7 Easy Ways to Adapt your Skincare Routine for the Summer

To keep your skin healthy, nourished and protected during the summer, we recommend you make some small tweaks to your skincare routine.

In warmer weather, we sweat more, use more products, and we need to protect our skin from more potential harm. We recently created a post about the three biggest causes of ageing skin, two of which are far more likely during the summer; exposure to the sun and pollution. This is why it’s so important we adapt our skincare to protect our skin.

The good news is, they’re easy changes to make - here’s how.

1. Use a Cleanser

It’s more important than ever to use a cleanser during the summer months.

The warmer weather and increased humidity can cause you to sweat more. The sweat combines with SPF and pollution, leading to congestion and potentially breakouts. Use a lightweight gel cleanser for oily to combination skin, or a milk cleanser for dry or mature skin.

You may already be using a cleanser but if you aren’t, it’s definitely worth adding it to your daily routine.

2. Use a Toner

Did you know that sweat, heat and SPF can alter the PH balance of your skin?

Our skin is naturally slightly acidic, to maintain its natural barrier. This means it can become more sensitive and potentially reduce the natural glow when exposed to alkaline solutions. We recommend using a toner during the summer months, to keep your skin as naturally protected and glowing as possible.

Try to avoid any harsh alcohol-based toners which can irritate the skin, or AHA toners that can make the skin sensitive to the sun.

3. Use a Moisturiser

In the summer, the levels of air pollution are usually higher.

The increased sunlight in the summer promotes the formation of ozone. The increased pollution means our skin is exposed to more free radicals, which can damage cells and accelerate ageing. Moisturiser protects your skin and simultaneously hydrates it, and you may want to swap out heavier richer creams for lighter gels or emulsions during the hotter months.

We recommend formulas with antioxidants to neutralise free radicals.

4. Use SPF

SPF is essential.

UV damage is the biggest cause of premature ageing and pigmentation. Ensure you apply it every day and then reapply enough times to maintain the protection. This is usually every 3 hours, and SPF 30 is the minimum.

This one’s a non-negotiable!

5. Using Products with Vitamin C

Vitamin C plays an important role in protecting your skin.

It contains antioxidants, to combat free radicals and helps protect against UV rays. UV rays increase oxidative stress, which breaks down collagen and causes pigmentation. Vitamin C can be found in nearly all the usual types of products, making it easy to include within your existing routine.

There are also entire ranges based on Vitamin C, like the one we are using within our summer special treatment.

6. Exfoliate More Often

Sweat, pollution and SPF can all cause more congestion and blocked pores.

Therefore, you may want to exfoliate more frequently, using a gentle exfoliator. Doing so will support cell turnover without stripping moisture, and help clear any rough or dead cells. It’s important to note that exfoliation also leaves your skin more vulnerable to sun damage, so bear this in mind when introducing it into your routine.

Our final recommendation will help bring all of these together and make sure your routine protects, maintains and renews your skin during the summer.

7. Have a Night and Morning Routine

It’s more important than ever to have both a night and morning routine.

Your night routine should cleanse, repair, and reset your skin after a day of exposure, while the morning routine protects, hydrates and shields your skin from UV and pollution.

Night Routine: Cleanser, toner, exfoliator, serum, eye cream and moisturiser

Morning Routine: Cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, moisturiser and SPF

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask and hopefully, there are only a couple of small tweaks you need to make to your routine.