How Does Summer Affect Your Skin And Aging?

Everyone knows that summertime means icy refreshing drinks, s’mores by the fire, soaking your toes in the kiddie pool, and maybe a trip or three to the beach. But what do you know about the effects of summer on your skin?

Believe it or not, summer weather can both increase oil production and lead to dryness. Hot, humid weather causes sweat and increased oil production that traps dirt and pollutants in our pores. 

Add sunburns to the mix, and now you’ve got irritation, sensitivity, peeling, and well... lobster face.

Spending time in the sunshine is good for you, by the way. It increases your body’s ability to create essential Vitamin D (which helps boost immunity and helps calcium do its job on your bones). But UV rays can also harm your skin even beyond an annoying sunburn. 

UV radiation hinders your body’s ability to produce Vitamin A, which is important for skin cell growth. Without Vitamin A (which is found in all kinds of skincare products, by the way), fine lines and wrinkles become more prominent. 

On top of that, UV rays break down collagen, a protein that keeps skin firm and looking young. The biggest issue here is that UV rays can penetrate quickly to the middle layers of the skin and confuse its natural repair system into creating enzymes that break down the proteins that plump up your skin, such as collagen.

While we’re at it, it’s hard to let go of old habits sometimes. Many of us remember youthful days laying on a chaise, dousing our bodies with baby oil, and spending hours frying up to get a lovely golden tan (after the lobster phase, that is). But while we’re all a bit older and hopefully wiser now, UV rays don’t care and will continue to cause your skin to darken any melasma or age spots you’ve earned in your life. So you’re talking less “healthy glow” and more “liver spots”, even in a short exposure. 

How Do I Protect My Skin Against Aging In Summer?

The secret to glowing summer skin is simple. Have a good skin care regimen and work hard to protect your skin from the inside and on the outside. Use the right products to decrease or undo sun damage and it’ll show. Enjoy the summer sunshine and activities without sacrificing your skin health by adding these summer skincare tips:

1. Cleanse, Power tone, and moisturize. Use skin care products that include antioxidants. It’s about getting rid of the grime and sweat, nourishing the skin, and getting those youth-boosting ingredients into your pores.
   
   
2. Exfoliate, but gently. No need for harsh scrubs or chemicals on top of skin that’s been exposed to UV rays. You’ll surely have more than just a rosy glow if you do. Use toners or a mild scrub that gently exfoliate.
   
   
3. Sunscreen. And don’t forget the sunscreen. Because sunscreen. We love a good mineral sunscreen.
   
   
4. Always moisturize from head to toe after being in the sun. Slather our Prickly Pear Oil all over your face and our Body Oil over body and finish off with Hydra-Dew. Put everything back into your skin the the sun sucked out and more!

 MORE TIPS...

1. Hydrate! Way more than you’d think. Plain ol’ H2O works wonders from the inside out, nourishing and moisturizing your whole body, skin included. But don’t forget to drink those antioxidants, too. Water infused with berries, green and herbal teas, and juices like beet, pomegranate, and acai are all chock full of antioxidants that help nourish your skin from the inside out.
   
   
2. Treat yourself to a hydrafacial. The process involves using water instead of grit to resurface the skin, clear out the gunk from pores, and infuse skin with moisturizing serums. Start your summer with fresh, super moisturized skin and you’ll only have to cleanse, protect, and moisturize the rest of the summer.

Treat Your Skin AND Yourself

The beauty of summer isn’t lived fully via skincare tips. It’s the first taste of ice-cold watermelon or that warmth of the sun on your shoulders. It’s spending an entire weekend clearing out your house or garage to make room (and clean air) for new memories or projects. Summer is about random road trips or counting fireflies with the kids. Embrace the slow down. Don’t wait for weekends, savor every drop of summer all summer long. And don’t forget the sunscreen!