How to Take Care of Your Skin in Summer: 10 Tips

Summer is right around the corner! Despite the countless benefits of the warmer weather during the summer, it can also be a difficult time for your skin. Plus, there’s pollution and other environmental contaminants that detract from your skin’s natural radiance. Implementing the right skincare routine can help keep your skin healthy and radiant.

Taking care of your skin can differ based on where you live, as heat and humidity levels are different. But no matter where you live, there are always a few basic changes you can make to keep your skin safe, including:

• Wearing sunscreen
• Not over-showering
• Drinking plenty of water

And more! Keep reading to get a more in-depth understanding of the process of caring for your skin.

How Does Summer Affect Your Skin?

Rising temperatures during the summer months combined with heat and humidity can result in more activity of the sebaceous glands. This means that your skin will appear oilier or even have rough patches during the summer. Combine this with the sun’s more intense rays and you are then dealing with sunburn and other aging factors.

The fewer melanin pigments that you have, the less natural protection you have from developing skin cancers. More heat during the summer also causes your pores to open, allowing dirt, oil, and bacteria to seep into your skin. This can cause acne, pimples, and blemishes.

10 Essential Summer Skin Care Tips

Our experts have rounded up 10 skincare routine steps to keep in mind as we approach the summer months.

1. Change Your Face Wash

The face wash you use can play a significant role. Remember to change your face wash during the summer months. In the winters, you likely opted for a more nourishing and hydrating face wash to keep the moisture in your skin. If you have dry or combination skin, try using a non-foaming cleanser in the summer. Wash your face at least twice a day to keep it clean and refreshed.

2. Use Antioxidants

Another summer skin care tip is to use antioxidants. This helps to hydrate your skin and keep you protected from environmental damage. Antioxidants increase collagen production and keep harmful free radicals from damaging your skin. Antioxidant-rich serums are ideal for taking care of combination skin in addition to normal and oily skin types. You can also get antioxidants through food, try citrus fruits, nuts, whole grains, and green vegetables.

3. Keep Your Skin Hydrated

Hydrating skin products will be integral to your summer skincare routine. During the summer, your skin requires both moisture as well as hydration. Consider using a good hydrating mask 1-2 times a week to restore moisture. Wash your face and then apply the mask; many are designed to be worn overnight to soothe, repair, and hydrate skin. Masks can also treat specific conditions such as oil, dryness, acne, etc.

4. Exfoliate Regularly

For brighter and smoother skin this summer, make sure to practice regular exfoliating. This process removes any dull build-up and improves the skin’s overall appearance and texture. There are two ways that you can exfoliate: chemical exfoliation or physical exfoliation. For chemical exfoliation, consider brightening pads that work to gently remove dead skin cells. For physical exfoliation, try a natural home remedy such as coffee grounds mixed with sea salt and oil.

5. Use Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be worn year-round and especially during the summer. Make sure to wear SPF every day to protect your skin. Ideally, you’ll opt for a sunscreen that has a broad ultraviolet spectrum (at least 30 SPF and covers both UVA and UVB rays). If you’re spending the day in the sun, reapply your sunscreen every three hours. You should also put sunscreen on your feet, shoulders, and neck.

6. Cut Down on Makeup

Makeup can help you feel more confident in your skin, but during the summer months, consider cutting back. The more minimal your makeup, the better your skin will breathe. It’s already battling suppressive heat and humidity during the summer which can add stress to your skin. Avoiding heavy products can reduce breakouts and irritants. Try using a tinted moisturizer or tinted lip balm rather than heavy foundation and lipstick. If you’re insecure about blemishes or redness, you might want to opt for medicated lotions or creams to treat your skin. Remember, beautiful skin is healthy skin.

7. Ditch the Toner

Another tip for skincare in the summer is to avoid using toner. Today’s cleansers and moisturizers are formulated better than ever, especially if you’re using a medical-grade cosmeceutical like the Metropolitan St. James line. Although toners offer a nice cooling sensation, they were created to correct skin from harsh chemical cleansers. But modern cleansers have a better pH balance, so use your money to upgrade your cleanser and moisturizer and skip the toner.

8. Drink Plenty of Water

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Water is one of the most important ingredients in healthy skin tissue and a healthy overall routine. Drinking plenty of water throughout the summer can help keep your skin glowing and radiant. Ideally, you’ll drink 2-3 liters of water every day to keep both you and your skin hydrated. Water can also help flush out any built-up toxins in your body.

9. Don’t Forget Your Eyes, Lips & Feet

Your eyes, lips, and feet could use some TLC, too! Wear sunglasses whenever possible and use an under-eye gel to keep your eyes protected from damaging UV rays. Don’t forget to use a lip product that has SPF in it to keep your lips protected. Make sure to scrub your feet often to exfoliate and always apply a layer of SPF if you’re wearing open-toed shoes.

10. Stay In the Shade

Part of your summer skincare routine should be to spend some time in the shade. Along with sitting under a tree or an umbrella, wide-brim hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing can keep your body protected from harmful rays. While it’s not always possible to wear layers while you are outside, try to expose your body to as little direct sunlight as possible.

Treat Your Skin Before Summer Is Here!

The Metropolitan Skin Clinic is your go-to resource for your best and brightest skin. We are proud to serve Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Edina areas with top-quality skin procedures and products to keep your skin and its peak. Our services include hydrafacials, chemical peels, skin pen microneedling, and St. James medical-grade products.

Contact us to learn more about how we can transform your skin and your confidence.