Best Ways To Prepare Skin For The Upcoming Summer Months

It’s that time again!! It’s almost summer (although it already feels like it in Texas). Now I’m not here to remind us how quarantine has ruined bikini season for us (Guess it’s too late to rethink eating that sleeve of Oreos that may or may not have been inhaled earlier!) but rather the best ways to prepare your skin for those upcoming summer months. With these simple tips you will find that you have the ability to protect your skin from not only potential burns, but from premature aging too.

Have SPF wherever you go

When it comes to whether to wear sunscreen everyday even in the rain, the answer is simply YES!  You should be protecting your skin with an spf all year round regardless of the weather but especially in the summer when the sun is at its strongest. No need to fret if you don’t have a high spf on hand, using a protectant of at least 30+  you’re able to block about 97% UVB rays according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The key is to keep reapplying while you are outside. So no matter how much fun you’re having, take a few minutes of your time and reapply!

Switch to lightweight products

In those warm and brutally hot summer months approaching, we don’t have to worry about dry skin as much as we do during the cooler seasons. Typically our skin is oiler in these upcoming months so thicker creams will feel heavy and greasy on our skin. Switch for those lightweight moisturizers that are lighter, easier and faster absorbing, leaving beautiful skin that is soft to the touch and that stays moisturized all day long. 

Wear protective clothing

There has been a debate as to whether sun protective clothing actually works and I’m here to say that when used with sunscreen you’re giving yourself extra protection from those harmful UVA and UVB rays that will not only burn you but has the potential to cause premature aging and none of us want that! Wear large brimmed hats when possible and sunglasses protecting your eyes and face. Look for clothing such as polyester, nylon and silk are much better at blocking harmful rays than hemp, cotton and rayon. Long sleeve tops are always recommended between 10 am to 4 pm when the sun is its strongest and leave those adorable spaghetti straps for the evening hours. I personally love clothing with UPF fabric as an added way to protect my skin.

Stay hydrated

It’s extremely important to ensure your skin isn’t thirsty but well hydrated. Drinking the proper amount of water will keep your skin appearing firm, supple and with a healthy glow. Skin that is dry and dehydrated creates a more visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, causing skin to look dull and aged.

Exfoliate

With those summer months closely approaching, it’s time for a fresh look including getting rid of all that dry skin and dead skin cells. Exfoliating your skin will not only leave you feeling soft and smooth, but it will also make it easier for products including sunscreen to absorb properly. When there are dead skin cells creating a layer on the skin it makes it difficult for products to work at their best but also your skin is left looking dull. During these hot summer months toss out those layers and show off that healthy, glowing looking skin.

Eat and drink beverages that’ll protect you from the sun

Often overlooked, when we think of protection from the sun we think sunblock, and not about what we actually put into our bodies.

• Leafy greens. A great reason to enjoy all those delicious summer salads . With the ability to prevent and repair sun damage, it’s a staple to always keep on hand.
• Sweet potatoes. Let’s talk about super potent and protective skin properties that fight sun damage. Containing beta carotene, carotenoids, lycopene and vitamin E, sweet potatoes act as one low calorie, delicious ‘sunscreen’.
• A powerful antioxidant that has the ability to protect our skin from harmful free radicals that cause damage. Added bonus, blueberries contain vitamin C helping prevent wrinkles (we can’t complain about that! Eat up!).
• Containing more lycopene than tomatoes, watermelons help absorb radiation from UVA, UVB rays. Don’t think it’ll happen over night as it takes a few weeks of daily consumption to work as a natural sunblock.
• Red Wine. The best one yet! The flavonoids that you’ll find in a delicious glass of red wine may help in the prevention of premature aging and wrinkles.

Go outside and take advantage of the gorgeous weather! What’s not to like?! But before you do anything, make sure you remember to follow these tips to help you achieve that smooth, healthy, radiant looking skin all year long!