Summer is on the horizon, and with that comes time spent soaking up the sun’s rays on a tropical beach (if we’re lucky), or at least in the back garden!
We are all aware that the cold winter months can wreak havoc on our skin, but although summer skin may not feel as dry and itchy in comparison to the winter months, it can be damaged if you don’t take extra steps to keep it protected. Of course, wearing an SPF daily is a given, not only to protect your skin from early aging, but also to protect yourself from developing skin cancer. 

Though many of us remember to apply SPF before we head off to the beach, it’s important to apply it even if you’re just popping to the shops. It’s crucial to reapply sun cream every two hours, as when our body sweats, it also sweats off our protection too. 

When choosing a sunscreen, look for an SPF of minimum 30, making sure you use a higher SPF on your face. And don’t forget your lips--they need protection too!

If getting enough vitamin D is a worry for you, it needn’t be! Studies show that even with the proper use of SPF, your body gets enough Vitamin D, so there is no excuse to skip the sun cream. Similarly, if you love a bronzed look, but don’t want to risk hours lying in the sun all day, natural looking self tan is a great substitute, and less risky! 

With that covered, read on to find out what else you can do to make the very most of the sun this summer, without risking your health.

Hydration is crucial for your body, both internally and externally. Keeping up your natural fluid levels is even more of a priority during hot days as your body uses up its water supply to help regulate your temperature.  

On top of this, if you’re hydrated, it’ll show in the way your skin looks and, more importantly, feels. When you’re not getting enough water, your body can’t properly flush out toxins, and a build-up of toxins leads to dull skin which can become easily irritated. 

Keep your skin summer ready by sipping and eating water-rich foods throughout the day and you can keep your outer layer hydrated with a moisture rich lotion.

An excellent way to keep your skin protected during the summer is to exfoliate, preferably on a weekly basis. Dead cells sit on the surface of your skin and make it look dry, dull, and rough. When you exfoliate, you remove these dead cells, allowing the more radiant, healthy skin underneath to shine through.

However, not all exfoliators are created equally, and some can damage the skin’s surface instead of help lift away skin. When possible, opt for a gentle, natural exfoliator.

This peel is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, as it uses the natural fruit enzymes of papaya and calming pineapple to exfoliate and smooth the skin with no irritation.

For truly luminous skin this summer, give body brushing a try. By regularly dry brushing your thighs and legs especially, you’ll go a long way to improving your overall skin tone, which will leave you feeling more than confident about baring more skin in those long-drawn-out summer days!

And while body brushing won’t completely banish any cellulite, it does increase blood circulation, which has a wonderful plumping effect on the skin. By increasing the blood flow and plumping up your skin, it helps it absorb the vitamins in your skin care a lot more effectively, making their effects a lot more noticeable.  

Moisturising during summer can seem tough, if you don’t find the right product for your skin, as it can often feel heavy and clog pores. However, finding the right lotion to keep your skin protected, alongside an SPF will do wonders for you and prevent itching. Mositurisers offer an extra barrier and an extra boost of anti-oxidants which will nourish your skin after exposure to hot temperatures. 

Acne can occur at any time of the year, but it's a lot more common during the sweatier summer months. A great way to prevent this is to regularly use a face mask that is clay or mud based, as this will help remove the excess oil and sebum and prevent any pesky outbreaks.

 

By making sure you stay hydrated and ensuring that your skin is exfoliated, moisturised and nourished, (as well as protected with a daily dose of at least SPF30!), you’ll emerge from the summer with skin that has embraced the positive benefits of the sun, not suffered as a result!

On top of this, try to stay out of the sun between the hottest hours of 12-2pm, and invest in a lovely summer hat to really amp up your protection! And to really extend your summer glow and make you feel revitalised during the pleasant days of summer, why not treat yourself to a massage?