Summer is finally here which means you’re spending more time outside in the sunshine and baking on the beach, but have you noticed recently how your skin has changed throughout the seasons? Summer skin can see you experiencing various changes in your complexion thanks to all that exposure to the sun’s damaging UV rays, heat and humidity.
The summer months can affect your skin and body in several ways, so consider this your insider guide to exactly what happens to your skin and how you can continue glowing.
What Happens To Your Skin In Summer?
You might be wondering how the sun really damages your skin, I mean you can’t see or feel the sun’s rays right? There are actually two main types of UV from the sun that can cause damage to your skin:
- UVA Radiation - This bores deep into the skin, causing long-term damage as it breaks down collagen and elastin fibres. Ultimately this leads to premature ageing, leathery skin texture, wrinkles and dark spots thanks to the triggered production of melanin.
- UVB Radiation - This is solely responsible for sunburn and is the primary cause of skin cancer, yikes!
As if you needed to add to the long list above when your skin is exposed to UV radiation it also triggers the production of free radicals. This can damage your skin cells and their DNA while weakening your skin's immune system, making it more vulnerable to other types of damage and disease. Sun damage can also increase your risk of skin cancer and other skin conditions, such as pre-cancerous growths and actinic cheilitis which is a condition that affects the lips.
Sun damage accumulates over time so it's important to protect your skin from the sun at all times, especially during the summer months when the sun is at its strongest. Here at Sun Skills, we always think it’s best to prevent sun damage in the first place by simply practicing good sun protection habits.
How To Help Oily Skin In Summer
Oily skin can be a challenge during the summer months, as heat and humidity can make your oil glands more active. Soaring temperatures may also mean you’re breaking out in sweat more often than not as your body naturally tries to cool itself down and regulate your temperature by producing oil.
You can start managing your oily skin by cleansing regularly with esmi’s best-selling The Uncomplicated Cleanser. Washing your face twice a day during summer with a gentle cream cleanser will help remove excess oil and impurities while antioxidant properties leave it feeling balanced and supple. It's important to avoid over-cleansing as this can actually strip your skin of its natural oils and trigger even more oil production, you heard it here first!
After you’ve cleansed, why not clear the dead skin and increase blood circulation with esmi’s Fresh Sea & Salty Sand Gentle-Foliant? Gently exfoliating the skin once or twice a week can help fight congestion and keeps oily skin feeling fresh and looking clear! With antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, this exfoliant is ideal for oily and breakout-prone skin.
You follow this with a light, oil-free moisturiser that will hydrate the skin without adding extra oil. We know you might be tempted to skip the face moisturiser considering how much you’ve been sweating but this is actually a mistake. You’ll likely find your skin is less greasy if you’ve applied a lightweight moisturiser so reach for esmi’s Detox Hydra-Fluid Moisturiser. Designed to protect your skin from environmental stressors and pollutants that contribute to premature aging, it’s ideal for congested or oily skin.
Whatever products you decide to use, it’s important to stick to a consistent skincare routine and be patient as it can take time to see results when you’re managing oily skin and battling nature's elements.
Why Your Skin Becomes Darker In Summer
While you might love honey-kissed skin for the holidays, you should be tanning more from a bottle and burning less from the sun. Your skin actually becomes darker in the summer due to increased exposure to the sun's UV rays which then triggers the production of melanin. This is the pigment that gives your skin colour and absorbs UV radiation to prevent it from damaging your skin cells.
If you’ve noticed age spots or sun spots, this is actually uneven melanin production on skin that has been exposed to the sun for extended periods such as your face, hands and arms.
To keep melanin production at bay it's important to protect your complexion with skin-loving sun protection. Reach for Sun Skills For ALL SPF 50+ to protect your face, neck and décolletage with a lightweight and fast-absorbing sunscreen that leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. It’s perfect for daily use with enriching vitamin E and native Kakadu plum to protect against free radicals!
UV light actually exacerbates pigment problems so if you’re already noticing the formation of dark spots, look for topical sun-damaged skin treatments to help improve the appearance of your skin by promoting cell renewal, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and improving skin texture. Some of the best skin care products to use for sun-damaged skin are:
- Vitamin C Serums - Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help brighten sun-damaged skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Add esmi’s Pomegranate Brightening Serum to your morning routine to lighten your skin with powerful melanin inhibitors that improve pigmentation and enhance skin luminosity.
- Retinols - Can help stimulate collagen production, improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin and lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You might think you can’t use a retinol serum in the summertime because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays but it should actually only ever be applied at night so all the hard work is done while you sleep. Some people find that retinol can increase dryness within their skin when introducing it to their regimen so increased humidity means that summer is actually the perfect time to use it! If you’re new to retinol, give esmi’s Encapsulated Retinol 0.25% Level 1 a try.
- Hyaluronic Acid - Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that can help to hydrate and plump the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Shop esmi’s award-winning Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum to combat dehydration, repair skin and regulate oil flow so you’ve got skin with bounce!
How To Protect Your Skin From The Sun In Summer
Sun damage is the number one cause of skin ageing and cancer risk so it’s important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun throughout the entire year.
Instead of skipping SPF because you’re worried about a greasy formula that leaves you looking like Casper’s best friend, choose a clean SPF 50+ sunscreen like Sun Skills For HER if you’re layering under makeup or Sun Skills For SENSITIVE if your skin is easily irritated. We’ve left the nasties out of our formulations and only added skin-loving ingredients so you’re nourished by nature. By committing to upping your sun protection game this summer and making daily sunscreen application part of your self-care ritual, you’re protecting your skin from further sun damage and skin cancer!
Another way to protect your skin is to be a shameless shade seeker by limiting your exposure to the sun during peak hours and setting up your favourite umbrella. Cover up on those walks down to the beach with those cute long linen pants that you’ve been eyeing off and wear a matching straw hat. Better yet, why not add one of our bundles to the cart for a free super-cute terry towel bucket hat? Whether you’re on the small sunglasses trend or you’re into the cat eye shape, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and the delicate skin around them from the sun's harmful rays.
Even with proper sun protection, it's still possible to get sunburnt so it’s important to always be aware of the strength of the sun and adjust your protection accordingly.
Don’t let sunburn sideline your summer fun, reach for our Sun Skills After Sun Gel instead! After sun lotions are specifically formulated to soothe and hydrate sun-exposed skin while helping to prevent peeling. Packed with hydrating ingredients and restorative properties, our After Sun Gel is enriched with hyaluronic acid to replenish skin's water content and instantly boost hydration so you can feel as cool as a cucumber. When it comes to after sun gels, you’ll want to steer clear of any formulas that contain alcohol as they can dry out and further irritate sunburned skin, ouch! It's also important to remember that using an after-sun lotion is not a substitute for proper sun protection so you always need to apply sunscreen and seek the shade, there are no excuses!
