Summer is upon us, wasting no time in turning us into puddles of sweat. As you sweat through every pore and try to get through the day working from home, no longer safe in the cocoon of your centrally air-conditioned office, it’s time to switch up your skin care game. Summer skin care is a completely different beast from a winter regime, and the combination of the weather and the sun can have a harsh effect on your skin. So we’re here to tell you what to prioritise, how to find the best combination of products and settle on a routine that suits your skin type.
Best Face Washes for Men and Women
Summer means more dust and pollution, and a lot more sweat, which can often clog your pores, trapping the dirt inside. This, as we all know by now, leads to blackheads, breakouts and acne, and generally affects the health of your skin.
To avoid this, ensure you follow a regular skin care routine that includes cleansing your face at least twice a day. Remember to always look for the best face wash for your skin type, whether dry, oily or combination, sensitive, or ageing and pigmented. Instead of sticking to your usual CTM (cleanse, tone, moisturise) regime, amp it up to a double cleanse routine to make sure you’re as thorough as can be. Summer makes our skin oilier than usual so this one will help remove the excess sebum produced by your skin. Start by using a precleanse to remove the dust, dirt and makeup, following it up with a second cleanser that suits your skin type.
Exfoliate Regularly
That exfoliating regularly causes harm to your skin is a myth. During summer, it’s ever so important to rid your skin of the extra sebum, dirt, comedones, or blackheads as we call them, and dead cells, so exfoliation is highly recommended. This step helps unclog your pores to avoid breakouts and acne. Just ensure you choose one that is gentle and non-abrasive. The rice bran extract in the Daily Microfoliant is gentle enough to use daily, leaving you with visibly brighter, smoother skin.
Moisturize Your Skin
Just like our bodies need extra hydration during the summer, so does our skin. Because we tend to sweat a lot and our skin becomes oily in the warmer months, many of us believe that it needs no moisture, but this is far from the truth. Sweat dehydrates your skin, which can then cause concerns like dullness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Make sure you continue to moisturize your skin every day, but switch to a water gel moisturizer, like the Dermalogica Calm Water Gel Moisturizer, that your skin will absorb more effectively, without leaving a heavy, sticky feeling. Of course, don’t forget the crucial step of toning before lathering on your moisturizer.
Masques for Summer Skin
Using a face mask is synonymous to self-care and there really isn’t anything more relaxing after a hot day than lying back with a face masque. Choose one that suits your skin type and addresses your specific concerns to see visible results over time. For instance, the Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque is great for oily skin in summer, when your sebum production is in overdrive. This one helps clear breakouts and detox the skin for a fresh, clean and even tone. The Skin Hydrating Masque is a good option for those with dry skin as it essentially traps moisture and soothes irritations, giving you nourished, healthy skin.
Sunscreen All the Way
You’ve probably heard this enough, but there is no such thing -- sunscreen is sacrosanct, no matter what time of the year it is. Broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or SPF 50 provides a protective shield between you and the harmful UV rays the beautiful sun emits, so while you need to get in your Vitamin D, you also need to protect yourself from dark spots, skin ageing, discolouration, or worse. In fact, you must continue to apply sunscreen even if you’re working from home -- you have windows, right? Ensure that you are picking a sunscreen that is either suitable for all skin types or is specific to your skin needs -- be it oily or dry. The Prisma Protect SPF30 not only protects your skin, but also enhances your skin’s natural luminosity without leaving behind any white residue. It’s a win-win!
You can also try the brand new Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense. Invisible, weightless defense that blends easily on skin, featuring only non-nano Zinc Oxide. Say goodbye to thick, white residue with this physical SPF formula that provides added blue light protection and helps soothe away the effects of environmental aggressors. Bio-active Mushroom Complex helps soothe skin, and reduce UV-induced redness and dryness. Antioxidant Green Tea helps defend skin against free radical damage. Ideal for all skin types, including sensitive.