Skin is the window to the body’s overall health most would agree. And keeping skin healthy during summer’s season of fun in the sun, means giving it some extra attention and switching up skincare routines to maximize protection and minimize damage. During the summer, keeping certain “must-have” skincare products on hand and adapting your routine to the season is hugely important. Make this your mantra:
Cleanse – Correct - Protect
Today we’re sharing our summer protection tips along with skincare products that we think are must-haves for the season. So dive in!
Here comes the sun as the song goes, and it brings photoaging right along with it. Solar radiation affects the skin year round, but the burning rays (UVB) are at their peak in the summertime. As well as increasing your risk for skin cancer and visible skin damage, sun overexposure can also trigger oxidative stress. This is a condition that may occur when there are too many unstable molecules called free radicals in the body and not enough antioxidants to get rid of them. It can lead to cell and tissue damage, causing photoaging (the process where sun damage accelerates signs of skin aging – fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation).
This is a factor more than anything else in the environment or skin exposome. The exposome is the sum total of environmental and lifestyle stressors we’re exposed on a regular basis that influence our health. Environment and lifestyle stressors interact with individual characteristics such as genetics. Believe it or not, although genetics play an important role in overall health, they only factor into about 20% of chronic diseases. The remaining majority can be attributed to the exposome — which makes it of major importance in prevention and protection.
Here's how to refresh your summer skincare routine step by step:
1: Use an effective cleanser: Between pollution, sweat, makeup and a build-up of impurities in the environment, your skin needs consistent cleansing. Double cleansing at least once a day (cleanse the first time with a lotion or cream cleanser, then follow up with a foaming, gel, or AHA cleanser to remove residual skin debris) will help remove impurities, sunscreen, and waterproof makeup.
Euro Tip: Do your best to cleanse the skin twice a day, whether you’re wearing makeup or not. Starting with a clean slate insures your summer skincare products work the way they’re intended.
2. Exfoliate regularly: Sweat and heat can cause a build-up of dead skin cells, which can clog the pores and lead to breakouts. To avoid this, exfoliate your skin at least once a week. Make sure to use a gentle exfoliator that suits your skin type to remove the dead skin cells and reveal smooth and glowing skin.
3: Add a super serum: Think summer skinimalism. Less is more when it comes to skincare products – except when it comes to results. Invest in a Vitamin C serum (see our blog post on Vitamin C Summer Essential) for 1 stop do it all skincare powerhouse. Euro Botanicals Multi-Fruit Hydration Gel is an excellent choice, especially for oily or breakout prone skin. It’s lightweight gel texture is infused with great actives including mangosteen and Indian gooseberry, both powerful antioxidants .
**Although technically it’s not a serum, hyaluronic acid is a must-have to help all your skincare products work more effectively. It binds moisture to the skin and layered under your serum or moisturizer will give it some serious va-va-va-voom.**
Euro Tip: Your skin’s regeneration cycle (or turnover) takes between 21-28 days. So if you’re substituting a different serum for summer and want good results, keep a realistic timeline in mind. While some improvements in hydration can show up in a few days, any rejuvenating effects typically take at least 30 days. Be consistent!
4: Reach for a rejuvenating but lighter weight moisturizer: While winter is the most obvious season for dry skin, summer skin needs moisture too. Hydration is still essential, so that sun damage doesn’t further penetrate skin and do even more damage. If your moisturizer contains the right amount of SPF, that allows you to skip a step. In the evening, an antioxidant night cream or one that is more emollient may be in order – you be the judge!
5. SPF, SPF, SPF: Whatever the season, reason, or weather conditions, sunscreen is essential. If you’re swimming, or sweating a lot, you’ll need to reapply your sunscreen more often. Best idea? Wear a hat, sunglasses and avoid the midday sun.
Euro Tip: As the last step in your daily skincare routine, apply a broad spectrum sunscreen. Just how much sunscreen should you apply? For your face, the equivalent of two full finger lengths should be enough. That means running your sunscreen down the length of your index and middle finger — that’s the perfect amount.
And finally, here are our top five essential skincare product recommendations for summer:
1. Sunscreen: Naturally. It helps protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays that can cause damage and even skin cancer. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply it every two hours.
2. Lightweight Moisturizer: Summer skin generally can go with a lighter touch when it comes to hydration – but still needs it! Using a water-based or gel-based moisturizer is suggested to provide long-lasting hydration without leaving the skin feeling greasy and oily. Try Lemon Gel Crème or Marine Hydration Crème for just the right touch of moisture.
3. Hydrating Mist: A hydrating mist adds a burst of hydration to your skin to beat summer heat and dryness. Our Citrus Freshener which contains Sodium PCA and glycerin work to bind moisture to the skin. Calendula and aloe extracts have anti-inflammatory properties to ease irritation and calm the skin.
4. Vitamin C Serum: Vitamin C serum, a powerful antioxidant, is a definite summer skin essential. Its brightening properties to help with dark spots, even out skin tone, and of course, protect skin from free radical damage make it a must-have for summer. Use in the a.m. after cleansing and before moisturizing.
5. Soothing Facial Mask: Nothing heals and soothes summer stressed skin like a mask break. Try our Cucumber Anti-Couperose Gel Mask (specially priced for summer!) with allantoin (wound healing, anti-inflammatory), aloe vera gel, and cucumber extract. Or detox with Moor Mud Face & Body or Moor Multi-Fruit Face & Body Mask. Both contain Austrian Heilmoor Clay, a super skin detoxifier and purifier. Mask up once or twice a week – your skin will love you for it.
