6 Summer Skin Care Secrets

As summer approaches, it’s extra important to pay attention to what products we use on our skin. Sun damage is very dangerous, cumulative, and almost impossible to reverse. Your skin is at its most vulnerable stage when it’s burned and it needs natural ingredients that it can recognize. ― Ines Grigore, Licensed Esthetician of 18 Years

Let’s face it – sunburns are not fun. According to the Surgeon General, 1 out of every 3 Americans reports getting sunburned every year. Protecting your skin from UV rays is always a top priority, but what do you do once you get that sunburn? Is there a way to lessen the pain and help prevent peeling? What skincare products are safe and will promote healing? In this article, we cover our 6 summer skincare secrets that answer those exact questions.

While this is true for everyone, those with sensitive skin types need to be extra careful with overexposure to UV rays. Knowing how sweat, oil, and hydration impact your skin can make all the difference in knowing which products to use for a sunburn, and properly nourishing your skin before and after sun exposure.

Despite popular opinion, sweat is a good thing. Sweating is essential to your body’s ability to purge the skin of harmful substances, such as bacteria, dirt, oils, and impurities. However, the impurities that sweating helps flush out can sometimes stay on your skin. If reabsorbed, it could lead to irritation, rash, or breakouts. 

In the same way, your skin sweats to combat the elements of summer, your body’s sebaceous glands secrete sebum (the oil on your skin). This oil slows the evaporation of water and extends the cooling effect that sweating provides. A common mistake in treating excess oil production in summer is using harsh foaming cleansers that may completely strip your skin of oil. This makes skin more oily because now the skin must compensate by producing more sebum to make up for what’s been taken away.

During summer, the Sun has a keratolytic effect on our skin. This means that when skin is exposed to sunlight, the rate at which it renews itself increases. When dead skin cells remain on the surface of the skin, pores can become clogged. With all the other things your pores have to combat in summer, it’s no wonder our skin requires a little extra attention during the hottest season of the year.

Sweating is important for keeping your body cool and flushing out impurities. But sweating also means losing one of your body’s most important resources – water. Drinking water increases the water content of your sweat, lowers the chance of skin irritation, and adjusts any pH imbalance. In addition to consuming H2O, here are some additional tips to keep your skin hydrated during the summer months:

During the summer months, your skin is prone to creating more oil because it has to defend against pollution, humidity, SPF, sweat, and other factors. This can lead to clogged pores, possible breakouts, and dull skin. Here are some tips to keep your summer skin clean and clear.

For sensitive skin types and women over the age of 50, we recommend a physical exfoliator rather than a chemical one. What’s the difference? A chemical exfoliator uses chemicals to rid your skin of the outer layer of skin cells. This is not only dangerous because it’s difficult to regulate the exfoliation process and often harsh on your body and face, but because stripping your skin’s outer layer leaves you more vulnerable to UV rays. Alternately, a physical exfoliator can either mean a body brush or a product that contains natural aggregates (such as sugar) to physically scrape away skin cells. Bath bombs are a good example of this.

For those with sensitive skin, exfoliating with a washcloth or body brush a few times a week is usually enough. Avoid DIY recipes that call for abrasive ingredients like baking soda. Although some of these ingredients may seem innocuous, they leave microscopic scratches and may affect the pH of your skin, weakening its protective barrier. 

Whether you’re exfoliating, washing, or moisturizing, make sure to find products that are right for your skin. If you’re not sure of your skin type, we suggest taking an online quiz to find out. 

Do not use anything that is made with a single drop of aloe and 99% chemicals. If it’s slimy and green, keep it off your skin. ― Ines Grigore

Remember the last time you showered after getting a sunburn? If it was anything like our experience, it wasn’t fun at all. Chances are, the soap you were using may have made things worse. Many soaps and skincare products available today contain chemicals and artificial ingredients such as fragrances, parabens, micas, sulfates, and triclosan, just to name a few. Look for natural skin care products that don’t contain harmful chemicals. Below is a list of natural ingredients that are especially important during the summer months.

Here’s our 101 on what to do when you get burned. We in no way endorse overexposure to the sun, but let’s face it, sunburns happen. Having a protocol to immediately address a sunburn can mean less pain, less peeling, and healthier skin. 

If you do get sunburned, use a soothing product like The Original Sunburn Soap. It’s made with aloe, marshmallow root, rice bran oil, witch hazel, honey, coconut milk and peppermint oil, and will gently exfoliate dead skin and heal at the same time. ― Ines Grigore

The special ingredients contained in The Original Sunburn Soap were carefully selected for their powerful sunburn fighting abilities. Take advantage of that first shower after a sunburn to give your skin what it needs. Your skin is more absorbent in the shower when it’s wet, so ingredients can work faster to restore moisture to your skin. The minute a burn happens, don’t hesitate to immediately use the Original Sunburn Soap in a beach shower.

Re-moisturizing your skin after getting burned is essential. Moisturizing soothes your skin, lessens peeling and flaking, and aids in recovery. You’ll probably notice that your skin absorbs moisturizer much more readily when it’s burned. This is because your skin will “drink it up,” so make sure that you’re giving your skin what it needs. The Original After Sun Rehydro Spray contains powerful Hyaluronic Acid, which can hold over 1,000 times its weight in water. It’s best to use The Original After Sun Rehydro Spray directly after showering, and before applying lotion or other products. 

Using lotion after getting sunburned will help seal in moisture. Choose one that will provide your skin with the nutrients it needs to heal, like The Original After Sun Lotion. It contains aloe butter: a nutrient-rich, highly antioxidative, and skin rejuvenating ingredient. Whether you’re treating a sunburn or maintaining a great tan, The Original After Sun Lotion is an excellent choice. 

The Original Suntan Soap was designed to maintain skin tone because not everyone gets sunburned. It uses natural ingredients, like cocoa butter and avocado oil, which promote hydration and skin health. To help your skin get that warm summer glow, add The Original Suntan Soap to your routine.