While the weather changes, your skincare should too. While a higher SPF should be a given, you would be surprised which other things should wander (or stay!) on your skincare shelf for the warmer months.
It’s important to know the different needs of your skin over the year. In summer, when temperatures are rising, a good amount of your skin is exposed to the sun. Additionally, you tend to sweat a lot more because of the humidity, which can make your skin oily and increasingly prone to pimples. Here are the things that should not be missing in a summer skincare routine:
Most importantly: SPF
A good SPF is crucial to keep your skin looking fresh, young and healthy, not only this summer but for years to come. Don’t underestimate the sun. Even when it’s cloudy outside, UV rays can harm your skin, whether that’s the well-known increased risk for skin cancer or the accelerated ageing process. I would recommend having an SPF 30 or more in your bag at all times. If you intend on sunbathing – I would not recommend too much due to risks; as mentioned earlier, –, SPF 50 is your best call. A good SPF to wear under your makeup or, if you use the tinted version, as your makeup is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios sunscreen (£17). The Fluid is very light, sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave any residue; I wouldn’t want to live without it!
Moisturise lightly
Against popular belief, you can’t just ditch your moisturizer in summer. While the type of moisturizer you use should change, it’s key to keep it a regular in your routine. You should stick to water-, gel- or hyaluronic acid-based product as they won’t be as heavy on your skin as a normal moisturizer. In summer, you’ll sweat a lot throughout the day, so don’t forget: Drink enough water, apply moisturizer once a day and protect your skin against moisture loss—my favourite: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (£32).
Switch your cleanser
In summer, rich cleansers should be swapped out for foaming cleansers or simply micellar water. While micellar water is a good idea all year round, a foaming cleanser is a great product for summer as it cleans your face without adding too much moisture to your typically oily summer skin. My go-to foaming cleanser is the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser (£9), and micellar water is the Garnier Micellar Rose Water (£3).
Exfoliation is key
When you’re showing more skin in the warmer months, you don’t want your skin to look dull. If you don’t exfoliate regularly, that’s precisely what’s going to happen. It’s essential to remove the dead skin cells from your skin. Since your skin renews itself about every month, you should exfoliate at least once a month, too. Even better would be once a week; that way, you unearth fresh skin, and you build a good foundation for your products to work on. There are many different exfoliators: From chemical exfoliants with glycolic acid to physical exfoliants like cleansing scrubs or exfoliating mitts – you have loads of different things to choose from. My favourite: the Birthday Cake Scrub” by frank body (£15), a coffee-sugar-peeling that leaves your skin buttery-soft after using it a few times a month!
Don’t forget your Antioxidant!
Honestly, Vitamin C – my Antioxidant of choice – is something I use all year round just because of its protection against environmental stress and pollution while leaving your skin bright and glowy. This light product is used best in the morning before your SPF goes on. Just leave it some time to sink in. The one I’m raving about since using it: the Vichy Liftactiv Vitamin C Skin Brightening Corrector (£28).
Edited by Michelle Almeida