How to protect your skin during summer? – Here are 15 summer skin care tips
Bright rays of the sun gently warming your heart and soul to its very core, birds chirping the sweetest of melodies, greenery rich and in full bloom around you…who doesn’t love the summer season? It is the time to travel, to fall in love with the adventurous mood of the season, to dance outside like nobody’s watching and to revel in nature’s warming embrace.
The summer season is loved world over for it re-introduces joy to the world following the end of winter’s cold embrace. A time to truly enjoy in the sunshine, the summer season is one that can only be enjoyed outdoors, under the fiery gaze of the sun.
This is the opportunity to bring out those bermuda shorts and summer dresses that have been hidden away in the cupboard, waiting for the chance to be flaunted about again.
There shouldn’t be a thing to stop you from going out and being your happiest best during this joyful season. However the one concern that holds us back from enjoying the cool waves of the sea-shore or a lazy float upon a swimming pool is the fear of damaging our skin in the midst of celebrating the warm season.
Burning and tanning, a side effect of staying out too long in the sun are nightmares to people who are not genetically built to handle the heat. There’s no reason to worry however- people of all genetic compositions can adapt to the heat by following some of the following summer skin care tips
Summer skin care tips
1. Slather on some sun-screen
One of the most commonly practiced skin care tips for summer, the importance of using sun-screen cannot be ignored. UV penetration from the sun wreaks havoc on the skin and the darkening of skin -commonly known as ‘tanning’- occurs as a response from the skin to block UV radiation from getting through the protective layer of the body.
‘Melanin’ is a chemical component in the body that most people have heard of but whose role is not fully understood. A pigment in the skin, melanin determines the color of your skin and is also responsible for the darkening of skin post exposure to sunlight.
Applying a layer of sunscreen on the body during sunny days shields the skin and helps the body ward off harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun. Sunscreens are essentially a combination of organic and inorganic compounds such as Zinc oxide/ Titanium oxide and octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) or oxybenzone that either reflect the sun’s rays or dissipate the heat, reducing damage to the skin.
The SPF of a sunscreen determines how much protection it offers your skin. Sunscreens with high SPF provide greater protection from UVB rays and broad-spectrum sunscreens help manage UVA rays. Skin cancer is one of the most extreme results of skin damage from the sun- it’s essential you highlight the importance of using sunscreen in your skin-care tips for summer notebook!
2. Make hydration your mantra
Apps that remind you to drink water regularly have found their way into our smartphones for a reason. If you’re one of those people who forgets to drink water, incorporating lots of fruits and vegetables into the diet are the way to go.
Watermelons, oranges, cauliflowers and aubergine have high water content and are tasty treats for the palette. Water is that miracle ingredient that keeps your skin dewy and glowing no matter what season, so make sure this summer skin care tip is a priority during other seasons as well.
Keep bottles full of water near you all the time so that you remember to regularly take sips. However do not make the mistake of drinking large amounts of water in one shot in order to complete your quota for the day, ensuring that you are regularly giving your body hydration in sufficient doses will help the body maintain water balance.
3. Scrub away the grime
The skin is prone to breaking out more in the summer because the thin layer of sweat that helps keep your body cool also traps in more dirt and grime than usual. Regular exfoliation helps break apart the grime and frees it from the pores, keeping your skin clean and ready to face the world.
If store-bought exfoliators are not your cup of tea, homemade scrubs made with oats or sugar are wonderful organic replacements that can be enhanced with ingredients such as honey or curd that moisturize the skin.
A word of caution- do not over-exfoliate as this can damage your skin and even lead to more break-outs. Exfoliation must always be complemented by moisturizing- the two processes work in tandem to clear and revitalize your skin.
Use an exfoliator depending on the beating that your skin has already taken from the sun- if you spend a lot of time outside, limit exfoliation to once or twice a week as your skin is sensitive during this time.
Of course, skin types vary and how much exfoliation one needs varies from person to person, therefore feel free to experiment and see what suits your skin the best.
4. Re-appraise your wardrobe
The summer season is all about keeping the heat outside maintaining body temperature. Nothing plays a more crucial role in determining your body temperature than your clothes.
Airy, light cottony clothes help your body regulate heat levels, thereby ensuring you lose less water content. This skin care tip for summer gives you the chance to experiment with your wardrobe and re-define your fashion style!
If buying new clothes is not something your budget allows for, take some of your old clothes and experiment with them creatively to set your own trend.
In the gusto to purchase new clothes to adorn yourself with, do not forget to pay attention to colors- darker colors such as black absorb and trap heat within and will leave you feeling suffocated and sweaty- two things nobody wants to feel on any occasion!
5. Don’t forget the gym
Exercising is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and an even more crucial skin care tip for the summer. It’s a misconception that sweating extra during the summer makes up for time not spent burning calories in the gym.
Exercising increases blood flow, bringing nourishment to your skin cells and helps toxins exit the body. It goes without saying that rehydration must necessarily follow any form of exercise in order to avoid loss of elasticity and dryness in the skin.
Exercise also helps manage stress which is known to have adverse effects on the skin. If you’re exercising outdoors, pay extra attention to the amount of sunscreen you apply to your body as your sweat is likely to wash off some of it, leaving you vulnerable to the sun’s rays.
6. Look after your lips
The lips are one area of the body that has the most sensitive layer of skin and it is common tendency to overlook this part because of its relatively smaller size- however this is a grave error as the lips are the most susceptible to sun damage.
Cracked, dry lips can be painful to experience and make doing daily things like eating and talking more cumbersome than they need to be.
Since the lips do not have melanin, it is difficult for this sensitive part to ward off the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. The way to deal with this is to apply generous amounts of lip balms with SPF in it.
Be conscious of what you purchase- often products offer protection against only UVB rays and ignore the harmful effects of UVA rays.
A broad-spectrum lip balm will cover all bases and keep your lips looking naturally beautiful, always. Coconut oil is an excellent remedy found in most Indian homes to soothe and moisturize burned lips. Avoid licking your lips too many times as this can also lead to drying and flakiness.
7. Avoid make-up for a while
We ladies love our make-up no matter what season and on a lot of bad hair and skin days, we turn to our make-up arsenals to give us the confidence to go out and face the world.
This summer season, however, it would be best to allow your inner beauty to shine through rather than slather on foundation and concealer.
The simple reason is this- the skin is prone to collecting more oil and grime during the summer than during any other season, and applying make-up products make it more difficult for the skin to breathe.
If you simply cannot let go of your beauty enhancers, try opting for oil-free products. Letting your face go nude will also make you more conscious of practicing your skin care routine.
After all, makeup or no makeup, we all want our skin to be spotless and glowing! If you need a pick-me-up to keep you going through the day without makeup, hydrating face mists reintroduce lost moisture back into the skin and help it look alive again. This is one summer skin care tip that will help you save the time and money required to invest in high quality make-up products!
8. Treat burned skin immediately
It’s natural- you stayed out in the sun longer than you initially intended to and that prior decision to forego using sunscreen has now resulted in big red, blistery patches of angry skin all over your body.
Quick action to relieve the irritated skin will go a long way in preventing skin cancer and the first thing to do after prolonged exposure to the sun is to cool it down.
Cool water is the most easily available resource to do just the trick. Spend some time bathing at a nearby stream or at home under the shower and then moisturize.
This is an important step because the harsh rays of the sun have robbed your skin of its moisture and nutrients, and a good quality moisturizer helps rejuvenate your skin back to life.
If your neighbor has an aloe vera plant growing in their garden, this is the time to call in a neighborly favor. Yoghurt also acts as a wonderful cooling element that moisturizes and soothes the skin at the same time.
9. Don’t skip on the scalp care
Facial skin-care from the sun is commonly spoken about and most people are already conscious of the importance of using sunscreen.
Not many are aware however of the risks of developing melanoma along the scalp line due to overexposure to the sun. The scalp is an oft-ignored part of the body simply because one assumes the abundance of hair protects it from any damage.
While this is true, the hairline or areas with scanty hair are still directly exposed to the harsh rays of the sun. That being said, cancer is just one extreme form of an anomaly that could affect an overexposed scalp. Just as the combination of oil and sweat on facial skin can lead to clogging of the pores and painful breakouts, so too can an untended scalp lead to issues such as dandruff and an itchy scalp.
With dandruff comes an increased susceptibility to skin blemishes, especially on the forehead. A good way to avoid scalp-related skin damage is to invest in cooling sprays or spray on sunscreens that are easy to apply to exposed parts of the scalp.
Avoid leaving oil in the hair for long amounts of time as this will just lead to further clogging of the pores- the goal here is to keep the scalp feeling airy and clear of bacteria while also protecting from the sun’s potent energy. Wide-brimmed hats are another good option to protect the scalp.
10. Resist the temptation to scratch
The onset of summer also brings with it prickly heat and dry, itchy skin.The combination of sweat and dirt lodged in the nooks and crannies of your body may call out to your fingers to scratch away but resist the urge, especially if you have long nails.
Not only does this give the bacteria from your nails the chance to wreak all kinds of havoc on your skin, it damages the top layer of your skin, leaving it raw and exposed.
Instead of scratching the itch away look for cooling powders that will help you beat the heat. Insect repellant creams are a savior when it comes to situations such as garden parties or picnics at the park where it is difficult to stay clear of insects.
Remember- the key summer skin care tip is to keep your skin feeling as clean as possible without suffocating it too much with products.
11. Protect your eyes
The windows to your soul are also another area on the body where the skin is thin and delicate and requires extra attention. Pull out those Rajnikanth-style sunglasses and flaunt away.
Not only will you look cooler than ever before, you will also be protecting your eyes and the skin around from being exposed to the harsh sunlight.
Avoid looking directly at the sun or being outside during the hours of the noon, when the sun is at its fiery best. Resist the urge to scratch dry eyes- rubbing the eyes only worsens the situation and damages blood vessels, leading to ugly dark circles and tired looking eyes. Instead, walk to the nearest water faucet and splash a generous amount of water on your eyes to cool it down.
If chronic dryness in the eyes is a recurring problem, take a look at the amount of time you spend in front of the laptop or television.
It is natural to be so engrossed in work that you forget to blink- blinking is the body’s mechanism of re-depositing a thin protective layer over the eyeballs, cleaning and protecting it from external stimuli.
Eye-drops available in the market that naturally bring moisture back to the eyes are another solution to the problem of dry eyes.
12. Antioxidants are your friends
Free radicals are a by-product of the process of oxidation in the body that cause the damage or the death of cells in the body.
Stress, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking fuel the creation of these free radicals- it’s like a domino effect where a free radical attacks a nearby molecule, thereby turning that into another unstable free radical until this chain reaction finally leads to cell death.
Free radicals in the body are nothing to worry about as they are quite a normal phenomenon- the issue is when there are too many free radicals in the body.
Enter antioxidants- your friendly neighborhood hero that helps neutralize free radicals in the body. Coffee and dark chocolate lovers alert- your favorite treats are rich in antioxidants, so here’s your opportunity to binge on bars of dark chocolate guilt-free!
The Vitamins E and C are also known to combat the formation of free radicals so include a lot of dark leafy vegetables and citrus foods in your diet and watch as your skin responds positively to the love!
13. Nourish your skin from the outside
Incorporating foods rich in water content and antioxidants into your diet take care of your skin health from the inside but consider this- there also measures you can adopt that approach your skin from the outside, giving your skin an added edge this summer.
Who doesn’t love fruity, sweet smelling face packs? This is one skin care tip for the summerthat encourages you to treat yourself to those treasured beauty sessions with the girls.
Here is your chance to overdose on the abundance of mangoes available during the summer season by feeding it to your body both from within and without.
Ingredients in face packs such as multani mitti, rose water, curd, cucumber, popular for their cooling and purifying qualities are the way to go.
Indulge in some skin pampering sessions with treatments that include turmeric powder and honey, two popularly used natural ingredients potent in their antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
14. Sleep those wrinkles away
The value of sleep cannot be reiterated enough- those beauty zz’s caught during the golden hours of the night give your body the time to recuperate with the day’s many challenges and stresses.
It is when you sleep that your cells regenerate, the skin cells recover lost moisture and toxins are gradually pushed out of the system.
As you wander through the myriad fantasy worlds of your subconscious mind, your body prepares itself to face the next day. Puffy eyes, dark circles and wrinkles are the result of the body’s inability to maintain water balance due to lack of proper sleep.
Cortisol, a stress hormone that is released when a person does not get enough sleep causes inflammation of the skin and could worsen problems such as acne and eczema.
Not only is sleeping well a summer skin care tip, it is one of those golden beauty tips that can simply not be done without.
15. Keep your feet happy
Last but not the least, do not forget to pay attention to your feet! Your feet are your best friends, not demanding too much from you yet being your faithful companions no matter what terrain.
In the quest to have beautiful skin, the feet are seldom considered as a part of the daily beauty regime. The farthest part of the body, the feet are already at a disadvantage as they receive poor blood flow in comparison to the rest of the body.
Exercising is one way to help get blood flowing to the feet. Investing in a good exfoliator and moisturizing cream for the feet go a long way to help keep the delicate skin there supple and glowing.
Skip on the step-motherly treatment when buying shoes as well- opt for comfortable well fitted shoes over designer shoes that don’t fit properly. Shoe bites are unsightly and painful boils caused by friction between the skin and your footwear which leave behind marks that can take a while to fade away.