The first official day of summer is just around the corner! It’s time to prepare for longer days, warmer weather, and exciting summer events to bring you and your favourite people closer together!
Whether it is an afternoon garden party, baby shower, formal wedding, or picnic in the sun, it’s time to get yourself looking and feeling your best! Here is a top ten tip list of ways to help achieve that dewy-faced, youthful summer glow:
1. Let’s start simple: SPF!
Applying sunscreen is a great way to protect your skin all year round. In the summer, it’s important to lather up or spray exposed areas such as arms, legs, face, shoulders, back, scalp, and neck with sunblock or sunscreen that contains an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30. SPF is the percentage of UVB rays that your sun lotion can protect.
It is estimated that SPF 15 will block about 93% of the rays, SPF 30 almost 97% of rays, and SPF 50, 98%. While these protection factors work with UVB rays, you will need to find a sunscreen that is listed as broad spectrum to protect against the UVA rays that can cause sun damage and premature skin ageing.
Consider wearing a daily moisturizer year-round that contains SPF 15, as even the winter days can project the sun’s rays! To learn more about the science of sunscreen, click here.
2. Stay Hydrated!
It’s no surprise that drinking water is good for you! It serves to:
- Refresh you on a hot afternoon in the sun
- Assists temperature regulation
- Keeps organs functioning better
- Provides joint lubrication and helps reduce joint pain
- Increases energy
- Detoxifies the body
- Aids in digestion
- Boosts brain function
- Helps keep skin looking healthy by maintaining a balanced pH level
- Flushes out bacteria and toxins that clog pores and cause blemishes
- Maintains moisture and elasticity that keeps skin supple
- Allows for a dewy glow
Ensure you are getting ample fluids, namely water, totalling at least eight glasses of water a day (the Mayo Clinic suggests getting more; see here). Consider travelling with a refillable water bottle that you can keep topped up along the way. If you want a change, add fruit like strawberries, lemon, or cucumber to spruce the flavour!
3. Indulge in self-care!
Take the time to care for your skin and body with your favourite skincare products. This self-care may look different for everyone, depending on the individual’s needs, but everyone should start with a moisturizer!
Select a skin-type appropriate facial moisturizer that hydrates your skin type, a body lotion to care for hands, arms, feet and legs and remember to apply daily to fight off the drying nature of the sun, pool chemicals, salt water, and the A/C. Using it after your bath or shower and again before bed can help your skin stay looking smooth, silky, and summer ready!
4. Accessorize!
Sunny maxi dresses look great with a few bangles and the perfect sandals. Still, sunglasses and hats are the accessories we are discussing to help keep your skin youthful and protected!
Consider oversized shades to protect your eyes and skin from harmful UV rays, and throw on a floppy hat to complete the look and get that extra shade wherever you go. This step will prevent premature ageing and keep that refreshed look.
Men, this applies to you too! If you are hitting the links, patio, or pool, remember to wear a ball cap, fashionable fedora, or another hat that suits your style. Sunglasses can complete the look and help prevent those wrinkles that crinkle around the eyes!
5. Wash your face
Seems simple enough, right? In the summer, you produce more sweat, applying sunblocks and other products that should all wash away at the end of the day. Some cleansers target your skin, whether you have dry, oily or combination skin. Consider skipping the drying, soapy cleanser for a gel-based light and refreshing wash, and use it twice daily!
6. Get your antioxidants
Choose creams, lotions, cleansers, products, and foods chalked full of antioxidants to fight off free radicals, neutralize skin, and reduce inflammation. Vitamin C protects your skin from sun damage, increases collagen production, and helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
7. Watch your diet
It does not mean typing to slim down and skip the carbs; this is about choosing healthy foods that help prevent bloating, and skin blemishes, aid digestion, and help you feel and look your best. Choosing fruits and veggies that contain more antioxidants will help maintain radiant-looking skin while boosting collagen, fighting the damage of free radicals, and providing a hydrating snack in the summer sun!
8. Inhale, Exfoliate
Looking for another zen way to help your skin look its best? Try getting into a habit of healthy skin exfoliation. A light scrub will help remove dead skin cells and promote healthy new skin! Don’t go too hard, don’t over-exfoliate, and don’t use products that will further damage your skin. Find good quality scrubs, or try making your own with sea salt or sugar!
9. Get enough sleep
When your body goes into sleep mode, it repairs and replenishes itself! Long days in the sun, active and busy schedules, and late nights out can lead to skimping on sleep But try to get in your 8 hours as it will help refresh tired skin, prevent signs of ageing, reduce puffy eyes and dark undereye circles, and leave you looking fresh-faced and ready to start the day!
10. Please leave it to the experts
If you are still trying to figure out where to begin to get your skin looking rejuvenated and youthful, talk to our skincare specialists at skin6! Our cosmetic beauty clinic team and medical spa estheticians in Toronto can help create a personalized plan to help you meet your skincare goals.
We offer many services to enhance your face, skin, and body. Some of our most popular treatments include fillers and injectables like Botox, Dysport, and Morpheus8 microneedling to help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, plump up the facial volume, and stimulate the production of collagen to leave your skin looking youthful and fresh.
Our Hydrafacial cleanses, replenishes, and hydrates skin. At the same time, our Vitamindrip IV therapy can help hydrate and rejuvenate from the inside out! We also offer chemical peels, laser hair removal, cool sculpting, and more to allow you to feel radiant and confident in as little as one session, treatment dependent.
If you are looking for some beauty inspiration, reach out to our team in Toronto and let’s get your beautiful self summer ready! Call (647)-360-8266 or contact us here.
