Summer Skin Tips To Beat Breakouts, Sun Damage And More

Summer’s finally here - we’re all out in the sun more and hitting the beach regularly, a swift change-up from the dreary days of winter. As your lifestyle changes, so should your skincare, if not you’re likely to face some summer skin struggles. In our latest article, we look into common seasonal skin concerns, and more importantly, how you can prevent and fix them.

7 Summer Skin Struggles (And How To Fix Them)

Humidity

As temperatures rise, so does the moisture content in the air, aka humidity. While naturally dehydrated skin can feel the benefits of this, it can wreak havoc for those who lean more towards the oily side. Slowing down the evaporation of water on the skin’s surface, humidity can leave your skin feeling even oilier, lead to breakouts and cause increased sensitivity.

• Solution - Cleanse both AM and PM to remove excess oil, dirt and impurities. Don’t skip your moisturiser to feel less “oily”, it’s important to stay hydrated to keep your skin oil production balanced. Use lightweight, non-comedogenic (aka non-pore clogging) products, especially if your skin is acne-prone. Look for ingredients like Green Tea Extract, Aloe Vera and Niacinamide.

 Breakouts

Increased oil production and sweating often are acne-prone skin’s worst nightmare. Breakouts are typically far more common in summer, due to the rising temperatures and also heavier use of SPF. While sun protection itself doesn’t necessarily give you spots, failure to cleanse it properly each day can clog your pores.

• Solution - much like with oily skins, make sure to cleanse each day, ensuring a purifying double cleanse at the end of each day to break down SPF and dirt. Use lightweight skincare that won’t exacerbate your spots or strip the skin - remember it needs hydration and nourishment to heal.

 Sunburn/damage

The risk of sun damage is at its peak during the summer, as it’s typically when we spend the most time outside and in direct sunlight. Failure to protect yourself against UV rays each day can lead to sunburn and sun damage to your skin. This equals concerns like hyperpigmentation, dryness and earlier signs of ageing.

• Solution - project your skin each day with a generous lathering of SPF that’s a minimum factor of 30. Make sure to top up regularly when spending the day outdoors, especially if you’ll be taking a dip in the sea or pool. Keep your skin hydrated and nourished after time in the sun with ingredients like Hemp Seed Oil and Aloe Vera in your moisturiser and serums.

Salt Water

Speaking of taking a dip in the sea, that’s something you’ll probably be doing a lot more of over the next few months. While saltwater can have some positive skin benefits, for example, it is a natural exfoliant and can be found to help acne-prone skin, it also has its drawbacks. Too much exposure to salt water can dry out the skin, cause irritation for sensitive skin and increase your risk of sun damage.

• Solution - after swimming in salt water, make sure to rinse off with fresh water to limit dryness and irritation. Apply a nourishing, soothing moisturiser straight after to top up any lost hydration. Don’t forget to reapply a layer of your protective face and body SPF. If you have particularly sensitive skin, try and limit your time spent swimming at sea.

 Post-holiday fatigue

The festive season is on the way, which typically means an indulgence in sugar, alcohol and a healthy dose of Christmas stress to boot. All of these factors can affect skin health and vitality, a price we usually pay after the fact. This combined with other summer skin struggles can lead to a cocktail of skin concerns.

•  Solution - make sure to indulge consciously this upcoming festive period, it means you’ll have less trouble with your skin after. Keep hydrated when drinking to avoid skin dryness, and be mindful of your sugar and dairy intake to avoid a batch of New Year spots. Read through another recent blog post “How To Avoid Christmas Stress (And Its Impact On Your Skin)” for more tips on how to look after yourself this December.

 Dehydration

A scorching summer can quickly lead to dehydration, impacting both the health and appearance of your complexion. This can encourage irritation, dullness and the early formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Dehydrated skin is also more susceptible to sun damage and a weakened skin barrier, which can become a vicious cycle for more skin concerns.

•  Solution - to maintain a sun-kissed, hydrated glow, make sure to drink plenty of water (as you’ll be sweating a lot out) and focus on skincare products that sustain a healthy level of moisture. Avoid alcohol and caffeine where possible as these typically lead to fluid loss. Instead, focus on hydration-heavy foods like fresh fruit and vegetables at your summer BBQs.

 Sweating

Last but not least, and probably one of the most summer-centric skin concerns, we have an increase in sweat. A natural response to cool our bodies down in the heat, excessive sweating can lead to skin irritation and breakouts from clogged pores. Trapped sweat can also lead to heat rash, which leaves itchy, red bumps across the skin.

•  Solution - make sure to keep hydrated to replace fluids lost through sweating, and shower frequently to cleanse your pores and limit breakouts. Opt for purifying daily cleanses, followed by lightweight yet hydrating serums and moisturisers to ensure you don’t strip the skin of natural oils.

Your Summer Skincare Routine Simplified

Cleanse

All healthy, glowing skincare starts with a cleanse, and with rising, sweaty temperatures, this is even more true in summer. Wash your face both AM and PM (don’t forget to double cleanse in the evening to fully remove SPF), using our Glycolic Facial Cleanser. Made with a gentle gel-to-foam formula, this cleanser is packed with purifying and invigorating ingredients like glycolic acid and green tea extract to help limit summer breakouts and regulate your skin’s natural oil production.

 Serum

Created with powerful concentrations of active ingredients, serums truly help to protect your skin in the summer and address the struggles of the season. Our Facial Hydrator Serum has been created for daily use, with just a few drops needed in your daily routine to soothe and restore the most sensitive of complexions. Lightweight for oilier skin while remaining deeply hydrating and nourishing for those on the drier side, this universal serum is a staple for any summer skincare routine. Massage a few drops in your skin after cleaning both AM and PM either alone or blended with moisturiser.

Moisturise

Keep your skin hydrated and lock in moisture all summer long with the Nourishing Day Cream and Hydrating Night Cream to restore at night. Strengthen your skin barrier during the day with our lightweight moisturiser, formulated to protect against environmental damage. Take some time for after-sun care with a nourishing night cream that works to naturally repair through enriched antioxidants. Massage a small scoop of each into the skin, both morning and night respectively.

 SPF

Make sure to finish off any summer skincare regimen with a healthy slathering of SPF. Don’t forget to top up every few hours throughout the day, especially if you’ll be in the water. Our go-to is always the Australian suncare brand Ultra Violette - they have a huge range of face and body SPFs to suit all skin types.

Mask (1-2 times per week)

Clay masks are ideal during the summer, for regularly purifying and revitalising the skin. Depending on your skin's needs, you’ll want to mask up 1 to 2 times per week with our best-selling Spa Clay Mask. Formulated with 2 detoxing and soothing clays, this mask will be your skin’s best friend this summer. Apply in a thick layer across the face, or targeted areas and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing away with warm water.