It's summer! And with it comes carefree beach days, bulk sunshine, wavy hair and bronzed-up skin. But the hot temperatures can also bring with it more sweat (trapping the likes of makeup, dirt and oil in our pores) and dehydration too - so of course like any season, summer is a good time to rethink your routine. And the good news is, less is more!
So check out our simple tips and our summer skincare routine that'll keep you carefree, confident and protected all summer long. Get out there and enjoy yourself!
Decongest your skin
With the higher temperatures causing us to sweat more, not to mention the constant use of sunscreen, it's important to decongest trapped oils, dirt, makeup and sunscreen regularly, to avoid summer breakouts. Decongest pores and polish away dead skin cell build up with a manual exfoliant like Polished: Refining Exfoliant or with a chemical exfoliant like Canvas: Resurfacing AHA & BHA Treatment. Exfoliate twice a week (if your skin allows) for best results.
Hydrate your skin
Just like your body, your skin gets thirsty too. Keep symptoms of skin dehydration like tightness, redness and oiliness at bay by applying an ultra-hydrating serum like Essence: Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid & Ceramide Serum each morning to pre-dampened skin. Pack Harmony: Radiance Boosting Toner into your beach bag and spritz across your face regularly throughout the day (before reapplying sunscreen) to quench your skin's thirst.
Opt for lighter skincare
With the higher temperatures and likelihood of sweat becoming trapped in your pores, it's a good idea to keep your skincare on the lighter side, while avoiding heavier creams and oils. When trapped in by sweat, heavier creams and oils can congest pores, and they can also impede the proper absorption of daily sunscreen. Go oil-free throughout the day as much as possible! If you still want to nourish your skin with a cream or oil, keep it for the night time routine instead.
Protect your skin
Whether you're indoors or outdoors, always finish your morning skincare routine with sunscreen. In the southern hemisphere, it's recommended to apply a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen product multiple times throughout the day. Be sure to apply to your face and décolletage, as well as your lips, ears, hands and even the tops of your feet. We recommend checking out our friends at Naked Sundays for a product that suits you.
Wear lighter makeup
The best thing about summer in our humble opinion, is makeup-free days at the beach! But it's also a super social time, so if you're popping on a bit of makeup for a get-together or night out, make sure it's on the lighter side. Just like your skincare choices, opt for noncomedogenic and oil-free options. Mineral makeup, BB creams, tinted moisturisers and the likes could be the way to go - whatever your preference!
Summer skincare routine
Skin goals and treatments aside, a good summer morning skincare routine could simply look like: a gentle cleanse with Purified: Purifying Cleanser, followed by a spritz of Harmony: Radiance Boosting Toner. While your skin is still damp from Harmony, apply Essence: Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid & Ceramide Serum. Allow Essence to dry (wait approximately 60 seconds), spritz Harmony again, and apply either Sol: Hydrating Gel Moisturiser or The Limelight: Brightening Probiotic Lotion (depending on your skin type) to your dampened skin. Wait for your skin to dry again, and then apply your sunscreen. On days that you need to exfoliate, simply insert this step after cleansing and before toning. And with minimal products and fuss, you're out the door with fresh, hydrated, glowing skin!
