Summer can be good and bad for your skin. The hot and sunny weather can harm your skin with UV rays, but the extra humidity can help hydrate dry skin.
You might not need a whole new skincare routine for summer, but if you want to make your skin look its best and avoid common skin issues, there are a few things to think about, including your skin care routine for 30s, no matter your skin type.
Here’s a simple plan: stick with your retinol and antioxidants, deal with acne and dark spots, use sunscreen, and think about changing your cleanser and moisturizer, especially when considering your skin care routine for 40s and skin care routine for 50s. That’s advice from Dr. Deirdre Hooper, a dermatologist in New Orleans.
Remember, you don’t have to make big changes if your skin doesn’t need them. What’s important is paying attention to how your skin reacts to the summer weather and adjusting your routine if necessary.
If your skin is prone to acne, consider using an antibacterial wash. Most people don’t like that sticky feeling of sweating during the summer, especially when it leads to acne breakouts. It’s not the sweat itself that’s the issue, but rather the bacteria it promotes. Sweaty skin provides a warm, moist environment that encourages the growth of natural face bacteria, which can lead to pimples, as explained by Hooper. These breakouts can occur on both your face and body.
If you’re experiencing acne on your back, buttocks, or the fronts of your thighs, use an antibacterial wash to combat the bacteria. Look for a wash that contains benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial agent recommended by the AAD for treating acne. Another lesser-known acne-fighting ingredient is hypochlorous acid, a diluted form of bleach, noted by Hooper. This mild acid has antibacterial, antifungal, and potentially antiviral properties. It may have therapeutic benefits for acne, scalp eczema, and keloid scars, according to a review published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology in November 2018.
“My new favorite body wash for people who experience full-body ‘bumpers’ is CLnBodyWash” Hooper recommends. “I suggest using it for four weeks and then evaluating how your skin responds.”
If your skin is oily, try using a cleanser with salicylic acid. As the weather gets warmer, you might start noticing small blackheads on your nose, chin, and forehead. For some people, the heat can cause their body to produce too much oil, leading to clogged pores that appear as tiny black dots on the skin.
To keep your pores clear, Hooper suggests using an exfoliating facial wash. She particularly likes SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel, which contains both glycolic and salicylic acid. Glycolic acid helps remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, while salicylic acid, an oil-soluble beta hydroxy acid, reduces oil and eliminates blemishes deep within the pores. Look for a cleanser with glycerin to maintain the right amount of moisture since it prevents skin from losing moisture.
If you’re prone to breakouts, consider switching from a creamier cleanser to a gel-based or foaming one to better control oil.
If your skin is dry, think about using a lighter moisturizer. The increased humidity in the air should naturally provide more moisture to your skin during this time of year, according to Angela Lamb, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City. Even if your skin is a bit dewy in the summer, it’s still important to moisturize.
If your regular moisturizer feels too heavy in warm weather, opt for a lighter one, such as those with hyaluronic acid. You can judge the weight of a moisturizer by its appearance. Clear or gel moisturizers have more water content compared to creamy or white moisturizers, which contain more emollients to lock in moisture. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream is a good choice, especially if you have extra dry skin.
If you have combination skin, where some parts are dry while others are oily, you might find it a bit tricky to take care of your face. Dryness is usually on your cheeks, while the oiliness tends to hang around your T-zone – that’s your forehead, nose, and chin area. Angela Lamb suggests treating these areas differently. Instead of applying skincare products all over your face, focus on targeted treatments. She doesn’t usually recommend toner, but this is one situation where it can come in handy. Use toner on your T-zone, but skip the dry areas. There are various toners to choose from, some control oil, clean pores, offer light hydration with things like hyaluronic acid, or make your skin less shiny.
Regardless of your skin type, it’s important to use sunscreen every day. Whether your skin is oily, dry, or a combination of both, take a look at your cleanser and moisturizer to make sure they’re the right choices for your skin during this season.
Find a good broad-spectrum sunscreen. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is essential because it protects against both UVA and UVB rays, which can lead to skin cancer and aging, as noted by the AAD. No matter if it’s sunny or cloudy outside, go for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 that contains zinc oxide. According to Kenneth Mark, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, zinc oxide is the best ingredient for sun protection and is also gentle on the skin.
Research suggests that zinc-oxide-based sunscreens, which create a barrier to reflect UV rays and have minimal absorption into the skin (commonly found in mineral or “physical” sunscreens), are safe for daily use. Consider products like Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 (available on Sephora.com). If you’re worried about sunscreen causing breakouts, look for one labeled as noncomedogenic, meaning it’s less likely to clog your pores.
Remember, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), no sunscreen can block 100 percent of UV rays. They recommend avoiding extended outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wearing protective clothing, and seeking shaded areas whenever possible. These precautions should complement, not replace, your sunscreen routine.
For those with rosacea, sunscreen is especially important because sun exposure can trigger flare-ups, according to the National Rosacea Society. Also, keep in mind that applying sunscreen in the morning won’t protect you all day; you need to reapply it every two hours. Surprisingly, only 38 percent of people with rosacea do this, according to the organization. If your skin is sensitive to sunscreen, opt for a mineral-based one, which is generally gentler on the skin.
Check your cleanser and moisturizer. It’s often suggested that people switch from heavy, creamy products to lighter foams or gels, especially in the summer. But whether this is right for you depends on your skin, and your skin can change from one day to the next.
According to Hooper, there’s no one-size-fits-all advice for summer skincare. If your skin doesn’t feel different from winter to summer, there’s no need to switch from creamy products to lighter gels or foams. You can even decide day by day. If you feel dry, use moisturizer. If you feel oily, skip it.
One sign that your products are too heavy is if you start getting milia, which are small white bumps under the skin. They are made up of keratin and are harmless but can stick around for months. To prevent this, incorporate a lightweight morning skin care routine and opt for liquid or foaming cleansers, like Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser.
The key is to pay attention to how your skin reacts to the weather and make adjustments accordingly, including considering your winter skin care routine. You don’t have to make big changes if you don’t need to, says Hooper. The most important thing is to understand how your skin responds and act accordingly.
To reduce wrinkles, continue using or start using a retinoid. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that boost collagen production, helping to reduce the look of lines and wrinkles, according to Harvard Health Publishing. (You can find weaker versions called retinols over the counter, but stronger retinoids require a dermatologist’s prescription.) While some people think you shouldn’t use them in the summer because the sun can make your skin more sensitive, there’s a simple solution: incorporate your retinol into your night skin care routine, and it’ll work its anti-aging magic while you sleep, as suggested by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Moreover, the increased humidity during summer makes it an ideal time for using a retinoid or retinol, says Dr. Joyce Davis, a dermatologist in New York City. Some folks find these products initially dry out their skin, causing redness and flakiness. However, higher humidity helps keep your skin moist, reducing the risk of irritation. Previous research has shown that changes in humidity can affect the appearance of skin in as little as 30 minutes, with higher humidity linked to fewer fine lines and wrinkles.
Ready to start or restart a retinol regimen? Look for a product with built-in moisturizers, which are often better at preventing irritation than layering an additional moisturizer, according to Dr. Davis. No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum includes a retinol and an antioxidant complex for skin protection, as well as hyaluronic acid, a potent skincare ingredient that attracts and locks in moisture, as per past research.
However, keep in mind that retinol and retinoids may not mix well with certain other skincare ingredients mentioned here (like AHAs, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid, among others). To avoid a bad reaction, do a patch test by applying new products to a small area of your skin and monitor for any adverse effects. Introduce new skincare products one at a time so you can pinpoint any that cause problems. If you’re making significant changes to your skincare routine, consult your dermatologist. Also, remember to wear sunscreen because retinoids and retinol can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, as previous research indicates.
If you have melasma and want to reduce discoloration, consider using an antioxidant. Regardless of where you live, your skin is exposed to more UV and visible light during the summer, which can make pigment issues worse. To prevent this, you can use an antioxidant serum with vitamin C in the morning.
If your dermatologist approves, you might be a candidate for hydroquinone, which is the top choice for lightening skin discolorations. Hydroquinone blocks an enzyme that produces pigment, and it’s more effective than other products. Dermatologists like Dr. Hooper suggest using it for a limited time, such as during the summer when there is more sun, to avoid potential side effects like irritation and darkening of the skin.
If you prefer not to use hydroquinone, you can target dark spots with an antioxidant called tranexamic acid, found in products like SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense and SkinMedicaLytera 2.0. Research has shown that topical application of tranexamic acid for 12 weeks can improve discoloration and melasma.
It’s important to note that melasma is triggered not only by UV light but also by infrared heat. So, staying cool is crucial. Use air conditioning in your car to prevent overheating and opt for plastic sunglasses instead of metal ones.
Additionally, you can consider Heliocare Ultra, a dietary supplement with an antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory ingredient derived from a fern. This supplement may help protect your skin from UV damage, but it should not replace your regular sunscreen. Dr. Hooper recommends the “Ultra” version for better results, and it’s available at dermatologist offices. Many people have found that it helps prevent skin discoloration from getting worse.
