COOL SUMMER
Supercharge skin with hydrating moisture.
Longer, light-filled days, sun-kissed noses. Plunging into waves, lakes and pools. Salty wind whips our hair into melting ice cream treats as we eat them. Hot footpaths steaming as we hobble our way to the beach. Stone fruit dribbling down our chins. The smell of sunscreen – the new fragrance of our days. Summer is joyful, hazy and social. These are the days we look forward to when it’s cold and wet outside.
As our skin settles into this new season, we want to keep it stable, supple and resilient to the seasonal stresses we have thrown at it. And let’s face it, if we have had the January of our dreams then we have spent more time outdoors than most other months of the year.
This can leave skin parched. Replacing hydration is oh-soimportant and to do this e ectively we need to take a two-pronged strategy with inner and outer methods. Inner – what we consume can and will help make a di erence, and outer – where skincare plays a pivotal role.
INNER
When asked about the secret to their flawless skin, a lot of celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, claim that drinking lots of water is their secret. Which we all know is not their only secret (hello injectables). But it’s safe to say that keeping hydrated from within does have a positive impact on your appearance. If you find yourself deeply dehydrated the results will be almost instant. When there is less water being consumed, there is less circulating in your system, with less being transported through the blood to the skin. There is a tipping point where too much water doesn’t help, annoyingly, it just makes you go to the bathroom a lot. Aim for 1-1.5 litres of water a day. If you find yourself struggling to drink water, consider flavouring it with cucumber slices, sprigs of mint, cubes of fruit to make it more interesting. Naturally, there are foods you can eat with a high-water content, like juicy watermelon and other fruits which are fortunately abundant at this time of year (love how Mother Nature is always looking out for us).
OUTER
Adding hydration to the skin on the outside is easy – consider your skincare routine from start to finish. Cleansing is one of the most important steps. Avoid using a cleanser that is too abrasive or harsh for your skin to avoid making the surface area feel sensitive – this often shows as red or flaky skin. But you still want to use one that will dissolve sunscreen and make-up!
Cream cleansers are good for sensitive skin or those with rosacea, they’re also a good option for really dry skin. Some are heavier than others and more suited to colder temperatures.
Foam cleansers are ideal for those with oilier skin or acneprone skin. They’re formulated to slightly dry out the skin even though some have oils or emollients to provide a moisturising finish.
We love gel cleansers for a light lathering to thoroughly cleanse and remove surface impurities without stripping the outer lipids.
Oil cleansers are divine but can be too much at this time of year with the added humidity. Try a light version or use a toner afterwards to take away that extra layer before adding serums and moisturisers.
For the days when you are mostly barefaced or have had a swim, try a micellar cleanser. These are mostly water, remove the remains of make-up, flush away sweat, salt and sunscreen and are super hydrating. They are perfect for camping and hiking.
Just be sure to use a reusable cotton cloth or muslin cloth to be extra friendly to the environment.
An integral part of any skin routine – serums provide a higher concentration of active ingredients and are formulated to penetrate deeper into freshly cleansed skin.
THE MOST CRUCIAL VITAMIN
Vitamin C is essential for skin in summer
– it evens skin tone, brightens complexion, helps protect against sun damage, reduces hyperpigmentation and stimulates the skin’s production of collagen.
It’s also a tricky little molecule and can be unstable if not packaged properly – it doesn’t like heat or light. Look for Vitamin C products that have opaque packaging and a pump applicator. It also works best in a team with vitamin E and ferulic acid.
If retinol and vitamin A products are a part of your routine, make sure you only use them at night, and be strict with sunscreen. Retinol and Vitamin A derivatives make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and more likely to burn.
LESS CREAM
Seek light formulations that have moisture-plumping ingredients like hyaluronic acid, a molecule found naturally in our skin and connective tissues. It’s an incredible moisturiser, it is a water-binding molecule that attracts and holds water molecules – up to 1000 times its weight in water. This helps restore lost hydration and in turn, very subtly smooth fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also very easily tolerated by most skin types. Other ingredients to look for are glycerin, peptides and oils or butter.