Are you ready for the most important summer skincare tips? Things are starting to get hot, so now is the perfect time to learn how to take care of your skin as the seasons change. 

Read on the learn what kind of changes you can expect to your skin as temperatures climb. We’ll then give advice on what you should do to account for those changes, with some expert tips! 

How Does Summer Affect Your Skin?

 There are a few major things that happen in summer that can impact your skin: 

  • You start to sweat more because of the heat. It can make you feel grimy and may exacerbate breakouts. 
  • Humidity (i.e. level of moisture in the air) goes up, which actually helps keep your skin moist. 
  • UV radiation (i.e. the rays the sun emits) gets stronger. This puts you at a higher risk of sunburn, skin cancer, and photoaging. 

Get the Perfect Skin in Summer

A new season is the best time to make skincare changes! Here’s how to boost your skincare game, based on how summer weather can impact your skin. 

Wash Your Face Gently

Cleansing your skin is important year-round, especially before bed. That’s when you can remove the grime, oils, and sunscreen that built up in the pores during the day. It also prepares your skin to accept all of the goodness from the rest of your summer skincare routine. 

It can be tempting to want to switch to a harsh, foaming cleanser in summer, but such cleansers can dehydrate and irritate the skin, even if you’re oily. 

Instead, try a gentle, balanced cleanser that doesn’t foam up too much. If your skin is pretty dry, you can try a milk or cream cleanser, while if it’s oily, a gel or mousse cleanser can work.

Double cleansing with an oil cleanser can also work well, especially if you wear makeup and heavy sunscreens. 

Hydrate Your Skin Lightly

Summer is the time to lighten the load on your skin with thinner moisturizers. If your winter moisturizer was a cream, try a lighter lotion. If you used a lotion in winter, a gel moisturizer may work better! 

In winter, we need those heavy, rich creams to seal moisture into our skin, but unless you live in a very dry, arid climate, summer is the time to switch to fluid, hydrating products.   

Your skin will especially benefit from toners, serums, or moisturizers that contain hydrating agents. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin act like sponges – they can attract water from the air into your skin. In summer, when humidity is high, they give the skin a plump, healthy, and beautiful glow. 

Don’t Forget Sun Protection

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! As the sun starts shining more brightly, you’ll want to spend more time outdoors. However, unprotected sun exposure is very dangerous even if your skin doesn’t burn. 

UV radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer, and it often shows up after years of cumulative sun exposure. Plus, the sun has some other drawbacks: It’s one of the biggest culprits (aside from our genetics) when it comes to visible signs of aging, and it can also cause hyperpigmentation. 

So needless to say, wearing sunscreen is a must. Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 is one of our favorites for all skin tones, thanks to its light texture and no white cast. Make sure to reapply after every two hours of sun exposure (so if you’re indoors, there’s no need to worry), or wear a glamorous wide-brim hat to amp up your protection.

Take Care of Your Entire Body 

You’re going to be spending a lot more time in swimsuits or shorts and tank tops, so summer is a great time to make sure your body care routine is on point. Think about your skincare routine as something that extends all the way down to your toes: 

  • Use a gentle body wash when you shower 
  • Exfoliate regularly to keep your skin smooth
  • Moisturize at least once a day (for best results, do it when your skin is still a little damp after bathing) 
  • Wear sunscreen on all exposed body parts

Get Rid of Unwanted Hair for Smooth Skin

If you plan to show more skin in summer, you may also need to deal with some unwanted hair. 

There are a lot of methods for removing hair, but in the lead-up to summer, laser hair removal is easily the best one. It gives long-lasting results, so after a few sessions, you’ll be nice and smooth for every coming summer. 

In Atlanta, SEV Laser is the ideal hair removal destination, offering affordable treatments in a luxury setting.  

Unlike waxing and shaving, laser hair removal doesn’t lead to painful ingrown hairs. It also doesn’t require constant maintenance. Unlike waxing, you won’t have to let your hair grow out, since you can shave between appointments! 

You hope you have a blast this summer, and that these summer skincare tips help you feel confident in your skin.