The Fresh Perspective

Summer Skin Care REVAMP

So many things change from summer to winter, including your skins needs! As someone with very temperamental skin, I am very aware of how the added heat and sun affect my complexion; so over the years I’ve broken it down to a few things I change every spring time to make sure my skin is ready to see the sun.

There are some over-all product changes that I deem necessary for the new weather. This does not mean you have to rush out to the store and purchase a whole selection of new products. I always wait until I’ve finished whatever product I am using, but instead of repurchasing the same product, I choose a better suited summer alternative. (Changing out your skin care products one at a time instead of all together is also a good idea because if one of the products breaks you out or gives you a reaction you'll know which product is causing it right away.)

 When I’m looking to by a new product for summer, a good rule of thumb is you want the formula to be lighter than whatever you're using in the winter months. This especially goes for your facial cleanser and your moisturizer. Choosing a lighter moisturizer is quite straight forward, but with facial washes a light foaming cleanser is my personal favourite for summer skincare.

A second key factor to keeping your face looking fresh is keeping up with sun-protection. Sun protection should be a year-round part of everyone's skin care routine, but stakes are generally higher in the summer. I also have chatted with a few friends who refuse to wear facial sunscreen because it feels greasy, which I can totally understand, but looking for good facial sunscreens is a very important everyday step of maintaining your complexion. When shopping for a sunscreen find one just for the face that is also non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores! Quite a few tinted moisturizers have SPF in them, which is also a quick and easy way of getting your sun protection in!

One thing that I SWEAR by for my skin in the summer is being very strict about the cleanliness of my skin and everything that touches it. No, this does not mean you should wash your face a bunch of extra times a day because of sweat (over washing is unhealthy for you skin, twice a day is perfect ladies!). Instead, blot your skin or use a face mist when you feel the urge to prematurely wash. One obvious part of face cleanliness is touching your face with your hands, this is especially important in the summer because of the sweat from your hands can transfer bacteria directly onto your face. In the summer I clean my personal makeup brushes every week instead of bi-weekly like I do in winter. Bacteria love a warm place to live, so protect your face from what could be hanging out in your brushes! Pillow cases are also a silent killer when it comes to summer skin irritation. Changing your pillow cases regularly help keep your skin happy through the night!

Keeping your skin happy is as easy as making these little changes, so might as well show your skin some extra love this upcoming summer! You won’t regret it!

-Danika

Renée's Aesthetic

SUMMER SKIN: tips to keep it healthy.

Summer= sun & heat.  Many people think that summer also equals more moisture. Surprise! Now more than ever we need to keep on top of keeping our skin healthy, and moisturized. That includes both your face and your body.

1. Wear a safe, non-toxic sunscreen. This will help protect from the harsh UV rays. Make sure to wear it daily (especially on your face) and to re-apply throughout day if you're out in the sun.

2. Exfoliate. From head to toe. This should be done about twice a week, and to simplify things, do it in the shower! A nice trick to give your body that extra exfoliation, and to get your blood flowing, is to use a dry brush right before you jump in the shower. Make sure you brush your skin in the the direction towards your heart. Also, there is a big difference between a body scrub, and a facial scrub, so make sure to keep that in mind.

3. Moisturize, constantly. In my honest opinion, you can never get enough moisture back into your skin. The sun sucks up more than we think. There's a moisturizer out there for everyone! Ideally, you should slap your favorite lotion on your entire body, after every shower. Don't forget your feet, you can even use a thicker cream morning and night on those guys. As for your face, use a daytime lotion with a built in SPF in the am and a moisturizing night cream in the pm.

4. Wear a hat. This is one that most people tend to forget about. The brim of most hats will help to protect/shade your face a little, but most importantly, hats will protect your scalp, which is an easy target for those sunny rays.

5. Drink a lot of water. I mean a lot. This makes a HUGE difference. It helps hydrate from the inside out, and isn't just topical like a moisturizer. Hydration is key, not only for our body's health, but our skin's health.

Don't forget, this includes all you men & boys out there too :P

-né xo