The signs of summer are everywhere. As the weather warms up, our skin’s needs evolve. As the mercury rises, our complexions can easily go into meltdown. From excess oil and breakouts to redness and heat rashes, some complexions don’t deal with the hot and humid summer weather very well. If you aren’t protecting your skin then you’re going to put it at risk for anything from accelerated ageing to an increased risk of skin cancer.In this article, we’ll talk about all the ways the sun can affect your skin and exactly what you can do about it so you can get out there and enjoy all this happy, bright season has to offer.
FACTORS THAT CAN INFLUENCE YOUR SKIN DURING SUMMER
SWEATING:During the warmer months, when the temperatures begin to soar, you’ll find yourself sweating a lot more than usual. While sweating is a completely natural process and excellent for detoxifying the body, it can also contribute to clogged pores, which then results in acne breakouts. Whether it’s one pesky pimple or a whole bunch of them, no one really wants to deal with acne, especially during this fun season when you may find yourself going out more often than during the chilly months. Sweating helps to detoxify the system, flushing toxins out of the body that may lead to blemishes. You have to be sure to keep your skin clean though after a sweat fest. Our sebum also takes a slightly different composition during summer to help keep our bodies cool. However, too much sebum can throw the balance off and tip the scale in the other direction, meaning breakouts.
SUN EXPOSURE: While there’s no denying that too much sun exposure will not only result in a painful, blistering sunburn, it also significantly increases your risk of extrinsic ageing in the skin. In fact, UV rays are responsible for a scary 80% of extrinsic skin ageing. This results in a loss of skin elasticity meaning saggy skin with more lines and wrinkles. What’s really alarming is that the sun will continue to damage your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer hours after you head indoors. UV rays break down collagen and elastin, two structural proteins responsible for keeping the skin firm, taut and plump. They also reduce the amount of Vitamin A in the skin, a vitamin that is absolutely essential for skin health. Vitamin A helps to encourage healthy cell production and plays a role in keeping the skin’s barrier function strong. A damaged barrier function means more pollutants can sneak their way into your skin and really speed up the ageing process. Vitamin A helps to lock moisture into the skin cells, however, UV rays deplete this vitamin, which in turn means more water may be lost through the pores, resulting in a dry complexion that, once again, ages much faster than a healthy one.
Address your skin’s needs in a fluid way, as opposed to sticking to a rigid regimen all year round. As we transition to warmer climates, the biggest change to your skincare routine would be adjusting the types of textures and formulations you use based on your needs. Independently of the weather as well, it’s important to really listen to your skin.
- CLEANSING TWICE A DAY:
A change in daily routines might mean that this is sometimes getting overlooked. Remember to always cleanse morning and night, as well as after exercising, to melt away traces of dirt, makeup and sweat and refresh your skin. Mystique Earth Bubble Facial Cleanser helps hydrate and revive your skin – and it’s brilliant for removing all traces of SPF at the end of the day. When you get in from a hot day out, clean your skin as soon as possible.Make sure you cleanse as early in the evening as you can Let it breathe. Let your pores push out the funk and clean themselves, they can’t do this with layers of SPF and make-up. Ensure you double cleanse in the evenings to remove everything and prevent clogged pores
- MAKE TIME FOR A WEEKLY MASK:
A weekly mask can work wonders to rebalance and revive your skin. As well as providing gentle exfoliation, our Mineral Masque soothes and refreshes to reveal plump, radiant-looking skin.
- REMEMBER TO MOISTURIZE:
Even if your skin is feeling oily. Our deeply nourishing natural facial oils help regulate your skins sebum production, leaving your skin hydrated but not greasy. Night Revival Cream packs a nourishing boost of hydration if your skin is super dry, lightweight and is perfect if you’re experiencing summer breakouts or your skin is feeling particularly oily.
- DEFEAT DEHYDRATION:
Another handy way to counteract the additional production of oil in the skin is to stay hydrated. The skin can lose up to a cup of moisture throughout the day, so ensure that you replenish your hydration levels.
A gel-based sleeping mask is also another product you’ll want to add to your summer skin roundup. After keeping it in the fridge, the gel texture can provide a soothing and cooling effect on the skin. Opt for a lightweight formula that will get absorbed by the skin easily. Hyaluronic should be your number one skincare ingredient during the summer.
- PROTECT YOUR SKIN WITH ANTIOXIDANTS FROM THEINSIDE OUT:
What goes into your body is just, if not more, important than what goes on to it. If your diet is jam-packed with processed, fatty foods that contain no real nutrients, then you won’t see positive results externally, no matter what excellent products you use. We highly recommend eating whole, anti-inflammatory foods brimming in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, and drinking loads of water. The best way to ensure you get your water intake for the day is to fill a large bottle with pure, diluted water and to take small sips throughout your day. Consider adding some lemon slices for a vitamin C boost, along with mint and cucumber to refresh and reduce bloating. You could also consider taking a Vitamin C supplement, as this is a vitamin your body cannot make on its own and this antioxidant is very important for a healthy body.
- NEVER FORGET THE MINERAL SPF:
SPF is key to protecting your skin against harmful UV rays, but deciding on one can be confusing. There are two main types of sunscreen, namely chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens work like a sponge, absorbing the sun’s rays and neutralizing them, but unfortunately, they often contain synthetic chemicals that are bad for the environment and may aggravate sensitive skin and overall health. Physical sunblocks are an eco-friendly alternative to chemical sunscreens. They contain minerals like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to block the sun’s rays and bounce them off the skin and back into the environment. Always use an SPF of at least 30 or higher and be sure to re-apply as often as needed. As the temperature rises, you’ll find that your skin has started protesting against heavy textures that clog pores.
Adapting your skincare routine for the summer is necessary to protect your skin from congestion. Allow your skincare routine to evolve as per the season, environment and hormones. As the mercury inches up, bring about certain essential swaps in your everyday skincare routine.