Camas, WA
There is nothing quite like spending a day outside during the summer and soaking up rays from the sun. If you’re getting ready to spend a lot of time outdoors, you will need to take care of your skin as there are several skin issues that can
develop without proper skin care and protection. And while sunscreen is vitally important and our #1 summer skin care tip, there’s more to skin care during the hot weather season than just adequate sun protection.
So whether you’re a surfer, a beach bum, or just enjoy frequent outdoor picnics or hikes during the dog days of the sunny season, here are some summer skin care tips to help you live it up in the great outdoors while looking your best.
Summertime brings unique skin care needs and challenges. Here’s how to change up your skin care routine to retain your healthy glow all season long, no matter your skin type.
Oil is essential for skin health, but too much contributes to acne and other chronic skin problems. The bad news is that summer heat, humidity and sweat just make it worse. Here are some dos and don’ts for summer skin care that oily skin types should adopt.
Select the Right Products: During this time of year, it’s more important to stick with a morning and evening routine, but the right products are key. Products containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can decrease oil production and rejuvenate your skin. But more importantly, and often overlooked, is a moisturizer designed for your skin type, as acne and oil cleansers often dry out the skin, making the problem worse. Try our Refinement Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Serum available for purchase in our practice and in our online store.
Sunscreen & Moisturizer: No matter what, wear sunscreen every time you’re outside. This is a simple skin care tip that you should always follow because even basic sunscreen provides useful UV ray protection for all skin types. Try a facial moisturizer and SPF combination product for oily skin or all skin types and make it part of your regular morning routine. EltaMD UV Clear with SPF 46 is perfect, as its oil-free formula calms the skin while protecting it from harmful UV rays. You can find it in our online store or in our practice.
Try Chemical Exfoliation: Chemical peels are also useful for ongoing skin care. If you suffer from oily skin, a VI Peel chemical peel could work for you. Designed for all skin types, VI Peel makes use of such ingredients as salicylic acid, Retin-A, Phenol, Trichloroacetic Acid, and Vitamin C as a means of renewing your skin and restoring its bright glow. For a home treatment, we recommend the SkinMedica AHA/BHA Cleanser for gentle chemical exfoliation over harsh exfoliating scrubs that can damage skin and promote breakouts.
Watch this VI Peel Demonstration for Oily & Acne Skin Types
While most people deal with dry skin during the wintertime specifically, others have dry skin year round. Here are our top tips for summer skin care for dry skin types.
Thicker Moisturizers: Ignore most moisturizing tips out there that recommend switching to light moisturizers during the warmer months. Invest in a high-quality moisturizer containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin; all of these are useful in attracting and holding water and moisture to the skin to prevent dryness. Thicker creams are also helpful in reducing dry skin. Try the Nourish Night Cream by The Body Deli or Refinement Deep Hydration, available in our practice and in our online store.
Shower, Moisturize and Protect: If you’re a swimmer, having dry skin poses additional challenges. Chlorine is damaging to the skin, but more so for those with dry skin. You want to shower after swimming, but with cool water and gentle cream cleansers. Moisturize every time, as water also dries out the skin. And don’t forget sunscreen! Combine moisture and sun protection in the EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Moisturizing Facial Sunscreen, available in our practice and online stores in both tinted and untinted formulations.
Chemical Peel Treatments: Everyone deals with a dull complexion due to dead surface cells that should be removed by specialized exfoliating treatments. This is even more true with dry skin, as dead surface cells tend to show up much more frequently. The trick is to find the right products and treatments that will remove those surface cells without causing more damage to already sensitive skin. Our SkinMedica Chemical Peels offer all the benefits of a chemical peel treatment without the risk of skin damage.
If part of your skin is dry and flaky while other parts are oily, you suffer from combination skin. Don’t worry; there are numerous products and solutions designed specifically for combination skin.
Divide and Conquer: Identify the portions of your skin that suffer from dry patches as well as the ones that are particularly oily. When you’re able to separate these, you can start treating each with its necessary skin care solution. Dry skin will require moisturizers while oily skin calls for specially formulated cleansers. A good solution for both is our Refinement Cleanser for gentle, daily cleansing suitable for all skin types.
Wear Sunscreen: Sunscreen is important, no matter your skin type. Wear a facial sunscreen suitable for combination skin or all skin types. For combination skin types, we recommend the Revision Intellishade, an anti-aging tinted moisturizer with broad-spectrum UV protection for all skin types.
Chemical Peel and Exfoliation: With combination skin, a useful chemical peel is the SkinMedica Vitalize Peel as it works on all skin types. In between chemical peel treatments, use a home exfoliation treatments such as the SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser and the Body Deli Radiance Enzyme Peel; but be extra diligent about sun protection, as AHAs and home peels increase photosensitivity.
If you suffer from acne, there are a variety of skin care tips that specifically target those problem areas, heal active breakouts and prevent future flare ups. Here are some summer skin care dos and don’ts for acne sufferers.
Choose Acne-Specific Products: Certain cleansers with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid help with acne. Cleanse your face gently and only use light moisturizers to avoid further irritating the skin. As we said before with oily skin types, don’t skip the moisturizer!
Chemical Peels for Active Acne & Prevention: If you’re searching for a chemical peel that will heighten skin health and remove any damaged tissue, the VI Peel is perfect for you. This peel uses salicylic acid to treat inflammation and TCA to smooth scars caused by previous acne breakouts.
Sun Exposure Do’s and Don’ts: Don’t fall for the old wives’ tale that sun exposure will destroy acne bacteria and dry out oils to reduce acne breakouts. While there are specific light therapies that can help with acne, UV rays and sunlight don’t help with acne and will likely make your problem worse. Always wear sunscreen and cover up with! For skin that’s susceptible to acne breakouts, we recommend EltaMD UV Clear for daily sun protection as it’s oil free and formulated for sensitive and acne prone skin types.
Watch this Overview of Chemical Peels Offered at Skin by Lovely
Need help finding the right products for your skin type? Looking for other treatment options from experts? Contact Skin by Lovely in Santa Monica, CA, or Portland, OR for a consultation or additional information about our skin care products and services today!
Interested in purchasing the products mentioned in this article? Visit our online stores in Portland and Santa Monica. We offer free shipping right to your door, and our skin care experts are available by phone and by appointment for guidance on the right products for you.
