10 Summer Skin Care Tips

Your body loses a lot of moisture in extremes of both winter (with forced heat) and summer (with natural heat), so it’s important to regularly replenish the H2O. Drink plenty of water and liquids (the right kind) to keep skin soft and moisturized. 

Carbonated soft-drinks don’t really quench your thirst or hydrate your skin or cells. You’re just mainlining sugar or chemical sweeteners.  Minimize the intake of diuretics (alcohol and caffeine) as they sap the water from your system. Instead, spike fresh water with sliced fruits or herbs to give your water both flavor and appeal. Make your spa water “eye candy.” Fill up your favorite pitcher to the brim, add cold water, any combination of sliced lemons, cucumbers, green apples, berries or herbs, and let it muddle all day.  Put it on a lovely tray and invest in a beautiful glass you enjoy using.  You’ll be drawn to it, and if you feed your eyes, you’ll feed your skin.

If you can avoid direct sunlight between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., do so. That’s when the sun’s rays are the strongest and can have an adverse affect on your skin.   Don’t forget to apply that all-important sunscreen 30 minutes before you step out.  If you are out in the sun, touch up your SPF frequently, and wear both a hat and sunglasses, to protection your eyes and the delicate skin around them.

At least!  You should be doing this in all seasons anyway, but it’s more important in summer when you are perspiring more heavily, and when you are in and out of a the pool or sea. Cleansing and moisturizing your face before sleeping is an absolute must, and, be sure to change your pillow sheets often.

It’s important to keep your pores closed, your skin cool, and your pH balanced by using a toner. Look for a brand recommended by your esthetician, or try homemade rose water. Its natural cooling properties make an excellent toner for the warm weather season, it has anti-inflammatory properties to calm irritated or inflamed skin, aids in naturally balancing your pH, and can help with acne, dermatitis and eczema.

If you rely on an oil or fat based, heavy or ultra moisturizer during cold months, switch to a water-gel based or botanical-based product in summer to both give your skin a chance to sluff and regenerate, keep cool, and to help naturally hydrate your skin without leaving any residue (which tends to make you feel even stickier than normal in warm months).

More than the rest of the year, it’s really important to exfoliate your skin in the summer to remove dead and dry skin and improve blood circulation to the face.   See your esthetician for a summer-specific facial (if you get infrequent professional facials, at a minimum you should visit your esthetician at the start of every new season), or choose from your favorite cosmetic scrubs or make one at home.

Don’t tan your face — make it glow naturally.  Papaya is full of  enzymes and you can use it as a homemade pack. Just mash 2 tablespoons of papaya with a teaspoon of honey and 1 egg white. Leave the mixture on your face for about 15 minutes and enjoy the natural glow you get afterwards.

Save some of your summery sandwich ingredients and you’ll get a skin treat, as well.  Blend a half of a cucumber with 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt in the mixer to make a simple and effective homemade face pack. Apply this to your face for 15 minutes and feel completely refreshed and cool.  This is particularly nice before bed, and, if you put a fresh, cool pillow case on your pillow (keep one in a bag in the freezer), your skin, neck and scalp will get a mini ice plunge.

This is the holy trinity of good health and glowing skin for the whole year. Eat a balanced diet enjoying the fruits and vegetables of the season, exercise regularly but safely (avoiding heating yourself) and get a solid amount of sleep.