Glowing skin in summer

CEBU, Philippines — There is probably no time more problematic for the skin than summer. The warmth and sunshine that everybody likes about summer are just stretched to extremes… to utter discomfort. To make matters worse, the discomfort shows up in one’s looks.

Humid temperatures and the fierce summer sun can affect the skin in a not-so-nice way. Aside from sunburn, UV rays can also accelerate some common signs of skin aging – like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin. Humid temperatures can also contribute to skin issues, like extra oil and shine.

It’s ironic, because of the times of the year summer is when the big show-off happens. There’s reason to dress scantily in summer, supposedly to beat the heat. It would be such a letdown to show off ugly skin.

It is, therefore, important to take care of one’s skin in summer in order to invite those admiring stares from others. There’s a way to negotiate with the forces of nature and have a most beautiful skin all summer long. The website www.lorealparisusa.com suggests a skin regimen for the hot, sunny days:

Cleanse twice a day. When the air is hot and humid, your skin may experience more oil than usual. You also may sweat more now compared to previous months when ambient temperatures were on the milder side. The best skin care regimen to help keep summer skin matte, yet moisturized, should include cleansing twice daily with a foaming or gel-based face wash. First thing in the morning, wash away oil and sweat that can build up on your skin’s surface overnight. And, before bed, remove makeup and then cleanse your skin with your regular face wash.

Use a gentle glycolic acid exfoliating pad regularly. Your summer skin can produce excess oil, but it can also look dry and dull if you don’t exfoliate regularly. Exfoliating regularly is a part of the best skin care regimen for summer, because you can help foster the look of naturally glowing skin. A chemical exfoliating pad formulated with glycolic acid will not only help dissolve away excess oil, but also the pile up of dead skin cells on skin’s surface that can cause the look of dull, lackluster skin.

Some chemical exfoliating pads with glycolic acid are even gentle enough to use on a daily basis. That being said, even though glycolic acid chemical exfoliants are typically okay to use if you have sensitive skin, you may still want to consult with your dermatologist before making a glycolic acid peel pad a regular part of your skin care routine.

Apply a daytime moisturizer with SPF. A heavy day cream can mix with the sweat and oil that collects on your skin’s surface throughout the day. So, consider looking for a lightweight moisturizing formula that will absorb quickly and therefore be less likely to mix with that surface build up. Also, your daytime moisturizer should protect your skin with broad spectrum SPF protection. You’ll want to shield your summer skin from both UVA and UVB rays so that it is better protected from burns and some skin-aging factors.

Use a wash-off self-tanner. Those who want a little extra bronzed, glowing summer skin may consider using a self-tanner as a part of their summer skin care regimen. If they use a wash-off self-tanning option they won’t have to commit to the tan or worry about it fading overtime – they can apply a fresh tan each day.

Moisturize at night. Replenish skin with a concentrated dose of hydration while you sleep. Consider trying a face cream formulated with aloe water, the hydrating ingredient can deliver much-needed moisture to summer skin that has been out in the sun.

The best skin care regimen for summer includes cleansing and moisturizing in the morning and night, regular exfoliation with products formulated with glycolic acid and achieving the look of a natural tan so that you have summer skin that is not only glowing, but protected and nourished as well.