Your Essential Guide to Summer Skin Care

From sweat to sea salt to chlorine to heavy sunscreens, our skin goes through a lot in the summer, and it’s important to take care of it as best as possible to maintain its glow. Depending on the climate you live in, you might find yourself needing to completely reconsider your skin care approach during the hottest months. This is where a summer-friendly routine comes in.

To address the less desirable aspects of summer (think sweat, clogged pores, sunburns, etc.), it’s important to bring in additional or different products and routines to match them.

Skin Care tips for summer

Though many of us are exposed to similar external factors during the summer, your skin type should largely influence the products you use. In particular, those with oily or combination skin might find it difficult to battle the increases in sebum production, so it might be worth looking into solutions such as oil cleansing’s benefits for oily skin. That said, there are some tried and true things that should help everyone.

These are our top recommendations and tips for all skin types during summer:

Use SPF

We know we know, you’ve heard this before — but there’s a reason for that. The UV rays from the sun, particularly in the summer when we have more exposure to it, can cause irreparable damage to our skin. Not only can it lead to sunburn or wrinkles, but also break down collagen, damage skin cells and DNA, or even provoke cancer. Using sunscreen (at least SPF 30) can save your skin years down the road, and keep it looking smooth and youthful for longer.

And don’t forget your hands! If you’re driving a lot this summer or your hands will have a lot of sun exposure, it’s worth remembering to put sunscreen on them as well. This will reduce the onset of visible sunspots and wrinkles.

Switch to lightweight products

Thick products such as heavy moisturizers are great for locking in hydration and keeping your skin nourished in the winter but might clog pores more easily (and develop into acne) in the summer. Opting for a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer reduces the risk of trapping sweat and oil in your pores and can also be easier to clean away after a long day.

If you have drier skin and still need a thicker moisturizer or cream (like our Hydra Whip), opt for using that primarily at night, and then use a lighter formula for the day.

Opt for non-comedogenic

Another way to avoid clogging your pores is by using non-comedogenic products, which are specifically formulated and designed to not cause blocked pores. This is important with all the sweat and sunscreen we have on our skin in the summer and goes hand in hand with our previous note about lightweight products.

Remember to exfoliate

On the topic of avoiding blocked pores, exfoliating is very important in the summer to clean off all of the sunscreen, dead skin, and sweat. The key here is to gently exfoliate without damaging the skin, which would leave it vulnerable to further damage from the sun and other factors we’ve discussed. Skip this step when you’re sunburnt, which would be painful and actually end up prolonging redness and discomfort.

Avoid over-washing

We still need to wash off all of the residue from the sand, sweat, salt, chlorine, sunscreen, and more, but you don’t want to strip away the healthy aspects of your skin microbiome. Though it might be tempting, over-washing (e.g. using harsh face washes, astringents, etc.) can lead to more problems for your skin. Be cognizant of keeping water cool or lukewarm, as hot water dries and strips your skin of its natural oils and protection, as well as aggravating irritation and eczema — so think twice before taking an extra hot shower.

Stay in the shade & hydrated

The two most important things you can do outside of skin care is to stay hydrated and limit sun exposure by being in the shade, whether from a tree, patio, or hat. This will keep your skin more healthy than anything else because it simply avoids some of the root problems.

Ingredients to keep an eye out for

When looking at products to use in your summer skin care routines, there are some ingredients whose benefits stand out:

Aloe Vera

Probably the first ingredient you thought of, Aloe can be used for more than just sunburns. It hydrates and soothes the skin and the gel from its leaves contain a multitude of important vitamins to accelerate healing. For instance, our Purifying Oil Cleanser uses Aloe Vera extract to clean your skin, leaving it hydrated and rejuvenated.

Rose Water

Another soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredient, Rose Water has been used for centuries and is now often used in gentle products like our Healing Rose Clay Mask or Eye Rejuvenating Elixir. It also balances the pH of your skin, which can be disrupted by all of the changes in temperature and humidity during the summer.

Vitamin C

One of the vitamins that Aloe Vera contains, Vitamin C is widely considered one of the most important ingredients for skin during the summer. It works to stimulate collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and brighten and firm your skin, leaving it glowing and youthful. Our new Firming Vitamin C Treatment is a great way to take advantage of this powerful ingredient.

Tea Tree Oil

With all of the sweating we do during those hot summer months, it’s important to have an ingredient like Tea Tree Oil that’s antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic. This is commonly used to fight acne and oily skin by disinfecting pores, drying out blackheads, and reducing inflammation. This is why it’s commonly found in detoxifying toners and serums like our Balance Restoring Serum.

Sandalwood

While lesser-known than Aloe, Sandalwood is also a fantastic healing ingredient for sunburn, eczema, and acne. It combines soothing properties with similar antibacterial properties to Tea Tree Oil and is a sacred ingredient in Ayurveda. If you’re looking for a cleanser for this summer, our new Purifying Oil Cleanser has Sandalwood Oil in addition to Aloe Vera to give your skin a healing boost.

Vitamin E

Another important vitamin to make sure is part of your skin care this summer is Vitamin E. It has been a staple of skin care products for ages, protecting the skin's lipid barrier, improving moisture retention, and healing skin damage. This super ingredient can be found in our Eye Rejuvenating Elixir to reduce dark circles and fine lines.

Witch Hazel

The final ingredient on our list might be unknown to some readers, but Witch Hazel has been used for centuries in Ayurveda. While it can be ingested, when applied externally, it reduces skin inflammation. For years, Witch Hazel has been used in astringent toners (such as our Balance Restoring Serum) because of its ability to get rid of excess oil, minimize pores, and more. These properties make it perfect to add to your skin care toolkit for this summer.

Keep your skin glowing with natural, refreshing ingredients

At AAVRANI, we rely on the healing power and benefits of natural ingredients, which are utilized in our products. Naturally-derived ingredients such as Turmeric, Neem, and Honey (to name a few) have been proven to work over decades and centuries and promote holistic health without the side effects harsh chemicals can invoke. Try a few of our most refreshing products, like the Purifying Oil Cleanser, Moisturizing Hydra-Cream, and Healing Rose Clay Mask to keep your skin feeling healthy all summer long.

Try our collection of products today