While nothing feels quite as relaxing as basking under the warm summer sun, your skin definitely doesn’t agree. The heat and humidity, combined with damaging UV rays and increased pollution, can mean that everything from oily skin and acne to dryness, dark spots, and wrinkles become a daily battle.

If you plan on having your skin out on display this summer, then it’s worth spending some time understanding how to give it what it needs. Not only will these tips keep your skin looking its very best, but they’ll also help to keep your skin healthy, preventing your summer fun from causing any serious damage later on in life.

Lighten Up Your Skincare Routine

Heat and humidity stimulate the skin’s oil glands into amping up natural sebum production. This is great news for those who have dealt with dry skin all winter, but can spell disaster for everyone else.

The more sebum that your skin produces, the higher your chances of developing clogged pores, and therefore breakouts. There are a few ingredients out there that can help to re-balance sebum production in the long run (look into vitamin A and salicylic acid), but, in the meantime, you should also be lightening up your skincare routine to prevent overloading your pores.

Rich moisturizers are usually the biggest culprit, so switch to a thinner lotion instead. Swap out any other thick, oil-heavy products for lighter alternatives too. Not only will this help to keep your skin clear and pimple-free, but it’s also a great excuse to treat yourself to some new skincare! If you need some inspiration, a browse through pierremichelbeauty.com is a great place to start.

Keep Your Skin Hydrated

Yes, your skin produces more oil in the summer, but oil is completely different from water. Your skin cells need water in order to properly function, which is why you should just lighten up, rather than completely give up, your skincare routine. However, make sure that those lighter products you’re using still contain plenty of hydrating ingredients – humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, are great for providing moisture without weighing the skin down.

In addition to hydrating topically, focus on hydrating your skin from within too. Since you sweat more in the summer, keep your body’s moisture levels topped up by drinking plenty of fluids. Water-rich foods, from melons and cucumbers to strawberries and tomatoes, also help to hydrate the body.

Hydrated skin looks plumper, fuller, and brighter – everything you want for a flawless summer complexion!

Exfoliate from Head-to-Toe

After being hidden away under multiple layers all winter, it’s no surprise that the skin on the body can look a little rough and dull once the warmer weather rolls in. Buff this all away with an exfoliant – scrubs are a popular choice for the body, but peels work well too.

Either way, make exfoliation a regular part of your summer lifestyle to maintain smooth, bikini-ready skin from head-to-toe.

Find a Sunscreen That You Love

Wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skin tone, inflammation – all of these common skin complaints have one thing in common; the sun. In fact, UV rays are responsible for around 80% of the visible signs of skin aging, making it important to keep your skin protected at all times.

However, let’s face it – sunscreens are often annoying to use. Some leave a white residue on the skin, giving you a ghostly appearance, while others feel greasy and interfere with makeup application. This makes it somewhat understandable why people often skip out on the sunscreen.

Unfortunately, an SPF 30 reapplied regularly throughout the day is the only way to keep bare skin safe, not just from aging but also from cancer. The key is finding a sunscreen that you love – each formula out there is different, so spend some time searching for the perfect one. Once you do, you’re more likely to remember to apply it in the mornings, and reapplications during the day won’t feel like such a chore.

Soothe and Repair Sun-Damaged Skin ASAP

If you do happen to neglect sun protection and the sun has left your skin looking and feeling red, sore, and burnt, it’s time to immediately take back control. Soothe and calm the redness with cooling ingredients, such as aloe vera, oatmeal, or coconut oil.

Make sure that your skincare routine also contains plenty of antioxidants. Some of the best ingredients for reversing the DNA damage that the sun causes to skin cells are resveratrol and vitamins C and E. Apply these in serum-form for maximum benefits.

Get Your Glow On!

Achieving a flawless summer glow is easier than you think. The secret is to stay ahead of the game – treat your skin well in the run-up to summer, and you’ll be rewarded with radiant skin that’s easy to maintain throughout the hotter months.