade.
- Make your own shade with an umbrella.
- Exercise or gather outdoors during non-peak sunlight, such as early morning or sunset. Stay inside mid-day, especially from 10 am to 2 pm.
Then, when you do go outside, wear sunscreen or cover-up.
Use SPF Makeup
Swap out winter makeup for SPF makeup. For example, choose a tinted moisturizer, a loose powder, or other makeup with SPF.
Often tinted moisturizers and other SPF makeup aren’t applied thickly enough to have the full SPF protection, so you can still layer it over your facial sunscreen for improved benefit. Also, less or no makeup in the summer is totally fine; just be sure to wear sunscreen.
Wear Sun Protective Clothing
Sun-protective clothing is another way to limit sun exposure or supplement sunscreen use. Some ideas are:
- Wear a wide-brimmed
- Long sleeves and long pants in breathable fabrics
- Rash guards and other sun-protective swimwear
- SPF clothing
- Sunglasses
Consider Self-Tanning
Self-tanning lotion can help you get the tanned, sun-kissed summer look without damaging your skin. When self-tanning, be sure to wear sunscreen or cover up outdoors.
For Acne Prone Skin
UV exposure from the sun can trigger or worsen acne by creating more inflammation in the skin. The use of sunscreen may protect against summer acne flares. Be sure to choose a sunscreen that works well with sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Use Antibacterial Soap
Changes in the skin microbiome can contribute to acne, so promoting microbiome balance is important. Read more about diet strategies and skincare from the inside out here.
In some cases, an antibacterial face wash may impact beneficial bacteria that are crucial for a healthy skin microbiome. In other cases where pathogenic bacteria contribute to acne, antibacterial products may be a better choice. This is a great conversation to have with your dermatologist for personalized guidance.
Use Light Moisturizers
It feels so good to use a heavy moisturizer or cream in the winter, but most people will benefit from switching to a light moisturizer in the summer months. If you have acne or have combination skin, you don’t need to skip hydration or moisturizing; just choose a lightweight moisturizer instead.
For Oily Skin
As with acne-prone skin, oily skin can also benefit from sunscreen to counter skin sun damage. However, sunscreen can clog pores, so cleansing and exfoliation are important (but don’t overdo it).
Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells and impurities from the skin’s surface. You can use physical skin exfoliation products, such as scrubs, or gentle chemical exfoliation such as hydroxy acids.
How to exfoliate skin: Our favorite way to exfoliate is with NassifMD® Detox Pads, which work great for oily skin and all skin types. Learn more about detox pads here.
Because of humidity, sweating, sunscreen use, and other factors, you may want to exfoliate more frequently in the summer. Be sure to avoid exfoliating sunburned skin.
Don’t Wash Your Skin Too Often
People with oily skin should be careful with washing their skin too often. Washing away the oils can cause the skin to overproduce more. So, stick to washing your face twice per day and showering once. Time showers after exercise or sweating to avoid overwashing.
The Best SPF Products for Healthy Summer Skin
When it comes to sunscreen, not all products are created equal. Yes, you want SPF protection, but you also need antioxidants and hydrating ingredients to nourish and protect your skin. The NassifMDâ summer skincare line provides effective sun protection through light, nourishing, and easy-to-use formulas.
NassifMD® Protect & Hydrate Daily Mineral Sunscreen is an SPF moisturizer, a cross between sunscreen and moisturizer. It supplies SPF 44, our favorite hydrating ingredient, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C for antioxidant protection. It has a lightweight texture and wears wonderfully under makeup.
NassifMD® Simply Hydration Sheer Daily Sunscreen is another daily sunscreen option. This SPF 40 formula also provides hyaluronic acid for skin hydration, vitamin E to prevent premature aging, and polyphenol-rich plant extracts for extra protection. This formula is incredibly lightweight and oil-free, making it a perfect option for oily or acne-prone skin.
Don’t forget to protect your lips from the sun! NassifMD® Hydrating Lip Balm fits in your pocket or purse and provides SPF 15 protection. With moisturizing oils from mango, jojoba, and sunflower this balm nourishes, moisturizes, and protects. Reapply as often as needed!
The secret to healthy skin is protecting the skin from sun damage. This is important all year, but particularly in the summer when your skin contacts more UV rays. Luckily, NassifMDâ makes protecting your face and lips easier and more enjoyable than ever. Grab your sunscreen and enjoy your summer adventures!
References
- Ho, C. Y., & Dreesen, O. (2021). Faces of cellular senescence in skin aging.Mechanisms of ageing and development, 198, 111525.
- Chen, X., Yang, C., & Jiang, G. (2021). Research progress on skin photoaging and oxidative stress.Postepy dermatologii i alergologii, 38(6), 931–936.
- Guan, L. L., Lim, H. W., & Mohammad, T. F. (2021). Sunscreens and Photoaging: A Review of Current Literature.American journal of clinical dermatology, 22(6), 819–828.
- Piquero-Casals, J., Morgado-Carrasco, D., Rozas-Muñoz, E., Mir-Bonafé, J. F., Trullàs, C., Jourdan, E., Piquero-Martin, J., Zouboulis, C. C., & Krutmann, J. (2023). Sun exposure, a relevant exposome factor in acne patients and how photoprotection can improve outcomes.Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 10.1111/jocd.15726. Advance online publication.
