5 Summer Skin Care Sins to Avoid
Summer can be a tricky time when it comes to SKIN CARE. Often times we have to alter our skin care regimens for the warmer, more humid weather. But there are few key things that we all need to make sure we are doing or avoiding when it comes to taking care of our skin in the summer months.
Skipping Sunscreen
This should be a no-brainer but it continually boggles my mind how many people simply do not wear sunscreen. Especially POC. Skin cancer is on the rise within the black community. So to all of my fellow Melanated Monas -WEAR SUNSCREEN. Wearing sunscreen doesn’t have to be a huge deal. I apply mty face sunscreen before my makeup. I recently started using Cane & Austin Mattifying Primer with SPF 50. It’s a primer and sunscreen in one so I get two steps done at once.
For the rest of my body I use a sunscreen spray. My favorite is Banana Boat Dry Touch SPF 50. I spray it one rub it in and it’s not sticky or tacky. And it gives the skin a nice healthy sheen.
2. Forgetting to Reapply Sunscreen
This one is just as important as number one. How many of us have put on sunscreen at the beginning of the day and then didn’t think about it for the rest of the day? I used to. But sunscreen’s defectiveness only lasts for approximately 2 hours- regardless of the SPF factor OR what the bottle says. So if you are going out in the sun multiple times a day you will need to reapply. This can be tricky when you wear makeup everyday like I do. But there have actually been quite a few SPF facial sprays that have come onto the market over the last year or two. Supergoop has one. It’s not my personal favorite but I know people who love it. Coola also has one that I am interested in trying out. I use the Ulta Brand Rosewater Setting Spray with SPF 50 for my sunscreens touch ups throughout the day. It’s affordable and has a really refreshing feel to it. It does take a minute o dry down however which is the only drawback for me.
3. Skipping Moisturizer
This one is for all my fellow oily skin sisters out there. When it’s hot and sticky and our skin is producing oil like a sieve, sometimes the last thing you want to do is apply a moisturizer on your face. But you have to. If you don’t your skin will rebel and start producing even more oil. In the summer, I swap out my cream moisturizer for a water-based one. Your skin gets the hydration it needs, but water gels or water creams absorb quickly and do’t leave the skin feeling greasy. I’m currently using Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream. It hydrates well, absorbs quickly and a little bit goes a long way. If you use too much your skin will feel a bit sticky. I use a dollop the size of a dime for my entire face and neck.
4. Not Drinking Enough Water
The body can dehydrate quickly in the hot weather. And the effects of that can become visible pretty quickly in our skin. Are your lips super dry no matter how much lip balm you apply? Does your skin feel a bit crepe-y under your eyes? Are you feeling extra sluggish? Chances are this is all due to not drinking enough good old H20. Try incorporating more water into your daily life. I can always tell when my water intake isn’t what it should be. I feel more, tired more rundown and my lips are drier. I keep a 16oz. glass water bottle at my desk and fill it first thing in the morning when I come in. When I’ve emptied it, I refill it. I try to do this 2-3 times a day. I also try to drink a glass of water before bed. I have to get up at night to go to the bathroom but it’s a small price to pay.
5. Skipping Your Vitamin C
As I stated above, in the Summer switching up our skincare products can be a good thing. But one area where you should be consistent is with your actives- specifically your Vitamin C serum. The antioxidants in Vitamin C serums can actually help the effectiveness of your sunscreen. Not to mention that it helps brighten the skin and fade dark spots
*This post contains affiliate links
