Summer Skincare Routine: Tips and Must-Have Products

Summer is the right time to slow down, bask in the light, and meet your travel goals. But while the season is meant to be carefree, it often shows up with its own set of skin troubles — be it excess oil, breakouts, dark spots, or dryness. This is why a proper summer skin care routine is in order. While the skin care during summer may largely resemble your regular regimen, a few changes and additional products will keep your glow afloat through the sweltering heat.

Keynotes:

• Hot summer weather can trigger excessive oiliness, breakouts, dehydration, and sun damage, making a seasonal summer skincare routine essential.
• Focus on gentle cleansing, toning, hydration, and daily sun protection to maintain healthy skin. Serums with Thiamidol can help you battle dark spots and summer dullness.
• Use lightweight, non-comedogenic products for oily skin and gentle, hydrating ones for dry skin types.
• Avoid common summer skincare mistakes like skipping sunscreen or neglecting lip care and water intake.

Seasonal change marks a shift in the temperature, your lifestyle, and even your hydration levels. Since the days in summer last longer, you may even spend more hours outdoors, exposing the skin to pollutants, heat, and UV exposure. Understanding these effects is crucial for planning your skincare during summer and maintaining a radiant complexion during the warmer months.

• Increased Oil Production and Acne Breakouts

  A study with 171 patients showed how 47.95% of people reported seasonal variations in their acne, and 40.4% experienced aggravation during the summer. ​This is because the extreme summer temperatures trigger your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum or oil. When paired with sweat, dust, and dirt, this excessive sebum can clog your pores and lead to acne or pimples. Sun exposure and heat can also aggravate any existing acne inflammation, leaving you at risk of acne marks and spots. This is why following a summer skin care routine for oily skin in these months.

• Dehydration and Dryness

  While summer may bring oiliness for some, others may suffer from skin dehydration. Prolonged sun exposure can take a toll on your skin's barrier function, leading to moisture loss and dry, flaky skin. Moreover, swimming in chlorinated pools or hard water can strip your skin of its natural oils too, making it dull and dehydrated.​ This is why skin care for dry skin in summer is essential too.

• Hyperpigmentation

  Tan, acne marks, dark spots, and more. The pigmentation problems brought about by summer are endless. The ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun accelerates melanin production in your skin. This can leave you with various types of pigmentation while worsening your existing marks, leaving you with an uneven skin tone.

• Sun damage

  The sun is at a more direct angle during the hot months. This also intensifies UV exposure, which can leave you with signs of photoaging. Photoaging is when your skin ages before its time due to UV exposure, giving you fine lines, wrinkles, and sun spots even in your 20s. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can even leave you at risk of skin cancer, making a summer face care routine crucial.

Step 1: Cleanse and Hydrate

Cleansing your skin at least twice every day is vital for removing sweat, excess oil, and impurities that may otherwise clog your pores. It also helps you clear out any sweat that may clog your pores and trigger acne. Opt for a gentle, hydrating cleansing gel that effectively cleans your skin without stripping its natural moisture barrier. Look for cleansers with exfoliants that unclog your pores and remove any dead skin cells.

Step 2: Toner

Only cleansing may not make the cut for your summer skincare routine. A toner helps you remove all residual impurities and even balances your skin’s pH. Look for toners with gentle alpha-hydroxy acid(AHA) exfoliants that can deeply cleanse and moisturise your skin at the same time. Make sure you layer your toner before the other products in your summer face care routine.

Step 3: Serums

Serums are a crucial part of any regimen, whether you’re following a summer skin care routine for oily skin or a skin care routine for dry skin in summer. The key is to look for ingredients that suit you the best. Start with looking for illuminating ingredients, like Thiamidol, that help you restore an even skin tone after the summer tan and dark spots. Then look for ingredients that suit your skin concerns. Look for exfoliants that suit oily, acne-prone skin and humectants for dry and aging skin.

Step 4: Moisturize

Next, apply a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer to maintain hydration. Ingredients like Licochalcone A, licorice extract help you with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Look for SPF day cream that also gives you added sun protection. You can also add night creams to the mix, helping you regenerate your skin cells at night.

Step 5: Sun Protection

Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 50 is non-negotiable during summer months. Sunscreen protects against UVA, UVB, and HEVIS, preventing dark spots, sunburn, photoaging, and reducing skin cancer risk. Try to reapply your sunblock every few hours, especially after swimming or sweating. Look for gel-based sunscreens if you have oily and acne-prone skin.

Ingredients for Radiant Skin

• Thiamidol: Summer heat and sweat may take away your natural glow. This is why you need ingredients like Thiamidol to bring back your brightness and do away with any dark spots. The harsh UV rays in summer can even darken any existing pigmentation and spots. Using Thiamidol serums prevents this while stopping any new dark spots.

Ingredients for Hydration

• Hyaluronic Acid: Humectants like hyaluronic acid help you smooth over fine lines, replump your skin from within, and can also help repair your skin barrier. If you have dehydrated or aging skin, this ingredient is a must-have in your skin care for dry skin in summer. You can also look for products with glycerin to get similar hydration benefits.

Ingredients for Exfoliation

• Salicylic Acid: Exfoliants are crucial for summer skincare routines. They help you deeply cleanse all the dirt and dust, clear out your pores, and keep your skin free from acne. Try using beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) like salicylic acid, which are oil soluble and get through excessive sebum to cleanse your skin.
• Lactic Acid: Lactic acid is another alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) exfoliant that is known for its gentle exfoliating, hydrating, and brightening properties, making it ideal for most skin types, including sensitive, dry, and dull skin types. Look for toners with lactic acid for a perfect cleanse to start your summer skincare routine.

If you’re on the lookout for serums and sunscreens that fit into your summer skin care routine for oily skin, look no further. Here are a few essential Eucerin skincare products for oily skin that make your regimen effective and tailored to your skin type.

• DermoPurifyer Triple Effect Serum: With Thiamidol and salicylic acid, this serum brightens and exfoliates your skin all at once, fighting acne, acne marks, and pigmentation.
• DermoPurifyer Triple Effect Cleansing Gel: This cleanser uses a gentle gel formula and 2% salicylic acid to exfoliate your skin, remove impurities, and dissolve excessive sebum.
• DermoPurifyer Toner: This toner for oily skin uses gentle lactic acid that clears your pores, removes excessive sebum, and hydrates your skin.
• Sun Face Oil Control Gel-Cream SPF 50+: Oily skin needs sun protection too, but heavy products can weigh down on your skin. This gel-based sunscreen by Eucerin helps you protect your skin from UVA & UVB with a lightweight, non-comedogenic, oil-control formula.

Skin care routine for dry skin in summer requires a different approach. Using over-exfoliating, oil control products for dry skin may do more harm than good, especially in dehydrating seasons. These Eucerin essentials will help you fight dullness, dehydration, and sun damage in the warm months.

• Anti-Pigment Day Care SPF 30: With skin brightening ingredients like Thiamidol and antioxidants like Licochalcone A, the moisturizer prevents dark spots, prevents the formation of new ones, and hydrates your skin with gentle sun protection.
• Anti-Pigment Dual Serum: Fine lines and dullness can be more prominent on dry skin. This is why the serum uses Thiamidol for radiance and hyaluronic acid for moisture, bringing your skin back to its original, young glow in summers.
• Anti-Pigment Night Care: Your skin repairs and regenerates at night. A night cream helps you repair the skin barrier, restores lost hydration, and is a crucial part of skin care for dry skin in summer.
• Sun Face Hydro Protect Ultra-Light Fluid SPF 50+: Using hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, this gentle sunscreen gives you strong sun protection without any inflammation or irritation.

• Not Reapplying Sunscreen

  The efficacy of your sunscreen reduces after a few hours owing to sweat, friction, water exposure, and natural wipe off.
  • Solution: Reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours, especially when outdoors or after swimming or sweating.

• Ignoring Scalp Care

  Sweat, dirt, and dust tend to accumulate on your scalp and can lead to forehead acne.
  • Solution: Maintain regular hair wash routines and cleanse your skin properly around the forehead.

• Neglecting Lip Protection

  The lips are often forgotten in skincare routines, yet they are highly susceptible to sunburn, darkening, and dehydration, due to thinner skin and direct sun exposure.
  • Solution: Use a lip balm with SPF and reapply it every few hours when outdoors.

• Not Drinking Enough Water

  Your internal hydration affects your skin too. Your skin loses moisture through its barrier, which is called transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This is why you face a higher risk of dehydrated, dull, and flaky skin in summer.
  • Solution: Stay hydrated with water, coconut water, and hydrating fruits like watermelons or cucumbers.

• Using Perfume Directly on Sun-Exposed Skin

  Fragrances and perfumes can contain ingredients or alcohol that can react with sunlight, causing pigmentation, rashes, or irritation.
  • Solution: Apply perfume only on pulse points that are covered (like behind the ears or inside the wrist) or spritz it on your clothes instead of sun-exposed skin.

With all the ‘hot’ takes in, it’s time to put your summer skincare routine into action. Focus on a simple C-T-M(cleansing - toning - moisturizing) routine to maintain your skin’s health and add serums for an added glow. DO NOT skip out on sun protection and keep your skin out of UV’s way.

1. How can I prevent my skin from getting too oily in summer?

   Use a sebum-control cleansing gel, toners, and lightweight moisturizers to keep your skin from getting too oily in summer. Use gel-based sunscreens to prevent greasiness.

2. What SPF is best for summer skincare?

   Use broad-spectrum sunscreens with at least SPF 50+ for proper sun protection in summer. 0Reapply them every 2-3 hours to keep your skin shielded.

3. Should I exfoliate more often in summer?

   Exfoliation can make your skin more vulnerable to sun damage. Exfoliate once or twice a week, as per your skin type, and talk to your dermatologist before using any chemical exfoliants.

4. How can I keep my skin hydrated in hot weather?

   Products with glycerin and hyaluronic acid are helpful for summer skin hydration. Drinking plenty of water, having soaked chia seeds, hydrating fruits, and staying indoors between hot hours can also help you maintain moisture levels in your skin.

• American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Prevent summer skin problems.
• Draelos, Z. D. (2018). The science behind skin care: Cleansers and moisturizers. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation.
• Kircik, L. H., et al. (2018). Emerging concepts in skin cleansing. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
• Voegeli, R., & Rawlings, A. V. (2019). Moisturizers and skin barrier function. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.