If you haven’t yet swapped out your heavy winter-appropriate skincare products for lighter summer alternatives, consider this your reminder. While your skin might be prone to dryness and dullness in winter, come the summer season, you’re most likely dealing with different concerns.
In order to keep your skin healthy in the warmer weather, there are a few changes you can make to your skincare routine. These are easy swaps that will keep your skin feeling fresh and bright.
Swap to a lighter moisturiser
For the next few months, you won’t need a thick and rich moisturiser so swapping to a lighter face cream that allows your skin to breathe is the way to go. Pop away your ultra-nourishing formulas in favour of something a little less heavy that still keeps your complexion hydrated.
Our favourite light lotion is Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Light Cream. Formulated with hot weather in mind, this lightweight cream is hydrating and leaves a matte finish, making it perfect for those with oily skin. It also offers protection from blue light, pollution and UVA and UVB rays with SPF20+.
Invest in a vitamin C serum
If you’re not yet using a vitamin C serum, summer is the perfect time to board the bandwagon. While vitamin C is beloved for its ability to reduce the signs of premature ageing and leave your skin looking firmer, it’s also great for treating hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation can have a number of causes but arguably the most common one is the sun. If you’re prone to hyperpigmentation come summer, the best way to tackle this is through two products. The first is by wearing sunscreen every single day, which should prevent any further hyperpigmentation from occurring. And the second is by treating the hyperpigmentation through a vitamin C serum, which helps to fade dark spots and even out your complexion.
One of our favourite vitamin C serums is the Violet C Brightening Serum by Tatcha. With 20% vitamin C and 10% mild fruit AHAs, this serum helps to gently smooth and brighten dull skin while also working to improve the appearance of discolouration and dark spots thanks to the addition of Japanese angelica root. For a more budget-friendly option, the La Roche-Posay Redermic Vitamin C C10 Serum is also a winner.
Add an exfoliating product into your skincare routine
We always recommend using an exfoliating product year-round but if you haven’t used one in a while, summer is a great time to start doing so. Regular exfoliation is important to remove dead skin cells as well as layers of sweat, makeup and sunscreen.
Exfoliating will also help prevent your skin from becoming dull and congested while allowing your serums and lotions to penetrate the skin’s surface properly. Aim to exfoliate between one to three times a week — those who have oilier skin will probably need the full three.
We generally steer clear of physical exfoliators as they can be harsh on the skin, so opt for a chemical exfoliant if you can. Our favourite chemical exfoliant is Go-To’s Exfoliating Swipeys, which are small pads soaked in a solution of lactic acid that helps remove dead skin cells while also hydrating the skin.
Steer clear of the sun
As it tempting as it might be to spend time in the sun sans sunscreen in order to achieve a bronzed glow, it’s not worth the potential health issues thanks to the prevalence of skin cancer here in Australia. Instead of baking your bod under the sun’s rays, use a fake tan to achieve the same glow.
Using fake tan products to bring a glow your natural skin colour is the way forward this summer. To achieve a natural glow, try using the Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk, which when applied daily, helps you slowly build up a natural tone while also hydrating your skin.
