As the temperatures start to rise again, it’s time to swap your cozy sweaters for breezy sundresses and bikinis. While this means you’ll get to spend more time outdoors, the warmer conditions can cause a flare-up of common skin problems such as oily skin and acne. You can keep your skin looking great with just a few modifications to your daily beauty routine. The following skin care guide discusses how to maintain a vibrant complexion all summer long.
Cleanse
Cleanser should serve as the foundation of a good skin care routine, but your skin’s needs change throughout the seasons. The warmer temperatures during summer can increase sebum production, which often leads to acne breakouts and clogged pores. Be sure to replace your cleanser at the beginning of the season to keep oily skin at bay. It’s important to choose a cleanser with active ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. These acne-fighting ingredients reduce oil production and exfoliate the skin to keep pores free of grime.
Tone
Summer brings increased temperatures and higher levels of humidity, so cleanser isn’t always enough to remove a day’s worth of sweat and grime. Using a facial toner can remove what’s left behind after cleansing, including makeup, dead skin cells, impurities, oils and residual sunblock. After washing your face, gently swipe toner over your skin using a cotton ball or face pad. This will balance your skin’s pH level, lock in moisture, tighten your pores and keep your skin looking great.
Exfoliate
Regular exfoliation is one of the keys to achieving glowing skin no matter the season. There are two main types of exfoliation: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants include scrubs and microbeads that gently buff away dead skin cells and smooth out uneven skin texture. Chemical exfoliants include products with actives like alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA). Alpha hydroxy acids exfoliate the skin by increasing cell turnover and boosting the skin’s natural shedding process. Beta hydroxy acids work in a similar way, but they can penetrate even deeper into the pores. It’s best to use an exfoliant twice a week.
For those who have more significant cosmetic concerns, a chemical peel can provide optimal exfoliation. This in-office treatment produces a superficial injury to the skin. A fresh layer of healthy skin is revealed as the injury heals. This convenient treatment is a popular choice for people who want to treat fine lines, uneven skin texture and discoloration.
Moisturize
Just because summer has milder temperatures doesn’t mean you should go without moisturizer entirely. While colder weather requires more emollient moisturizers, it’s best to use a lighter formulation for summer. Consider using a gel-based formula for the face, which replenishes moisture without feeling too heavy on your skin. Choose an oil-free product when moisturizing your body to prevent breakouts.
Protect
Pleasant summer temperatures will have you spending more time outdoors, so it’s important to protect your skin from the sun. Sun damage causes some of the first signs of aging including fine lines, wrinkles and drooping skin. Just a small amount of sun exposure can damage the skin and cause a sunburn, so you should wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Regularly wearing sunblock is a good skin care practice to follow throughout the entire year because ultraviolet rays are harmful even during colder months.
Rejuvenate
Most people want to put their best face forward for summer activities, but a busy lifestyle can make it difficult to find time for cosmetic treatments. Injectables make it easy to get a refreshed look without a lengthy recovery period. Botox is an excellent option for those seeking treatment for fine lines and wrinkles. This injectable specifically treats movement-related wrinkles, such as crow’s feet and creases between the eyebrows.
Dermal fillers are better suited to treating wrinkles that develop from a loss of volume, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines. Facial fillers can also restore volume to the cheeks and under the eyes, and they add natural-looking plumpness to the lips. Both Botox and dermal fillers require virtually no downtime, allowing you to carry on with your busy summer schedule.
As summer approaches, there’s no better time to get a head start on your new look. Contact Dr. Eric Pugash today to schedule a personal consultation for non-surgical cosmetic treatments in Vancouver, BC. Whether you’re interested in a surgical or non-invasive procedure, he will help you explore your full range of options.