Hello,
This is Martha Thomas, head of customer care for Tree of Life Beauty, and I want to welcome you to our blog where we discuss important ways to age gracefully, "how-tos" for keeping skin healthy as you age, and so much more.
This week we will discuss "The Ultimate Guide to Summer Skincare" If you missed any of our past blog posts, please check them out here on our website.
Please be advised that we are not doctors or dermatologists, and this article should not be taken as medical advice or any medical statement. Any questions or issues involving your skin-care needs should be taken up with a physician, and we highly recommend you consult with your doctor before taking up any skin-care regimen.
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As the climate changes, so does the skin on your face. In the winter, you may find that your skin is dry and flaky, and in the spring you may find that it’s puffy and red. Despite the carefree feeling of summer months, our skin doesn’t always love to bask in the warmth as much as we do.
Skin is generally exposed to more potential environmental damage and pollutants in summer months than other times of year. In fact, it’s these summer months that generally age skin faster. Thus, it’s the most important time to focus on proper skin care techniques.
Here is the Tree of Life quick guide to taking care of your skin this summer.
- Use light moisturizers.
Most people generally have oilier skin in hot environments. In this case, you’ll want to stay away from heavy moisturizers that can clog and enlarge pores.
Although your skin feels oily, you still need to moisturize. Keeping up with a moisturizing routine will help protect from dehydration. Opt for light serums that penetrate deeply to lock in hydration without clogging pores or sitting heavily on the skin.
We recommend a hyaluronic acid serum because it is lightweight but highly moisturizing. (You can learn more about the benefits in our article, Let’s Talk about Hyaluronic Acid.)
- Keep exfoliation to a minimum.
In a similar fashion, keep exfoliation to a minimum. While you can get away with exfoliating two or three times per week in drier months, you should lower this to once a week in the summer depending on your skin type.
Over-exfoliation can expose new, young skin to sun, heat, oil, and environmental damage; this can speed up the aging process because your “youthful” skin has a higher chance of being damaged.
- Stay cool.
There are two main reasons why you should keep your skin cool. Firstly, heat pulls moisture out of your face; this dehydration can create tired, sunken, sagging skin. Secondly, sweat and oil buildup can cause an acne breakout or deepen the look of wrinkles.
But staying cool is more than just staying inside in the AC. (P.S. Going from the heat of the outdoors to the cool of the AC can actually shock your skin, which might make it even drier and unhealthier.) To stay cool throughout your adventures, we recommend using a facial spray that you can spritz on your face as you go about your summer daze days.
Make your own facial spray with purified water and cucumber. This is a refreshing mixture that will hydrate and cool your skin in a flash. Put the mixture in a spray bottle, which you can buy at your local dollar store. Keep a few small spray bottles in the fridge, so you can quickly grab one before heading off into the great outdoors.
We also recommend using a Vitamin C facial toner. Quickly swipe the toner over your face with a cotton pad for a revitalized, refreshed look and feel. Plus, you’ll be getting an extra shot of vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Prevent and treat sunburn quickly.
Right after you get a sunburn, you want to be careful what you apply to your face. The ingredients you put on your skin following a burn can help or hurt the future of your face. Along with antioxidants to minimize free radicals, you should also use products that are anti-inflammatory and hydrating. This will help minimize the immediate effects of hot, red, inflamed burns. Aloe leaf juice is a popular ingredient for sunburn care.
- Detox
Many people tend to feel better in the summer months because of the sun and freedom, so we often forget that toxins are still present on our skin. This is especially true if we neglect our typical health and wellness routines. In this way, it’s important to do an occasional detox for your body and face to get your health rebalanced and refocused.
Learn more about how to detox for healthy skin here.
The Bottom Line
Don’t neglect your face in the glow of the summer months. Know how your skin reacts to the heat with regards to hydration, oiliness, and environmental toxins. Using the right, lightweight products will keep your skin fresh, supple, and ready to take on all the joys of summer.