6 Best Ways to Protect Your Skin This Summer
Best Ways to Protect Your Skin This Summer: 6 Tips for Glowing Summer Skin
Suns out, skins out!! The summer season is upon us and it seems like this year it’s coming with a vengeance. I mean I don’t know about you but it’s already so hot in Jamaica already. Thank God for the little rain that pops in now and then or I’d be shriveled up like a raisin and scorched like burnt paper. With the summer weather coming to its full height, it’s important that we protect our skins as best as possible.
I know what some of you are thinking…. but Nella you live in a Jamaica isn’t it always hot there? Yes it usually is. But there’s regular sun and there is Daenerys Targaryen’s dragon destroying the city hot. And this my friends is where this summer is heading. (fun fact: I’ve never watched Game of Thrones but I’m up-to-date on the ending you Throners called awful…. and I oop). Anyways, the point is the sun is scorching and only getting hotter. And while we’re ready to bare most this summer; we have to make sure we take care of our skin while we’re at it.
These tips will have you showing off your glowing summer skin every chance you can get. Not only will you protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays; but you’ll ward off skin destroyers and celebrate healthy, glowing skin all summer long. So sit back, relax and check out my top easy to implement summer skin care tips below.
1. “Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!”
Water I mean, not beer. With the temperature getting hotter by the minute, it’s so easy to get dehydrated. I mean, the weather is warm; the beach is calling and you’re just dying to show off that new swimsuit you bought just for the summer. Or maybe it’s just a nice day for a picnic or concert in the park. Possibly you’re going on a hike. Whatever your reason is; during the summer season, we usually spend a lot more time outside.
Unfortunately, being outside more in the summer means that often times we’re sweating more so that our bodies can keep cool. As a result, we lose a significant amount of water the more we are out in the sun. If you don't replace the water you lose, you will become dehydrated and that’s no bueno for your skin. Ashy just ain’t cute boo. Plus, if you’re really dehydrated you can get headaches and dizzy spells. Womp!
This summer make water your best friend. You + Water= Forever <3. Experts recommend drinking 8 glasses of water per day. But you may need some more depending on your activity level and sun exposure. Use your body to help you. Feeling thirst? Take couple swigs of water. Lips dry? Chug it! Bonus points and leveling up is when you carry around your reusable water bottle and actually drink it. Oh you a winner right there.
Water helps you to look good, feel amazing and help rid the body of harmful toxins that damages your skin. So cheers to an amazing summer. Drink up love!
2. Cleansing is a must
“You got big skin care dreams. You want great skin. Well, flawless skin costs. And right here’s where you start payin’! If you can tell me where this quote is adapted from then you’re a real OG and I salute you!
Remember all that sweating I kept talking about a little earlier in the first tip. Well you’re probably going to hear much more of it so get used to it. With the weather being so hot we sweat a whole lot more than usual. The sweat is sticky and leaves your skin dirty. Added to that, the air is hot and humid, so your skin is producing more oil than usual. Who knows the recipe for breakouts? I believe dirty, oily skin are somewhere in the mix.
To keep your skin healthy and glowing this summer you need to remove all the oil and grime that can get trapped during the day. So cleansing is a must. Regular skin cleansing is important to maintaining healthy looking and feeling skin; especially during the summer.
Cleanse your skin twice a day; in the mornings when you wake up to wash away oil and sweat that can build up on your skin’s surface overnight. And again before bed to remove the day’s wears and tears and any makeup that have accumulated throughout the day. It not only keeps the skin clean and fresh; it helps to also keep the skin cool and aids in maintaining that much needed skin hydration.
3. Exfoliate your dull skin away
If you want bright and glowing skin, then this step is a MUST DO as part of your summer skin care routine. Now exfoliation should already be part of your regular year-round skincare routine; but if you haven’t started yet, then now’s your chance.
Our bodies shed dead skin cells at a crazy rate each day. Those dead skin cells remain perched on our faces until we finally shake it off like Taylor Swift said. This leads our skin to look dry, dull and puts us at increase risk of clogging our pores leading to acne breakouts. Exfoliation gets rid of those dead skin cells sitting on your skin and enhance the skin’s natural glow. It’s the key to your skin feeling soft and smooth.
Grab a gently face scrub and lightly rub your exfoliator in circular motions over your face and neck. This helps to improve the blood flow to the area being exfoliated. Then, use a body scrub to exfoliate the remainder of your body. Rinse clean once you’ve exfoliated for around 2-3 minutes. After you exfoliate, apply a moisturizer or face cream to seal in the moisture and top it off with some sunscreen.(This is a must!!! Exfoliation makes the skin more sensitive so stepping out into the sun after exfoliating and without sunscreen is just asking for trouble). Exfoliate 2-3 times a week for the glowiest skin of them all.
4. Don’t forget your sunblock
No summer skin care routine can be complete without a good sunblock/ sunscreen. We are constantly being exposed to the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays all year long. But during the summer, when the sun is at it’s peak and the weather is at it’s hottest; those UV rays are especially damaging. Added to that, we spend more of our free time outside soaking up the warm weather after the harsh colder months. Our skins are literally crying out for some protection.
I know the melanin-rich among us may be side-eyeing me with this one. But it’s true we ALL need to wear sunscreen. Our melanin does protect us from the sun much more than our fair-skinned counterparts. But you know what it doesn’t protect us form? Melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sun spots, age spots and hyperpigmentation. It helps but we need some assistance to finish the job properly.
If you don’t already have one, buy a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 protection. And no, if you have two SPF 15 products and put them together it doesn’t equal to SPF 30. It needs to say SPF 30 or something higher like SPF 50, etc. And it’s not enough to just apply sunscreen; you must apply enough, and apply it frequently. Because unfortunately, sunscreen doesn’t last forever or all day for that matter.
Apply sunscreen around 20-30 minutes before you head out into the sun and reapply it every two to three hours. It is recommended that you apply a teaspoon worth of sunscreen for the face and about as much as would fill a shot glass for the body. And if you’re heading into the water or plan to exercise outside, then opt for a sunscreen that’s water-resistant so it won’t wash off.
5. Moisture! Moisture! Moisture! (say this like Jan from the Brady Bunch)
It’s time to tone down on your moisturizer. During the winter/colder months, the aim was to keep all the moisture locked in like a medieval maiden sucked into a corset. However, during the summer it’s okay to change gears and slow down a little. Lighten the moisturizer as you lighten your clothing.
Unlike the winter months when moisture tends to evaporate and leave skin feeling dry and crusty. In the summer, the air is warm and humid, so there is less evaporation of water from the skin into the atmosphere; so the need for moisturizing is much less. Plus, when you use the thick moisturizers in the summer, it can mix with the sweat and oil that collects on your skin’s surface throughout the day and block pores. A lightweight moisturizer absorbs quickly to help restore your skin's natural barrier, without clogging the pores.
6. Go Makeup-Free
Gasp! Blasphemy! I know for some people this may seem just plain crazy. I get it. Trust me I do. I love playing with make up. But honestly, the summer is the time to wear as little of everything as you normally would. And that includes makeup. During the summer, makeup can become sticky, cakey and crease. It tends to move around and literally slides off your face; particularly if you’re being active outdoors.
Let your skin breathe. Opt to go make up free or at least lighter on the makeup this summer. Choose tinted moisturizers or concealer if you want to cover up dark spots. Hold off on the bronzer, foundation and mascara. Let your skin’s natural glow be the star of the summer.
Focus instead on maximizing your skin care. Twice a week use hydrating masks to soothe skin and keep you feeling refreshed. Exfoliate your lips and use lip balms with an SPF of 15 and above. Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes. Spend a bit less time with makeup and more time on doing the skincare habits that your future self will thank you for.
Remember, summer is the time of year to relax, have some outdoor fun and spend time soaking up the beautiful warm weather. But that doesn’t mean you can slack off on your skincare routine. It’s time to switch gears and focus on protecting your skin from the sun while still nourishing it. And once you follow these tips, you’re on your way to keeping your skin healthy and glowing during the summer.