Summer Skincare Tips: Expert Advice to Protect and Rejuvenate Your Skin
Sun, sweat and sand - do these really have an impact on our skin? If so, what can we do to protect, prevent and treat our skin against the harsh environmental factors that summer and hot weather can bring.
SPF
This one is a bit of a no- brainer, sunscreen is an absolute essential - not just for summer, but all year round! Physical (also known as mineral) and chemical sunscreens work by reflecting UV rays away from the skin, or absorbing them and transferring the UV into heat in the skin. One isn’t better than the other - however physical/mineral sunscreens contain zinc or titanium dioxide, which have an anti-inflammatory and soothing quality about them. Chemical sunscreens often feel more lightweight and easily blended, making them a no fuss option for when you’re out and about.
Antioxidants
Studies show that antioxidants (particularly vitamin C, lycopene, resveratrol and CoQ10) have a photoprotective quality, meaning that when paired underneath an SPF - is giving you greater protection against harsh UV rays. Not only can some anti-oxidants be photoprotective, they’re free radical scavengers! Meaning they neutralize the damaging effects environmental factors have on our skin- aiding further with dehydration, inflammation, hyperpigmentation and premature aging.
Vitamin A
It’s a myth that topical vitamin A makes us more UV sensitive. Topical Vitamin A sold in skincare clinics can come in many forms, beta carotene, retinal palmitate, retinal propionate, retinol, retinaldehyde, and retinoic acid (being prescription only by your GP). Vitamin A has many great benefits for the skin, including thickening the stratum corneum (making our skins first line of defense strengthened and sturdier), it also repairs DNA damage caused by UV and environmental exposure, as well as aiding in a process called cell apoptosis- essentially deleting un-needed or faulty skin cells. This directly aids in the prevention of skin cancer and other cell abnormalities.
Cleansing
With all the extra sweating and salt water exposure that summer can bring - cleansing is crucial for maintaining the clarity of our skin. When we cleanse, we aren’t just removing sweat and oil, we are removing a build up of damaging free radicals too. The key is to find a cleanser that’s non-stripping and supportive of the skin barrier - this means it’s sodium laureth sulphate free, and contains no harsh fragrances or unnecessary chemicals that are inflammatory causing.
Conclusion:
It’s essential to look after our skin, particularly in a season where we’re more exposed to UV and its damaging effects. Cleansing, applying antioxidants, topical vitamin A, and sunscreen are a must to protect and prevent your skin this summer.
