Summer sun got your skin down? Keep your glow with these skin care tips

Summer may be most people’s favorite season, with lazy days and warm weather, trips to the beach and traveling abroad — but the heat and sun can lead to a few skin care downsides.

Painful sunburn can ruin your pictures and lead to more long-term serious problems, like skin cancer. It’s also difficult to stay hydrated this time of year, which can lead to breakouts and dry skin.

I try to stay on top of skin care advice and do what’s best to keep my skin healthy and looking good this season. So, if you want glowing, healthy skin as the heat continues this summer, follow these tips I’ve found from my research on the internet or through personal experience.

Apply sunscreen often

The first and most important piece of advice that any dermatologist will tell you is to wear sunscreen and lots of it, especially in the summer. Many of us think of sunscreen as a product we only apply when at the beach or the pool, but we should be wearing it on a daily basis. Not only do the sun’s rays cause sunburn, but they can also lead to premature aging. Look for an SPF of at least 30 and maybe higher if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

Buying products with SPF

In that same vein, another great way to ensure you stay protected from the sun in the summer is by searching for skin care products with SPF in them. I use a moisturizer with SPF, which is a great way to lessen the number of heavy products you use in the summertime, a personal relief to me considering I have an oily complexion.

The biggest downside to wearing sunscreen and having to reapply it constantly is the sticky, heavy feeling that comes with it. This Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer is light and keeps me feeling clean and fresh instead of weighing down my routine with regular sunscreen.

Until recently, I didn’t realize that your lips could get sunburned, but they totally can! This is why I also use a lip balm with SPF in it. Of course, it’s very beneficial. Just like sunscreen, a lip balm with SPF helps you protect your skin from sunburn or skin cancer. It also helps keep your lips hydrated, which lessens your likelihood of getting chapped lips.

Drinking water

Hydration is super important for skin care, especially in the summer. Staying hydrated, while beneficial for other reasons, can also help with skin care issues like acne and dry skin. In general, you should always be drinking plenty of water, especially if you’re out all day in the sun.

Exfoliate

This might not be as intuitive as the rest of the advice I’ve given, but when I did my research, this can actually be super helpful for keeping your pores unclogged and your skin clean and looking good.

Exfoliating can be tricky as you don’t want to overdo or underdo it. I’ve been exfoliating with a cream for a while, and I find it helps a lot with acne — so I definitely recommend looking into this. But exfoliating isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience, and you’ll probably want to take a quiz or do other research online to see which method works best for your skin type.

Summer should be all about fun and relaxation, and having to worry about breaking out or getting a sunburn can really put a damper on your time off. So if you’re struggling to keep your skin clear and safe or are looking for some easy but helpful tips, try some of the ones I’ve listed! I’ve personally tried all of these, and I definitely recommend them to anyone trying to get better at skin care or to anyone that wants to avoid skin care blunders.