As winter ends and mercury rises in the region, it calls for many lifestyle changes. Excessive summer heat can dehydrate your skin, so it’s important to keep it moisturized during the summer. If your skin becomes oily, it may be a sign that your skin could be dehydrated.
Here are all the reasons why you should not be neglecting moisturizer after winter.
1. The most crucial reason is that the harsh sun rays dry out your skin by taking away its natural oils. The result? Increased sebum production that can make your oily skin even worse. For those who have dry skin, the sun makes the skin get only drier.
2. Taking shelter from the warm weather by constantly staying in air-conditioned spaces makes your skin more prone to dryness. The artificially dehumidified air plays a big role in drying out the surface skin cells.
3. We lose plenty of fluids during summer and keeping our skin hydrated is as important as rehydrating our bodies. Certain moisturizers can help seal the moisture which is lost due to sweating.
4. Taking several dips in the cool inviting pools is unavoidable in summer which is why we should protect the skin from the chlorine in the pools. Like the sun, it too strips the skin of its natural oils.
5. The harsh sun can also cause early signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles to appear and the most effective way of keeping them at bay is moisturizing. Making sure to regularly moisturize your skin will help keep it plump and lively.
Tips for Ways to Moisturize Effectively
- Use a non-comedogenic (oil-free) moisturizer (which won’t clog your pores) on your face two or three times per day in the summer, as well as all year round.
- If you’d rather use an oil-based moisturizer, use less of it or apply it on damp skin.
- Use a light lotion or gel in summer, instead of a heavy cream, if your skin feels greasy before or after moisturizing.
- Your feet experience much more exposure in the summer, so be sure to moisturize your feet too. Your feet may dry out quickly, so apply a heavier, creamier moisturizer. Prevent athlete’s foot by keeping the area between toes dry and not applying moisturizer there.
- Use an overnight mask to boost your skin’s moisture in summer. The deep hydrating effects of a mask renew and firm your skin with the added benefit of reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Protection – Skin can only perform its task as the body’s protective barrier if it has sufficient moisture.
- Prevents Drying Out – Skin lipids regulate moisture balance and minimize water loss. This stops skin from becoming tight and dry.
- Prevents Bacteria Growth – Moisture in skin helps maintain balance, preventing the penetration of fungi and bacteria.
- Regeneration – Without moisture in the skin, the message to build new skin cells cannot be properly transmitted.
- Elasticity – Without water in the skin, every small movement or vibration would make the skin tear.
Other Tips for Skin Care During the Summer
- Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Water flushes waste products out of your system and helps hydrate your skin.
- Exfoliate your skin, especially in the summertime. You shed skin cells constantly, and dead cells sit on top of your skin if you don’t get rid of them. Dead skin cells can make your skin look dull and dry. Exfoliate one to three times a week to make your summer skin look radiant.
- Protect your skin against sunburn. Avoid the sun between the peak hours of 10am and 4pm, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
- Be sure to apply sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) all over your face and body at least 30 minutes before you go outdoors. Reapply sunscreen about every 90 minutes.
- When you shower, do it quickly and use lower temperature water than usual. After showering, blot (rather than rub) your skin to dry off. Apply your moisturizer right after.
- Apply lip balm to keep your lips moisturized.
- Use a humidifier at home if air-conditioning is drying out your skin.
- Hydrate your skin with a pre-shave moisturizer before you shave.
- Consider seeing a dermatologist, especially if you have a combination of skin types. Your dermatologist can prescribe a moisturizer that’s customized to your skin’s needs. Your doctor can also recommend additional skin care practices.
