“Summer bachelors like summer breezes, are never as cool as they pretend to be.” – Nora Ephron
The birds are singing; the sun is shining, and the season you’ve waited for all year long is finally here. Winter may have its moments, but summer means your skin is on display and occasionally taking a beating. Never fear, we’ve got’cha covered (in some cases, literally). Having your best summer skin doesn’t take a lot of work or money, so check out these hot summer skincare tips before heading out to enjoy the great outdoors.
#4 Sluff it off with a scrub
If your summer days include lots of outdoor time, chances are your skin cell turnover has sped up a bit (or a lot). Dead skin cells can make your skin look dull or lackluster, but a good medical grade exfoliator can rejuvenate your skin in no time. Oh sure, you can buy facial scrub from just about anywhere, but the ingredients in medical grade skincare work more effectively (and you won’t need as much either).
#3 Protect your pout
When sitting poolside or visiting the beach, you slather your body in sunscreen…we hope. But what about your lips? Ordinary lip balm is fine when you’re indoors, but sun exposure can dehydrate your lips and even cause cold sores. Not exactly sexy. To keep your pout plump and protected, carry a tube of SPF-based lip balm in your bag and apply it frequently. Choose one with proven moisturizing ingredients, like hydromanil. It grabs moisture and sends it deep into your lips to keep them hydrated. Check out EltaMD’s UV Lip Balm, which contains hydromanil AND a transparent form of zinc oxide (just like in sunscreen). It’s SPF31 and protects your lips from both UVA and UVB rays. It’s also water resistant for up to 80 minutes!
#2 Hide your head
Okay, we know you don’t want to wear an old lady hat, but since you’re probably not spraying sunscreen on your head, you’re leaving your scalp exposed…and giving skin cancer the green light to attack in a hidden location. Now’s the time to get over that hat issue. A baseball cap will certainly do the job, but then your ears will still be in jeopardy. A stylish wide-brimmed hat can be both the perfect accessory and your skin’s best friend at the same time. If you consider the potential risk of skin cancer and weigh it against your dislike of head coverings, you’ll quickly see how a hat can be your new best friend.
#1 Get physical … with sunscreen
Ask most dermatologists what their number one anti-aging product is, and you’ll likely hear the word “sunscreen.” If you don’t want to look like a catcher’s mitt in your later years, then you need to diligently apply a physical sunscreen every single time you’re going to be outdoors (yes, even when it’s cloudy). Not sure if your sunscreen is “physical?” Check that ingredient label and look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These should really be labeled as “sunblock” because they keep those damaging UVA and UVB rays from penetrating your skin. Think of it as skin Teflon…everything just bounces off. P.S. Advances in skincare have made it possible to get pharmaceutical grade sun protection without the traditional white cast, so no excuses. Buy it, wear it, and your skin will thank you.
Enjoy the season,
Team Reflect
If you liked our tips, please share this post with your SM friends on Instagram or Facebook. Thanks for reading! Come back soon!
