SUMMER-PROOFING YOUR SKIN MADE SIMPLE

With the heated months of summer finally here, your skincare routine needs an adjustment just like your wardrobe. As heat and UV rays increase, your complexion takes a hit.

What's even more obvious? You're more prone to sun damage. But there are other culprits to watch out for...

Heat results in the production of more sweat and (wait for it) more sebum secretion (oil) and more transepidermal water loss (think dehydration). Here's how to keep your complexion from having a meltdown.

1. Keep moisturizing!

Your skin may feel a tad (quite an understatement) bit greasier in the summer and experience more breakouts, all thanks to the sweat-induced pike in sebum. It also doesn't help that the hot weather can in fact heat up your skin's sebum and cause it to feel oilier. However, in its natural state, sebum has a waxy texture. Although, the last thing you should do is skip moisturizer since foregoing one can cause skin to overcompensate with more oil and thereby make summertime dehydration worse..

Instead, opt for a lightweight formula to balance your complexion. Look for ingredients including hemp seed and rose hip oil for their ability to moisturize sans clogging pores or feeling heavy.

2. Double up on antioxidants

While sunscreen should already be a part of your daily routine (and if it isn't, make that addition STAT), you'll want to be extra vigilant during summer. Since no SPF is perfect, strive to slather on an antioxidant treatment daily (i.e. Vitamin C or E). Antioxidants help protect against infrared radiation pollutants, other causes of free radical formation and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Similar to sunscreen, antioxidants are good for your skin year-round; however, upping your dosage to morning and evening applications during the heated months is the best approach for avoiding and repairing damage.

3. Cleanse smarter, not harder

The sweat and humidity may cause your skin to feel dirtier, but resist the urge to over-cleanse, as this can wreak havoc on the skin by disrupting the barrier. Over-cleansing includes washing more than twice a day, rubbing rather than gently massaging and relying on harsh/drying ingredients in your cleanser. Choose a cleanser that is thorough without stripping and utilizes mild exfoliating ingredients such as black willow bark extract. These types of ingredients help break down sweat, excess oil buildup and sunscreen, all the while keeping your pores oh-so-clean.

4. Exfoliate mindfully

With exfoliation in mind, you'll want to be cautious of this in the summer. No matter your method, exfoliating brings fresh skin to the surface, which ultimately makes it more susceptible to sunburn. While ingredients such as willow bark in a cleanser won't make your skin burn-prone, ingredients like lactic acid just may. Always be mindful to mask at night in order to give your skin more time to recover and be incredibly generous with the SPF the next day.

#healthyliving #selfcare #skincare