Summer is a time that brings with it many skincare concerns. Acne, rashes, tanning, lacklustre skin are just a few of them. And the reasons for these issues range from environmental factors such as harsh sun, hot winds to even physiological factors such as lack of hydration, eating too much junk food and not keeping the skin clean. But if you want to really glow in the summers, there are easy steps to incorporate in your lifestyle and skincare regime.
Here are some rules to follow to maintain optimum skin health in the summer months:
1. Make friends with water
Higher temperatures and more time outdoors leads to internal dehydration, which not only causes dizziness and headaches but also makes your skin look lacklustre and dehydrated. Drink at least ten 8-ounce glasses of plain, filtered water every day to help maintain critical moisture balance of the body and skin, and assist in detoxification. If you drink caffeinated beverages, you must triple the amount of water you drink!
2. Do not sleep with makeup on
This is a cardinal rule during summers, and not following it leads to product build up on the skin that ultimately causes acne, pimples, blemishes and pigmentation. If you have applied any makeup, before you sleep in the night, remove it with a makeup remover first. Then use a mild cleanser with lukewarm water to wash it off. Do not rub vigorously as you would be scraping off the skin of its protective layer.
3. Moisturize
Most people don’t realize the importance of regularly moisturizing the skin – even in summers. The drier your skin is, the more susceptible it will be to damage from environmental pollution and sun rays. If your skin is oily, you can use a medicated sun screen instead. A gel-based sun screen in ideal but you may need to apply it several times in a day. Those with normal or dry skin must use a moisturizer and after five minutes, apply sunscreen.
4. Don’t use harsh face washes or scrubs
Use a gentle cleanser to cleanse your body and face. A gel-based cleanser or a shower gel is ideal because it is gentle on the skin but don’t rub it hard – this will cause trauma to the epidermal layer.
5. Maintain a night-time skincare routine
A pre-bedtime skincare regime is in any case important, but it becomes even more critical in summers to prevent tanning and ageing. After washing your face or taking a bath in the night, apply a Vitamin -C based repair cream or serum to nourish your skin. If you use facial oils, it is even better.