Summer is brutal on your skin. Between the heat, humidity, dry air conditioning, sunscreen, chlorine (or salt water), and the overall effects of being outside more than usual, it all adds up – and your skin gets the brunt of it.
If your skin is already sensitive or dry, summer feels like one long flare-up waiting to happen. The good news? There’s a few intentional habits that can go a long way to keeping your skin healthier and happier this summer.
Here are our top five tips for healthier skin this summer that actually work:
Tip #1: Adjust Your Moisturizer to Match the Season
A lot of people switch to lighter moisturizers in summer because it feels like the right thing to do. And for most oily and combination skin, it usually is. But for dry or sensitive skin, humidity alone is not enough to compensate for what summer actually does to your skin.
Sun exposure, sweating, and frequent washing all strip moisture faster than you’d think. If you’re in the summertime heat and your skin feels tight or reactive, don’t downgrade your moisturizer to something water-based (like lotion).
Instead, try swapping to an alternative like body butter. Solid body butters (like ours) provide long-lasting hydration without the heavy, greasy feel of most thick moisturizers.
Tip #2: Wear SPF Every Day (Not Just at the Beach)
This isn’t the first time you’re hearing this, and it’s not going to be the last. If you’re truly trying to have healthier skin this summer, SPF every day is a must. Daily sun exposure, even incidental exposure from driving or walking to your car, adds up.
UV damage is cumulative, which means your skin is constantly tallying up every time you’re out in the sun. For sensitive skin, you’re often better off using mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which tend to be better tolerated than chemical fillers.
Apply it last in your skin routine, after moisturizing! And reapply if you’re spending long periods of time outside or under direct sunlight.
Tip #3: Moisturize BEFORE and AFTER Swimming
You’ve probably heard of moisturizing after swimming, but did you know that moisturizing before swimming is just as important (if not more important)?
And it’s backed by research – both the National Eczema Society and the American Academy of Dermatology recommend applying an emollient or barrier cream (AKA body butter) to skin before getting in the water. This creates almost a shield for your skin that reduces direct contact with chlorine or salt, reducing skin irritation.
After you’re done swimming, reapply your moisturizer within three minutes of getting out of the water!
Tip #4: Don’t Let Air Conditioning Undo Your Hard Work
Indoor air in the summer is often drier than outdoor air (although this depends on where you live). Even if you’re not going outdoors 24/7, your skin can still lose moisture! This is especially true for your hands, arms, and legs.
Keep moisturizer on hand that’s easy to apply on the go, like a travel-size solid butter stick, that won’t leave residue on your keyboard, phone, or interrupt your day-to-day schedule (but also doesn’t let your skin dry out).
During the summer, care outside of the sun is a must to make sure the preventative measures you take to keep healthier skin when you are in the sun actually work.
Tip #5: Simplify Your Ingredient List
If your skin is stressed, simplify your ingredient list! Summer gives your skin a lot to deal with, and when you’re already managing sun exposure, heat, sweat, and everything in between, a long list of synthetic ingredients adds to the struggle.
If your skin tends to flare in the summer, take a look at what’s in your moisturizer. Fragrance, preservatives, alcohol, and some botanical extracts are all common culprits. When you strip your routine back to a short and sweet ingredient list, it gives your skin barrier a chance to recover instead of react.
Keeping Your Skin Healthier This Summer Doesn’t Have to be Complicated
You don’t need more products or a longer routine to keep your skin healthier this summer! Instead, pay attention to what your skin actually needs when the season changes, and do more research into the products you put on it.
Focus on clean ingredients, consistent habits, and a moisturizer that will actually help your skin (and maintain moisture) this summer.
Interested in swapping things up and helping your skin stay hydrated in the sun? Try our solid body butter sticks!
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