Well, it’s that time of year again; the end of it. If you’re a southern hemisphere dweller, the end of the year heralds a shift to warmer weather and beachier days, often times accompanied by too-red skin and a certain uncontrollable urge to call ‘day for it’ to anyone within earshot. Because of this shift, Summer poses a whole new host of skincare qualms and misgivings in regard to your skincare regimen, not the least of which is the aforementioned sunburn. The scorched days can leave our skin a little worse for wear with sweat being primary culprit. Our skin is, in general, greasier and by the days end, you may be wondering why your application of a moisturiser was even necessary.

Tackling your summer skincare is easy as pie, and far less involved than the months preceding. With only a few key items, you can be sure your skin stays fresh af for the course of the season.

The same core skincare tactics you’ve been employing up until this point remain necessary to an extent, namely moisturising and cleansing. However, you can leave the heavy-duty lotions behind in favour of lighter formulations. Keep any eye out for gentle foaming cleansers in particular.

The sweat we will inevitably…well, sweat…won’t cut it as your moisturiser either. It may seem redundant to layer moisturiser on top of a crumbling foundation, but trust us, now is not the time to abandon all of that good work you’ve been putting in.

A dual-purpose moisturiser is just the ticket to streamlining your summer skincare. Beginning your skincare with an SPF infused moisturiser will ensure you’re protected from the sun’s rays and that your skin stays healthy and hydrated. Incorporating a dual-purpose moisturiser will also cut out a skincare step from your routine, meaning a lighter load and less chance of pores clogging due to heavier formulations. Let that skin breathe.  

Vitamin C serves a multitude of purposes in skincare. Chiefly among them, and pertinent to today’s topic, is an antioxidants ability to form a barrier against the onslaught of environmental harassers that the skin faces, particularly from free radicals. Free radicals act to deteriorate our skin at a cellular level and are spurred on by UV rays, pollution, smoke…you get the idea. In Summer, the air is a little heavier with pollutants and the sun has a little more bite to it, making an antioxidant the perfect addition to your skincare routine to mitigate some of the damage associated with both.

Vitamin C is also a great defence against hyperpigmentation in the skin, which we are at a greater risk of during Summer, helping to even out and brighten skin tone.

Exfoliating during summer becomes doubly important. The increased sweat and oil build up can lead to a higher potential for break outs and acne. The remedy is a thrice weekly exfoliation, preferably of the serum variety. You may need to test your skins receptiveness to an increased exfoliation schedule, however, and ease off again if you’re finding your skin to be too sensitive. Over-exfoliation is a common pitfall we don’t want to fall in to.

Along with an antioxidant, an SPF should be your first line of defence against UVA/UVB rays. Opt for a lotion of at least SPF 50 and apply every day. No if, but’s or maybe’s, this is the most important step in any Summer skincare routine.