With its long days and luminous Aperols, summer is joyous, until it starts to mess with your skin. From sunburn and pigmentation to make-up mishaps, these five skin tips will have you covered all through the warmer months.
Be SPF savvy
Hands up if you caveat your lack of SPF with ‘I’m barely outside today,’ or ‘it’s overcast!’. We’re all guilty, despite knowing that they’re both redundant excuses. According to Lorraine Ohayon, Caudalie skincare expert, 80% of free radical damage is attributed to the UV rays”. And it doesn’t have to be on-the-equator exposure – all sun starts to damage the DNA in our pores after a mere ten minutes of sunlight. “The stronger the sun, the higher concentration of free radicals, which is of course, when your skin is most vulnerable” she continues.
To recap: chemical SPF gets inside and works from within, and mineral sits on top and bounces rays. It’s also worth noting that formulas today are unrecognisable from the thick, chalky original iterations. Whisper-light and blendable in a single sweep, there’s no excuse not to baste yourself in the stuff. Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF30, has a hint of colour, though it’s in no way a foundation. For body, you’d be hard pressed to find something more enjoyable to apply than Coola’s Eco-Lux SPF30 Citrus Mimosa Sunscreen Spray. A tropically scented mist jam-packed full of antioxidants, and the nifty nozzle means you can spray from all angles, including lying down and possibly sipping a mimosa.
Ace Your Base
It’s unlikely your skin concerns change from winter to summer, but that doesn’t mean your foundation shouldn’t. Heavy formulas that congregate in lines and pores and are accentuated by summer sun. With anti-ageing actives, use Sisley Sisleÿa Le Teint, as the last step in your skincare. Super-luminous but oil-free, this will keep skin radiant thorough the day. Top tip: Use it like concealer, only where you need it, with a fluffy brush. Need to refresh come lunchtime? Caudalie Summer Limited Edition Beauty Elixir, not only sets makeup and refreshes it, it also preps your skin for foundation by blurring pores. Make like the brand’s co-founder Mathilde Thomas by keeping it in the fridge when at home, for a cool and invigorating hit of mint.
Enlist Antioxidants
Antioxidants work to combat oxidative stress, which leads to accelerated ageing, a loss of elasticity and plumpness and bouts of dullness. “Niacinimide, also known as vitamin B3, is the often forgotten but brilliant antioxidant that works on tone and texture, has hefty anti-anti-inflammatory benefits and ameliorates hyperpigmentation”, says Zoe Roebuck, founder of Dr Roebuck’s. Try Verso Hydration Serum with Niacinimide.
Solve Pigmentation Problems
Pigmentation is down to an overproduction of melanin, and according to Kate Somerville, “the most common causes of hyperpigmentation are sun damage, inflammation and chronic breakouts”. It’s also worth noting the effect hormones can have too: “pregnancy, birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can all cause melasma, a form of skin discolouration” she continues. With its brightening prowess, Vitamin C is great for lifting dark spots. Rodial Vitamin C Glow Tonic coaxes a glow by buffing dull, dead skin. For more visible, aggressive patches of pigmentation deploy retinol and vitamin C. While these two powerhouses usually cause one another to become unstable, an innovative solution comes in the form of Kate Somerville +Retinol Vita C Power Serum. Inspired by the skincare trailblazers Korea, this formula contains the most potent form of vitamin C encapsulated in volcanic ash from the region.
Restore Hydration Fast
Summer skin needs quenching, but regular moisturiser can feel unctuous and cloying. Texture-wise, summer is the time to switch to gel. The new formulas feel more like a water, absorb almost instantly and are free from oil, which makes them a great base layer for makeup. Rather clever is Kiehl’s Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream. Infused with calendula flower extract, it’s a great for irritated or angry skin. In addition to soothing, gels are lauded for their ability to cool. Such is the appeal that La Mer have reformulated their original best-selling moisturiser as a Moisturizing Cooling Gel Cream. As Somerville says, ‘hydration is often the most misunderstood and undervalued step in your daily regime – especially in summer,’ so be dutiful in your application.
