SUMMER GLOW UP

Tips and tricks on how to achieve that gorgeous summer look

When you’re living in the tropics, it comes as no surprise that summer arrives much earlier than the rest of the world. March is officially the start of the summer season in the Philippines, and there is no denying it—the change in climate can be felt extensively.

With hardly any warning, temperatures goes up, and humidity creeps in. And just like that, our days are riddled with excessive sweat, overall stickiness, flat hair, an oily t-zone, and if we’re unlucky, a breakout or two.

These muggy conditions are enough to keep us locked up indoors in an air conditioned room for the remainder of the season, unless we’re equipped with the best skincare and makeup strategy that will keep us looking and feeling fresh this summer. Consider this a summer glow up guide, as we make a switch to a hot weather-ready skincare regimen, complete with the essentials products you’ll need.

EXFOLIATE

The benefits of skin exfoliation are quite underrated, as most of us concentrate on heavily moisturizing in order to keep our skin plump and moisturized. However, learning to properly remove the barrier of dead skin cells that clog the pores can do wonders for us, as it uncovers healthy and glowing skin. Apart from that, other benefits include improved blood circulation, acne prevention, an even skin tone, increased cell turnover, and the production of collagen. And lucky for us, there are more than a few ways to exfoliate so we will never get bored of this skincare step—there’s dry brushing, using a face cloth or exfoliating glove, trying physical exfoliants or cleansers that contains microbeads or tiny grains, and going for chemical exfoliants, though it might be best to consult with your dermatologist before trying this out on your own.

PROTECT

Prevention is always better than cure, which is why we need to be vigilant about applying and re-applying sunscreen this summer. Of course, we are usually prepared with our bottle or tube of sunscreen at the beach, but what about for our day-to-day use? Most of us tend to forget to add that extra layer of protection before leaving the house, which can potentially lead to premature skin aging, an uneven skin tone, an appearance of sunspots and age spots, and a higher risk for skin cancer. Thankfully, there are lightweight sunscreens that does its job of protecting us from harmful UV rays. All we need to do is make it a skincare habit to apply this essential product.

MOISTURIZE

While most of us know how important it is to moisturize, it is easy to skip this step when it’s absolutely sweltering outside. Studies have found that it is essential to moisturize even when it’s hot as this skincare step prevents the sebaceous glands from going on overdrive and producing more oil, the same way it does when our skin is extra dry. Excessive summer heat can actually dehydrate our skin, so it makes sense to use moisturizer even on unbearably hot days.. The key is to find a moisturizer that’s not only lightweight and non-sticky, but can easily be absorbed by the skin.

MAKEUP

It comes as no big surprise that we need to tweak our makeup routine when it hits the summer months. Less is more in this case, as layers of makeup usually lead to disastrous meltdowns, smears and smudges. Stocking up on these specific makeup can make all the difference this summer, as they keep your makeup in place and will ultimately help you glow up.

PRIMER

In the past decade, we’ve seen more and more people add makeup primers to their list of makeup essentials. And for good reason— its benefits are impressive. Apart from preparing the skin for makeup application, it helps the makeup adhere to the skin better. It does this by smoothening out the skin, giving it a more polished and even look. It fills in the pores, blurs blemishes and imperfections and keeps the skin matte and oil-free. If there’s one makeup step you shouldn’t miss this summer, it’s this one.

BRONZER

There’s nothing like getting a golden tan this summer. But to err on the side of caution, it might be better to fake it rather than enduring horrible sunburn and potential sun damage. For this reason, bronzer is our friend, especially when it packs micro shimmer that helps our skin glow. To apply bronzer, use a slanted bronzer brush on the hollow parts of the face, like the cheekbones, the temples, the brow bone and the jawline.

HIGHLIGHTER

Admittedly, this product can produce two opposing results: beautiful glowy skin or a shine that’s reminiscent of oil or sweat. Naturally we don’t want the latter, so apply this very sparingly on key points of the face: the inner corners of the eyes, along the line of the nose, and very minimally, the chin area. This will create a gorgeous dimension that is glowy and youthful.