Your ultimate guide for Summer skincare
Beach days, sunshine, enjoying the longer daylight and hot, dry or humid temperatures are just some of the things we love about Summer. Here’s a few tips and tricks to makeover your skincare for the season, making sure your skin is protected and remains in great condition.
1. SPF, SPF & more SPF
This is probably the most important tip of them all. Sun protection is an absolute must, especially in the Summer months when you’re spending more time outside exposing yourself to the harmful UV rays.
If there’s one thing you need to do this Summer, it’s to make sure you’ve applied your SPF protection at least 20 minutes before you head out the door.
Make sure you look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen product like those from the Aspect Sun range and aim for SPF protection of a minimum of 30+. It will ensure you are protected from both UVA & UVB sun rays. Aspect Sun have some great products including their new Physical Sun Protection SPF50+ which has a very high protection mineral sunscreen that has been formulated with 22.7% Zinc Oxide to protect and help minimise the harsh ageing effects from UV exposure. The addition of Glycerin works to boost moisture levels in the skin. It’s invisible on the skin with a barely there feel.To ensure you have ultimate sun protection, ensure you apply SPF on other areas of the body that will be exposed to the sun, like shoulders, ears and back of neck plus don’t forget those ankles! Wearing protective clothing as well as a hat and eyewear will also give you better coverage against UV rays. Try to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun when you can and don’t forget to reapply sun screen every 2 hours or more often if you have been in the water or are sweating in the heat.
2. Lighten up your skincare & makeup routine
Much like your wardrobe, your skincare and makeup should be ‘lightened up’ in the Summer months.
Now’s the time to swap those heavier cleansers, like oil or cream, for more gentle, mousse or foaming cleansers which will work better for skin when the humidity is high. Medik8 Gentle Cleanse is a great mild, rosemary-infused foaming wash that gently removes direct make-up and impurities without unbalancing the skin’s delicate moisture levels.
Change up your heavier full coverage foundations and other makeup and look for makeup products that are noncomedogenic – products formulated to not clog your pores. Try an oil-free primer or a lightweight foundation to let your skin glow and reduce the risk of breakouts caused by blocked pores. We love the Aspect Minerals Liquid foundation which helps to even out skin tone with a light to medium buildable coverage.
3. Don’t forget to moisturise
Just because you might be sweating more, and the air isn’t as dry in Summer doesn’t mean you don’t need to hydrate your skin. However, your skin won’t need those heavy moisturisers you may use in the Winter months as they will tend to weigh your skin down when it’s warmer. Ideally you want to swap it out for a lightweight moisturiser. There are even some great Summer moisturisers which contain the added benefit of SPF protection like ASAP Daily Defence SPF50+ which is a light and easily absorbed, plus won’t leave behind any residue.
4. Invest in a great vitamin C serum
Vitamin C is great for preventing hyperpigmentation, improving the appearance of fine lines and can help with collagen production. This wonder ingredient also has protective properties which help reduce the skin stress caused by free radicals throughout the day. It can also work hand in hand with your SPF to help boost your skins protection from sun damage.
Aspect Dr Active C Serum is a powerful antioxidant and peptide serum to help firm the surface of your skin and promote elasticity for a firmer, brighter complexion. It is best applied in the morning on clean skin, before you moisturise and put on SPF.
5. Exfoliate to remove Summer stressed skin
Exfoliating is still important in the warmer weather. When using sunscreen and with the heat causing you to sweat more, it can cause your pores to become blocked. Exfoliating in Summer will help unclog those pores and reduce blemishes. You may not need to exfoliate as much – we recommend once or twice a week, and you may wish to update your exfoliant to be gentler to reduce irritation. If you are sunburnt, it’s best not to exfoliate until the skin is healed fully. An AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) product is great to soothe stressed Summer skin and help remove oils that result in blemishes. Aspect Illuminating Polish is a triple-action exfoliant that combines Ecoscrub, enzymes and AHAs to gently polish, remove lifeless cells leaving you feeling instantly smooth and more radiant.
