A gentle breeze brings warmth around me as I sit in my favorite place during the early morning hours. While my window curtains whimsically dance to this gentle, unperceived breeze, it awes me how its intangibility still, especially during scorching summer, is capable of damaging our skin. Luckily, I have my summer skincare routine to beat the odds. You will find me reveling passionately in my routine during these serene hours.
Knowing that this gentleness will soon turn into tyrannical waves, I expose my skin to this natural dose of vitamin D before I engage in my skincare routine for the summer. This blessed time is exacting, akin to the meticulous care I take for my overall health. I make the most of these spare minutes after my refreshing bathing and soulful morning routine by deliberately sitting in the sun. The sun’s warmth, a gentle reminder, invokes a feeling of relish. This intentional pause helps me cherish my present moment.
The summer skincare routine shouldn’t remain fixated on face care. Your overall body and health deserve equal attention. My philosophy is all about enjoying the self-care process and embracing a lighter skincare routine for summer. Or infusing hydrating products into my routine that won’t strip my skin of its natural oils.
Summer skincare routine: your ultimate routine
The preparation begins
I start my summer skincare routine simply by creating a restful and relaxed environment. After my happy morning routine that sees me ready by 7 a.m., I still have one hour spare to spruce up my self-care activities. The morning serenity calms my nerves, and the gentle morning light reduces my qualms with its softened illumination. I lit my favorite scented candle to transition this moment into a calm environment. This overall atmosphere perfectly builds the aura for my routine.
After a fulfilling exercise (an equally important habit for healthy skin), this restoring period is exactly what my body needs. I set up this paradise before showering so that I am instantly yet gently exposed to these serene vibes after an embalming shower. Reticent in my actions, this serene environment brings the best out of me, as I am mentally and physically relaxed. This private moment also gives me some time to muse over my thoughts and the feelings they bring. My motive behind placing this preparatory habit first is to absorb and practice this self-care activity with optimal relaxation. You should also practice your summer skincare routine in a relaxed environment to feel the best vibes.
Engage in a cleansing routine
Summertime is the devilish period for me, for the scorching heat aggravates acne on my face. Although they disappear on their own once the prying sun rays recede, I don’t leave my skin to its fate. I have no second thoughts about my cleansing routine for acne; this routine has stopped the condition from getting out of hand and managed to reduce the acne scars over a while. This face-cleansing routine is part of my shower time. The cold water splashing on my face, followed by a delicate massage, is the true essence of a refreshing start to my skincare routine for summer.
I use a gentle face wash with moisturizing elements to make my facial cleansing effective. A cleansing routine is a much-needed step of the summer skincare routine. Skincare experts recommend double-cleansing your face twice a day, compulsorily, with additional washes whenever required. The art of double cleansing, stemming from Korean skincare, has become a staple in many beauty and skincare routines. So, it’s only fair to give it a try and see how it works out.
Antioxidants to the rescue
Summertime seems less deadly with an adequate intake of antioxidants. Serums or lotions are all the craze for your skin protection—and rightfully so! However, antioxidants’ significance is much more than combating premature aging. Antioxidants keep your skin all-around healthy, protecting it from the damaging effects of unstable molecules. Prolonged sun exposure creates unstable free radicals, and before these radicals become ruinous, antioxidants fight them. Adding antioxidants is a part of the skincare routine for summer, but how?
I ensure no breadcrumbs are left when adding antioxidants to my routines, either through a morsel of food or through serums or lotions. My summer meals include a good and sufficient dose of antioxidants needed by the body. Eating antioxidants from foods like strawberries, blueberries, kale, or dark chocolates offers the protection needed by the body against the sun’s rays. I try to infuse creativity into my meal-planning process: create consistent days where I match meals with it like chicken gravy is for Wednesdays; a cozy dinner night idea for Sundays.
As a skincare addict, nothing gives me a more relieving sigh than putting a sheet mask on my face. So, I did what was expected! I use antioxidant-rich face sheet masks infused with vitamin C, green tea, or niacinamide that hydrate and nurture my skin externally. Also, many antioxidant-rich serums offer many skin-protective benefits. I have my Saturday skin-repair rituals for my skin. Saturday afternoons are my cozy time and I reserve to indulge in spa-like treatments at home. Say quick goodbyes to my inflamed skin with these soothing masks.
Do not miss out on the moisturizing benefits
Before you dive into sunny escapades, you cannot afford to neglect this one important step: moisturizing your skin! Our skin is thirstier than ever during the summer, craving hydration to stay supple and protected. Yet, with the excitement of beach trips, a rough office ride, or some fun outing, we can easily neglect this skincare habit. A summer skincare routine is all about showing love to your skin by protecting and nurturing it. And keeping your skin hydrated is the love language!
But why is moisturizing so crucial for our skincare routine, you ask? Picture your skin feeling dry, tight, and parched—not so dreamy, huh? That’s where moisturizer swoops in to save the day! Slathering on a hydrating moisturizer means giving your skin the moisture it craves while also creating a protective barrier against the harsh summer waves. Sunburns, dry patches, and that dreaded lizard skin feeling become a distant reality, all because you chose to moisturize your skin.
Moisturizing doesn’t have to be just a skincare step; it could be a pampering session that says hello to skin vitality and silkiness. Lavish attention to your skin with each application. A bottle packed with hydrating benefits from the goodness of coconut oil, shea butter, vitamin E, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, glycerin, and other humectants will do the magic of keeping your skin summer-friendly.
Sunscreen is everything
A skincare routine for summer is incomplete without its vital ingredient, sunscreen. My self-love journey began with sunscreen. This rising temperature shook my belief that my melanin-rich skin was capable of fighting against the sun’s UV rays. How wrong I was! It was not until after receiving my sister’s scolding and having my skin suffer terribly that I added sunscreen to my routine. I may occasionally slip on other routine steps, but sunscreen is non-negotiable.
A sunscreen with a high rating factor is advisable. Go for SPF 30 or higher than this one. They protect your skin from UVA rays (cause skin aging) and UVB rays (cause skin burning). Avoid greasy and comedogenic formulas (oil, butter, or waxes) that contribute to acne. Choose sunscreens that are lightweight and non-comedogenic, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Plus, many sunscreens contain added skincare benefits like antioxidants (vitamin C) or hydrating ingredients (ceramides). Before the summer months, leave your skin lobster-red, lather up in SPF (Sun Protection Factor), and do it religiously. Your summer skincare routine is all you have in between to protect against the deadly waves.
Avoid excessive makeup during the summer
Imagine sweating away in the sweltering heat with makeup on your face! It screams danger! Your summer makeup doesn’t need a full-coverage foundation layer. So, replacing it with tinted sunscreen or lighter makeup products like BB creams is just what your skin needs to breathe in the summer. I spot-treat concealer to cover the troubled areas on my face. I love to put on makeup, and I love the confidence that I wear on my face. But during this blazing time, I became more disciplined with my summer skincare routine.
I completely avoid exposing my skin to makeup, except for unskippable occasions like meetings with clients. Hence, this time, I use makeup products with silicone and mineral oil ingredients. Opting for makeup products with skincare benefits like SPF protection can also shield my skin from the sun’s rays. It’s all about finding the right balance between looking polished and allowing your skin to breathe in the heat.
Best summer skincare advice: drink lots of water
This is an oddity in the summer skincare routine, but like adding antioxidants to your routine, this advice holds unabated importance. Skipping adequate hydration is like inviting a Greek tragedy upon your health. And heated summer waves will promise you one by dehydrating your body. Drinking water should be the first step in the morning. Staying hydrated is the prerequisite self-care habit, and you shouldn’t put it on trial. Average water intake is 2–3 liters per day. To beat the summer heat, increase it to 3–4 liters per day. Avoid drinking water just before any meal, as it will decrease your appetite.
Conclusion
Let’s make your skin glow as radiantly and vibrantly as summer vibes. This natural source of energy offers our body vital vitamins, but without a proper skincare routine for summer, we risk undoing its benefits. Summertime should be remembered by basking in the sun’s warmth, creating wonderful memories, not with painful images of sunburn and dry skin. Embrace the sunshine responsibly and ensure our skin stays healthy and smooth throughout the season.