With summer right around the corner, the outdoors will be packed with beachgoers and nature lovers alike. This summer, make sure your sun protection efforts are just as strong as your beach body efforts. With skin cancer and sun cancer a common concern for many, make sure your skin care routine is up to date with these latest skin care tips.
Hydration Is Key
Make water your best friend this summer, and your skin will thank you. A great skin care tip – not just for the summer but all year round – is to drink water. Aim to drink at least eight glasses a day. If it helps, you can try carrying around a water bottle and taking a couple of sips every twenty to thirty minutes. Water not only will keep you hydrated and cool during the summer heat, but the added hydration will help flush out toxins from your body. Whether you realize it or not, your skin is an organ. The biggest organ in fact. And just like any organ, it needs water to function at its best. Staying properly hydrated will help keep your skin healthy, glowing, and moisturized. A must during the summer heat.
Moisturize Often
For healthy skin that glows, a great skin care tip is to keep your skin moisturized daily. If you are going to put on makeup, be sure to moisturize before you put on any primer or foundation. Moisturizing daily will ensure that your skin is properly hydrated. Swap out your winter butter lotions for something more light and creamy. Don’t forget to moisturize commonly forgotten about areas like your elbows, knees, and the backs of your hands.
Exfoliate Often
Your skin sheds skin cells more often than you might think. If you don’t take off the dead skin as part of your skincare routine, then those dead skin cells are going to stay on your skin. If this describes you, then you need to make skin exfoliation part of your skincare routine. Not only will your skin glow when you exfoliate, but exfoliation encourages your skin to breath. When your pores are not clogged, and your skin can breathe, you are promoting healthy skin.
More Is More
With most things, less is usually more. However, when it comes to sunscreen, more is more. When it comes to sun protection, some people think they can just dig out last years sunscreen, and they’re ready to fight off skin cancer. The truth is, sunscreen expires. And chances are, you probably have leftover sunscreen from last year because you did not use nearly as much as you should have used.
A surprising 25% – 50% of people don’t use the right amount of sunscreen. Typically, you should use about a shot glass full of sunscreen on your body and a tablespoon on your face. For adequate sun protection, make sure you use sunscreen with an SPF of 60 or greater. Before you go out, make sure to cover all parts of your skin that will be exposed. So don’t forget about commonly forgotten parts like your ears and the back of your neck.
A final skin care tip is to apply and reapply. For adequate sun protection, apply sunscreen twenty minutes to dry, healthy skin before going out. Then reapply every hour or as the directions say on the bottle. If you have gone swimming or have been sweating, then make sure to reapply again.
Don’t Forget About Your Lips
Another skin care tip that many people forget about is protecting your lips. Your lips also need attention for proper skin care. Wearing lip balm or lip gloss that has an SPF content of 15 or higher is a great way to promote sun protection. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can still penetrate through and cause skin cancer.
Skip The Makeup
For healthy skin that glows during the summer, then consider leaving out the makeup in your skincare routine. Makeup especially during the hot summer heat will not only clog your pores but will make it difficult for your skin to breath. With the summer heat, a natural, makeup-free look is your best bet. If you do decide to wear makeup, then try and keep it to a minimum. Additionally, aim to put on makeup that has an SPF content to ensure skin protection. However, don’t just rely on your SPF infused makeup. Make sure to apply sunscreen underneath your makeup, or wear a hat that will the keep the sun’s rays off your face.
The Right Apparel Is Key
If you’re going to be out in the sun this summer, then a great skin care tip is to keep covered. If you are at the beach with young children, the best way to practice sun protection is to keep them covered with clothing. A wetsuit with sleeves is great in addition to sunscreen for young kids. It’s best to shop for light-colored clothing instead of darker colored clothes. If you have been shopping for the right bikini and refuse to give it up, then you can still promote skin protection by bringing along a beach umbrella to sit under and stay protected from the sun.
Proper Headgear
Another skin care tip that promotes healthy skin is wearing a hat. If you have a skincare routine, then sun protection should be on the top of your list. Especially for your face. You face is where some of your skins most sensitive tissue is located, especially around your eyes. Along with wearing sunscreen for sun protection, wearing a hat is a great way to get closer to healthy skin.
Wearing a baseball cap is a good start, but it won’t fight against the sun’s rays that come at you from different angles. The best way to ensure skin protection is by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. A wide-brimmed hat will ensure that no matter where you are, you are protected from the sun’s rays from all angles. A surefire way to keeping skin cancer at bay.
I’ve Got A Sunburn, Now What?
If you are one of the unlucky summer lovers that happen to get a sunburn despite your skin protection routine, then follow these easy skin care tips. For starters, make sure that you get the burned area cooled down as quickly as possible. Cooling gels with that contain aloe vera do a wonderful job of cooling the burned area.
Another skin care tip is to keep the affected area moisturized. Keeping it dry will allow for a healing process that is a lot less painful. When you get out of the shower, pat the affected area dry, but allow for some water to moisturize the skin. Then apply on some lotion that will lock in moisture. Better yet, if you can, get your hands on hydrocortisone cream and apply that to the affected area. Finally, make sure to drink plenty of water. Sunburns draw water towards them, so make sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Limit Your Time In The Sun
Finally, the best skin care tip you can practice this summer is limiting your sun time. The best type of sun protection is prevention. So only stay out in the sun if you necessarily have to. Try to keep your sun time limited to one hour. If you are at the beach, make sure to give your skin a break by finding shelter away from the sun every hour. There’s no need to spoil your summer at the cost of your skin health. By following these easy tips, you can still have fun in the sun all while keeping damaged skin at bay.
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