Get comfy in your summer skin with Caroline’s 6 top tips
Holiday season is, believe it or not, upon us so the YouTube star has advice for looking your best, says
WITH more than 35 years of industry experience, a regular guest slot on This Morning, a successful blog and YouTube channel, and 427,000 Instagram followers so loyal they call themselves “the freaks”, Caroline Hirons is a skincare phenomenon.
The 50-year-old has just launched her hugely hyped book Skincare, billed as “the ultimate no-nonsense guide”, so who better to school us on summer skin now warmer (if not sunnier at the moment) weather is here?
This summer is different than usual, so how has lockdown been affecting people’s complexions, judging by the enquiries Caroline has been getting?
“Everyone I know is getting dry skin and breakouts,” she said. “For me personally, lockdown is doing as much damage as a transatlantic flight.
“I’m spritzing and moisturising three or four times a day and it just disappears.”
Here, the beauty guru talks us through six changes everyone can make to ensure their summer skincare routine is up to scratch...
1 Cleansing
“Sometimes the first warm day of spring or summer sneaks up on you and you find your make-up feels heavy or your creams suddenly feel sticky,” Caroline said.
If that’s the case, try swapping to a cleanser that’s a milk or gel formula.
“Cleansing milks and gels are light and won’t feel heavy in the heat. I use balms all year round, but I know a younger, more combination skin frequently finds them a tad heavy.”
2 Sun protection
“As the days get longer, don’t forget to up the ante on your SPF,” said Caroline – and that doesn’t just mean the sun protection factor itself.
“If you enjoy sitting out in the summer evenings, and you last applied your SPF in the morning, it’s worth carrying a spray or mineral SPF so you can top-up throughout the day.
“Neither is perfect for coverage, so just do your best, and don’t go lower than an SPF30.”
3 Soothe sunburn
“There is no such thing as a safe tan,” Caroline said. You are at risk of burning and sun damage if you sit out in the sun.
“If you do get sunburned, strip back actives,” she added, meaning active ingredients found in skincare like retinol and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs).
“Take down the heat and keep the skin cool with regular cold showers and wet cloths.
“Take aspirin or ibuprofen and wear loose clothing that protects the burned areas.”
4 Vitamin C
Not only should you be munching lots of vitamin C-rich fruit and veg in summer, applying the nutrient topically can work wonders for your skin too.
“Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against free radicals and encourages collagen production,” Caroline said. “It’s recommended year-round but it’s worth another mention for the warmer months.
“You’ll probably be outside more, in sunlight for longer, and who doesn’t like the added glow?”
5Serum
A serum should be used after cleansing but before moisturising to deliver the most powerful ingredients in your routine.
Caroline recommends choosing a serum that’s either hyaluronic (moisturising) or glycolic acid (exfoliating), depending on personal need.
“In all its forms, hyaluronic acid (HA) is great for hot weather, as long as you are using it alongside something else, whether it’s a moisture-loaded mist or a light moisturiser.
“Some hyaluronic serums are actually hybrid moisturisers, if you are using a serum or a very light moisturiser that contains a good dose of HA, you may find it’s enough,” she added.
“Glycolic acid makes you more sensitive to the sun, however it doesn’t stop me recommending it or using it myself. Just make sure you are using your SPF.”
6 Moisturiser
“Oil-free moisturiser is an option for oilier skins year-round, but it becomes a good option for the rest of us in higher temperatures,” Caroline said.
“Your skin will be able to retain more of its moisture in humidity, so if your products feel heavy or greasy, switch to a lighter, perhaps oil-free, moisturiser until the weather cools.”
Extracted from Skincare by Caroline Hirons, out now.