Is Your Skin Ready For Summer?
Skin Care need not be complicated. We are born with beautiful skin already, but hormonal and environmental stresses challenge caring for our skin as we grow in years. A good skincare routine of cleansing, exfoliating, sunscreen, and moisturizing is a few-step guideline you can follow day or night to preserve your skin health and stay vibrant and beautiful for many years.
A good skincare routine should be simple, easy to follow, and maintained daily. Skincare routine starts with knowing your skin type (dry, oily, or a combination of dry & oily) and how it is affected due to seasonal changes and body fluctuations. It also is tailored based on each skin kind and the goals for its maintenance. Some might be outdoors all day, needing sunscreen to prevent sun and pollution; others might have acne concerns. Mature skin might need the prevention of fine lines, hyper-pigmentation, or other signs of aging.
Whether you are indoors or outdoors, sun protection is vital daily. As we proceed into summer months when the sun's UV rays constantly glare on our skin, we need that added protection at all times. Oily skin gets oilier, dry skin gets patchy, and combination skin feels dry and oily simultaneously.
Hydrating your body, and not just your face, is the key. A quick tip is to drink plenty of water for a healthy glow.
Drinking fresh fruit juices or smoothies, such as watermelon, carrot, cucumber, orange, or natural coconut water, will help with an internal sheen that will reflect on your skin. Also, eat summer fruits rich in Vitamin C and packed with antioxidants. Summer and winter can make your skin drier and pale, and hydration will aid in retaining internal moisture, getting rid of toxins, and preventing dehydration.
Let's discover ways to shield our skin from the sun's harmful rays and relish outdoor activities during the summer season.
A.M Routine - For Skin Protection
Cleansing:
Clean your face with a gentle non-medicated cleanser to remove dirt and excessive oil, giving you a fresh morning face. Wash your face, but not constantly; that might strip the skin's natural oils.
Use mild pH-balanced and alcohol-free cleansers best suited for your skin type. Oily skin types can use a foamy cleanser with salicylic acid to prevent pore-clogging and breakouts. My skin is always dry, and I use Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser daily. If I apply make-up, I use Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser.
Wash your face with cold water every morning, or apply an ice cube for a healthy glow; it wakes you up and improves blood circulation for much tighter and firmer skin.
Moisturizing:
Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C Serum or oil, and Antioxidant Moisturizer based on your skin type.
After cleansing and cold ice-cube therapy on the face, apply hyaluronic acid, then vitamin C or E serum before applying antioxidant moisturizer, and then follow it with sunscreen.
Hyaluronic acid lubricates the skin, helps it to stretch and flex, and prevents skin wrinkles and lines. Antioxidant or Vitamin C moisturizers with niacinamide hydrate your skin, protect it from environmental toxins, slow skin aging, boost collagen, and remove free-moving radicals that damage the skin.
Hyaluronic acid, I love L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Hyaluronic acid face serum.
My best Vitamin C serum is Tru Naturals Vitamin C serum or Tree of Life Vitamin C serum. I also like COSRX Green Tea Aqua soothing gel cream, which is excellent for the summer months.
Antioxidant moisturizer, Bliss bright idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Protecting and Brightening moisturizer.
The natural choice is always using Aloe Vera gel with JoJoba oil for everyday moisturizer. I use that few times a week.
Eat foods rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C, including citrus fruits, all berries, green tea, green leafy vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, providing valuable nutrients for our skin and skin tone and reducing lines and wrinkles.
Using Sunscreen:
The most essential skin care is using sunscreen during summer to protect your skin against harmful UV rays. Too much sun exposure can damage your skin, leading to accelerated hyper-pigmentation, patch-dry skin, and early-age wrinkles. Sun or no sun, apply a sunscreen that suits your skin type.
Choose a sunscreen with at least 30-50 SPF with broad-spectrum protection that protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Body application is ideal too.
After an antioxidant moisturizer, apply sunscreen, primer or foundation, or a foundation with sun protection ingredients. If not, use sunscreen with iron, zinc, or titanium dioxide with the right SPF.
I swear by Elta MD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Facial Moisturizer - Un-tinted for my dry skin type.
I also use natural sunscreen daily, such as geranium, lavender, and sandalwood essential oils, to keep my skin calm and moisturized; it smells great too.
PM Routine: Repairing Your Skin
Cleansing:
Cleanser or a Make-up Remover: You can use the same gentle morning cleanser or a different one that targets your skin type. Acne-prone skin might need a face wash that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Mature skin can opt for alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic acid, which brightens the skin and can help with pigmentation.
I use the same cleanser I use in the morning. Clearing your make-up is vital to release all the build-up and let your face breathe freely.
After washing my face with the cleanser, I use cleansing milk with a cotton ball to remove any lingering grime from my skin. Since I have dry skin, I use Avene Milk Cleanser daily.
Toning:
Application of toner is optional. Toner removes any last traces of oil and dirt in the pores after you wash your face. When added to your daily skincare routine and regularly used after cleansing, it can significantly impact the appearance and tightness of your pores.
I use Dinkinson's Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting toner every night.
Night Moisturizing:
A night moisturizer with a thinner texture, non-comedogenic, containing antioxidant, rice protein peptides to promote collagen renewal is perfect as a rejuvenating effect for that restful glowing skin.
A Hyaluronic acid moisturizer or moisturizer containing retinol, tretinoin, retinol, or adapalene is beneficial. Please pay attention to how your skin reacts to retinol; sometimes, it can dry out your skin. Add a moisturizer that contains ceramide or hyaluronic acid on top to aid in dryness.
My favorite is Neutrogena, HydroBoost Gel Moisturizer for Extra-Dry Skin.
I love Cetaphil Hydrating Night Creme as well.
Under Eye Care
Did you know that the skin surrounding the eyes is 7x times thinner than the remaining face? That is why it is crucial to provide it with special care. I use an eye cream every morning and night to maintain this delicate area's thickness, health, and elasticity. This routine also helps in reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. Among all the eye creams I've tried, my personal favorite is from LilyAna Naturals.
Exfoliating Only a Few Times a Week
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and dirt and grime build-up on the face. Use a mild exfoliator twice or thrice a week, depending on your skin type (dry, oily, or combination).
I use natural exfoliators like ground oatmeal with honey or rose water, ground coffee with honey and yogurt, or fruit exfoliators like mashed strawberries with honey.
Achieving healthy skin is a comprehensive process involving your skincare routine, diet, and lifestyle practices. Rest assured that finding the proper skincare routine for your skin type is crucial in maintaining healthy skin. You can confidently optimize your skincare habit by incorporating internal and external cleansing and nourishing remedies. Ayurveda, a centuries-old science, provides natural remedies that will undoubtedly bring out the most beneficial version of your skin.
Stay tuned for my upcoming article that will explore this topic comprehensively and provide valuable insights to enrich your knowledge.