The summer is one of my favorite times of the year, the sun is shining, the drinks are flowing and the food is cooking on the barbecue.
If you’re anything like me you love the summertime and the feeling you get when your skin glistens in the heat is hard to beat, but what many of us don’t realize is the amount of damage we cause to our skin in the summer.
In this post, I will give you a few tips on how you can keep your skin healthy this summertime and in the future.
Tip 1 – Use a facemask.
The biggest problem (other than burning our skin) most of us face during the summer is oily skin. Our skin becomes oily from the heat, sweat and any creams that we may use.
Oily skin then blocks the pores on our face causing our skin to break out in nasty blemishes.
To avoid oily skin, I’d recommend using a facemask a few times a week to draw the moisture out. A face mask twice a week for 30 minutes at a time should be enough for most. If you find your skin is still oily though you can add another session. If your skin is too dry take a session away. With everything when it comes to skincare it’s all about finding what works for you.
One final tip when it comes to purchasing a facemask is to make sure it doesn’t contain any fragrances that can irritate the skin and cause more blemishes. In my experience, natural face masks are usually the best.
Tip 2 – Use a sunscreen.
Whether you are traveling to a new country or staying at home this summer, the sun can damage our skin without us feeling like we have burned. Therefore it’s important to use a sunscreen as most skin damage is invisible to the eye.
Skincare expert Dr. Shah who provides botox treatment in Birmingham and London had this to say “using a sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 30 in the summer is vital if you want to prevent your skin from being damaged by the sun. Failure to protect your skin from sunburn can increase your chances of wrinkles and dry skin in the future.”
Additional tips when using a sunscreen include:
- Applying sunscreen 30 minutes before going into direct sunlight.
- The sunscreen should have at least a 4 star UVA rating.
- Purchase a waterproof sunscreen if taking part in any activities as sweat and water can remove the sunscreen from your skin.
Tip 3 – Clean your skin often.
Your face gets dirty all throughout the day because you are constantly touching it without realizing. In the summer you also have to contend with sweat, sunscreens, dirt and oils.
When your face becomes dirty from all of the above it creates a barrier on your face which blocks the pores, as a result, your face can break out in blemishes.
To get around this you can firstly exfoliate your skin a few times a week, just be sure not to dry your face out too much as this is just as bad as having a dirty face. You should also wash your face a few times per day with nothing but cold, clean water. The cold water does enough to wash the dirt away without being harsh on your skin.
Tip 4 – Cover up in direct sunlight.
The sun is the strongest around 11 am to 3 pm, at that time you shouldn’t really be in direct sunlight as it can burn and damage your skin.
Personally, I love being in the sun at this time as I love the heat. If you are like me and you want or need to be out in the sun during these hours you should cover up as much as possible.
Hats, sunglasses and longer tops can cover up exposed areas and keep you from burning.
If you plan to be in the sun for longer periods of time you should set up a shaded area that will allow you to escape to if the sun becomes unbearable. Shaded areas can be made using large umbrellas/parasols or sun tents.
Tip 5 – Improve your diet.
Your diet plays a huge part in how we look and feel as a person. In the summer we need to concentrate on getting our diet right so that we stay hydrated and our skin has all the vitamins and minerals that it needs to stay healthy.
Toby King is a Personal trainer in Cardiff that said: “your diet is very important in the summer, foods rich in vitamin A and C can provide your body with essential nutrients that fight free radicals and antioxidants which can dry out the skin and increase the chances of sunburn.”
Foods such as salmon, avocados, bell peppers, broccoli and blueberries all contain vital nutrients to keep your skin healthy in the summer. You don’t have to eat massive amounts of them either. One small serving of blueberries will provide you with a quarter of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C.
If you want to keep your skin healthy this summer make sure to add the above into your diet.
Tip 6 – Use a moisturizer.
Even if you eat well, drink enough water and use sunscreen, your skin will still dry at some point in the warm weather.
By using a moisturizer you are applying a small film of protection over your skin which will keep all of your bodies essential oils in. Finding a moisturizer that works well with your skin type isn’t easy and getting it wrong can make your skin worse.
When choosing a moisturizer I would recommend speaking to a skincare expert in a local store so they can recommend a moisturizer that works for your skin type.
Conclusion
By following the above tips you now should have enough information on how to protect your skin this summer and in the future. If you have any tips that have worked for you in the past, be sure to leave them in the comment section below.
Mathew Jones is a blogger that writes about men’s luxury fashion, lifestyle and beauty. When he’s not writing he loves reading, walking and spending time with his family.
