How to get glowing skin in summer (starts June 21st!)

Lemonade season is almost here. That means how to get glowing skin in summer is top of mind, as are:

• Ice buckets full of cold, refreshing drinks
• Long, sunny evenings with barbecues and laughter
• A glorious shift in weather

While prolonged sunsets & water sports are fantastic, longer days of UV rays and sweat can wreak havoc for the epidermis.

To make sure your skin stays flawless, despite hours of volleyball or bonfires, we have created this guide, revealing:

• What the changing weather means for skin (and how to adapt your skincare choices)
• How the warmer months affect skin
• The best oil for face in summer
• Healthy skin tips for face in summer, including what to infuse into your morning and night routine

Any seasonal weather change startles the skin

Whether spring to summer or fall to winter, the skin is like so many humans - it does not like change. With a preference for consistency, our epidermis is thrown off when temperatures and daily lifestyle alter.

For example, hotter weather is not the only new factor for summer. One is more likely to be in Air Conditioning, like frigid movie theatres, and take ice cold showers.

Each of these factors impacts the skin, but we’ll address the healthy skin tips for your face to be flawless in summer.

The #1 ways skin gets damaged in summer

In summer months, there are a few primary concerns for keeping skin safe:

• UV damage and sunburn, due to more time spent outdoors
• Changing daily habits, like more time in AC, impacting skin negatively

The surprising side effect that increases acne

Both a higher level of heat and humidity can increase sweating, especially if you are out taking walks, hiking or simply reading a book on a picnic blanket. When sweat is trapped in pores, skin is more prone to breaking out.

The (problematic) step most people take?

When acne increases, most people use a product with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to treat the spots.

Truth: Many “helpful” skin solutions will actually aggravate skin problems.

While harsh chemicals may temporarily treat acne, these products also make skin highly sensitive and therefore more apt to skin damage. Spots and cystic acne may be relieved, however, these chemicals aggravate skin and are not ultimately how to get glowing skin.

How to fight acne, without increasing skin sensitivity

There are ways to avoid chemical-packed acne treatments and still keep pores unclogged. Here are our favorite (natural!) healthy skin tips for your face in summer.

Do not skip moisturizer

With increased humidity and sweating, it doesn’t sound appealing to load even more onto your face with a cream (or even the best oil for face in summer).  

However, New York City-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner shares, “You should never skip out on moisturizer (like some might in the summer when the skin is producing more sebum).”

The reason? Moisturizer helps preserve a healthy barrier for the skin, especially if your face is being inundated with damaging UV rays. By boosting the skin in the morning and putting on a healing, natural cream at night, you protect and replenish damaged cells.

Plus, without moisturizer, the oil glands will take action and up oil production. That’s why it may feel ironic but not adding a moisturizer with essential oils - will lead to having more oily skin.

Use the best oil for face in summer

The right essential oils fight breakouts, calm skin irritation, heal acne scars and nourish the skin - even after long, sandy days.

Amid the options, the best essential oil for your face?

Rosehip seed oil

Here are the reasons why, plus a few other revolutionary oils to work into your daily summer skincare routine.

Evens out skin tone

Rumor has it that even the Duchess of Cambridge herself, Kate Middleton, uses rosehip oil on a daily basis. In 2015, a source tipped off US Weekly with this information. “Kate loves the effect (rosehip oil) has on her skin.”

It is said that Kate first went natural because she was pregnant and wanted to avoid dangerous chemicals but kept up the natural routine post-baby.

Brings elasticity back to the skin

Chlorine from pools and all-day-long Air Conditioning can seriously dry out the skin in the summer months. When the skin dries out, it gets that cracking, flaking look. With rosehip seed oil, the skin is nourished and replenished - bringing elasticity back.

Fights oxidative damage  

UV rays often lead to oxidative damage. One reason that rosehip seed oil is the best oil for face in summer? It has vitamins that help skin breakdown and rebuild the skin.

Other essential oils good for skin in summer

While rosehip oil is wondrously good for the face, so are avocado oil and jojoba oil. These essential oils nourish the skin and, combined, deliver a powerful boost to a clear, natural glow. Especially after a long day outside, these oils (as part of a nighttime routine) help to heal the skin and re-nourish the face while you’re sleeping.

To make it easy to apply all of these natural solutions simultaneously, check out this vegan moisturizer with vitamins and essential oils.

The best ways to protect skin in summer, from head to toe

Selecting natural, non-inflammatory skincare products and knowing how to treat skin after a sunburn are vital. The good news? You can be proactive in preventing sunburns - rather than simply applying aloe vera to them later.

Here are steps to protect and keep skin safe - before it gets damaged.

Wear SPF (or a natural sunscreen)

Every day, even if not donning a bathing suit, put on sunscreen to protect your skin. Try to go for natural sunscreens that have less chemicals than the common drugstore varieties.

Why choose a natural sunscreen?

Common store-bought sunscreens are loaded with chemicals that can harm you. The FDA, which regulates far less than most realize, has approved 14 sunscreen ingredients. Two examples are oxybenzone and octinoxate. Both of these elements are believed to disrupt hormones, such as damaging levels of estrogen and thyroid activity. In fact, EU brands have to put a warning label on any sunscreen that has more than -0.5% oxybenzone. That is not a law in the US, so a sunscreen may appear safe...that has well more than this percentage.

In addition, if one swims in a natural body of water, such as a lake or ocean, these chemicals will rub off into and eventually disrupt the ecosystem.

What are safe, natural sunscreen ingredients?

Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide are minerals that naturally reflect UV rays. Because the skin will not absorb minerals (into pores or further down) they are fantastic for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen

That all being said, wearing sunscreen is one of the most vital healthy skin tips for face in summer. So - ultimately, use whatever sunscreen that is available to you. It is usually better to protect your skin from sun damage than to use nothing at all.

The most effective way to prevent sunburns

This may be obvious but, it must be said → Cover up to prevent burning.

A layer of cloth is always more protective than sunscreen. Try to at least give the skin breaks by putting on a light cover up and/or placing a large sunhat on your head.

Thankfully, more and more attractive “covering” bathing suits are coming out - such as a long sleeved swimsuit - perfect for those prone to shoulder burns!

Prepare to get glowing skin - before summer starts

While re-applying sunscreen and trying to figure out clothing choices will vary, there is one thing you can keep consistent - your morning and nighttime skin routine.

The best thing is to use natural products, that do not inflame the skin or increase its sensitivity to the sun. In addition, you want to apply potent ingredients, like rosehip seed oil, that replenish skin after UV rays and dryness from overly zealous AC.

It’s never been easier - than with this all-natural moisturizer for glowing summer skin.