Summer is finally here after what seems to have been the longest and coldest winter ever! Now’s the time to soak up the sun as often and as much as we can! But is your skin ready for all this heat and UV rays? Is your summer skin care routine the best it can be? If not, I have a few tips for you! It is essential to transition your beauty routine from one season to another because each time of the year requires different products.

Let me share with you a few tips that I developed to have and maintain beautiful skin during the warmest months of the year.

 

Setting up your summer skin care routine

During the summer, the main focus should be on sun and heat protection. Hydration is key, because we like to enjoy the sun, we shave our legs more often than we do during winter (let’s be real ladies…), the AC is often too strong (brrrr), and our alcohol consumption usually increases (hello drinks on the terrasse!). All these factors contribute to drying out our skin. 🙁

1. Drink tons of water.

   This one’s a given, but it is essential to drink a lot of water, especially in the summer. Beautiful skin comes from within and no beauty product can be truly efficient if the problem is a lack of water. Make your water bottle a fashion statement this summer!
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2. Use lotions or serums instead of creams.

   Thick creams are your #1 ally in the winter, but they are a little too much in the summer, leaving a sticky feeling for days. Yuck. I recommend using lotion instead, which is more liquidy than a cream, so it spreads more easily on your skin and is absorbed faster. Goodbye sticky skin!
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3. Spray oils are your legs’ saviour.

   When I forget to hydrate my skin or when I’m too lazy, I love to spray dry oil on my skin, to hydrate it and make it look perfectly shiny and glowy. Yass! My secret for goddess skin: a few sprays on my legs before going out and a few sprays before bed. Tah-dah! You’ll never have to hide your dry legs again! PS: dry oils penetrate super rapidly into your skin so you don’t need to worry about staining your clothes or sheets!
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4. Use a sheerer foundation or none at all.

   In the summer, less coverage is needed as our skin’s problems tend to be lessened. We want our skin to look and feel more natural, and we want to show off our natural glow! When the weather is nice and hot, I prefer to use a BB cream or a touch of powder foundation where needed instead of a full-coverage liquid foundation. Don’t forget that multifunction products containing SPF are super useful, but nothing can replace a good ol’ sunblock! Your skin will thank you later.
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5. SPF all the way

   Speaking of sunblock, use an SPF all. the. time. This is something I need to work on too, but wearing SPF every day will save your skin. Literally! SPF can be found in many moisturizers or BB creams/foundations, but it’s a good idea to layer up. Not a fan of sunblocks? Wear a hat and hide from the sun between noon and 2 pm!
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6. Adopt frizz-proof, wind-proof, beach-proof hairstyles.

   When my hair was long, I loooved braids, and especially in the summer, because it miraculously made my hair look less frizzy. Plus, braids are rather easy to do, and they look fancy! Another hair tip: a nice hat can come in handy on those days when you should wash your hair but you don’t feel like it! No one will notice your dirty roots and all they’ll see is a fashionable lady in a gorgeous hat!
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7. Opt for a face mist.

   I’m all about oils and thick moisturizers in the wintertime, but now that the weather is super warm and often humid, my skin can’t absorb all of it anymore. I prefer to use a water-based facial spray in the morning and at night, with a touch of a light moisturizer at night. On a super hot day, you can keep your mist in the fridge for extra coolness. If my skin needs a little hydration boost, I’ll do a mask once a week or a heavier moisturizer/oil on the weekend.
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8. Exfoliate your face + body.

   Though exfoliation should be a part of your routine all year long, it should be done more often in the summer. Why? Because all this heat (and sweat) clogs your pores. By exfoliation more regularly, your skin will be healthy and glowy! And don’t forget that gorgeous bod: if you want a perfect tan that will last, exfoliaaate before!
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9. Pay special attention to your eyes.

   The sun can be very harsh on the delicate eye area, which is prone to sunburns and premature ageing. Squinting? Get yourself a nice pair of 100% UV protection shades.
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10. And don’t forget your lips!

    We tend to protect our skin from the harsh sun but often overlook our lips. Our precious pout needs hydration and sun protection too! Use anything that has an SPF in it and you’re good to go. I am an unconditional fan of the Jack Black lip balms: they contain an SPF 25 and your man will love them too!

 

Voilà! Hope my guide for a better summer skin care routine helped you! Do you have any tips or interesting habit for the summertime? I’d love to hear them!

-xox- Marika