With the onset of summer, the unforgiving heat can be quite gruesome to the skin. With the rise in temperatures, skincare problems like rashes, sunburns, inflammation and breakouts are quite common and if you take a closer look, your skin is ACTUALLY craving some much-needed attention! Summer skincare products like rich creams and densely-textured moisturisers tend to clog pores, which can aggravate skin problems. The harsh rays of the sun, along with the daily hustle-bustle of our lives, bring a whole new set of skincare challenges and questions like, “In this sweltering heat, is a moisturiser really necessary?” (Spoiler alert: Yes!) But fret not, as we have an answer on how to take care of your skin during the summer season. In this blog, we’ll meticulously chart out some summer skincare tips for skincare in summer.
Everything About Skincare In Summer
Always cleanse
The first and foremost step of skincare in summer is cleansing as it helps the skin get rid of an excess build-up of dirt, toxins and oil production. So use a gentle, Sulphate-free face wash best suited to your skin type (twice a day) for excellent results.
Discover Forest Essentials’ bestselling Ayurvedic facial cleansers, the best summer skincare products, infused with potent extracts of hand-plucked flowers and herbs that help gently cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural moisture. They make for the perfect cleansing heroes for your summer skincare routine.
Exfoliate at least once or twice a week
Exfoliation helps unclog pores, reduces skin blemishes and sloughs away an excess build-up of dead cells. Opt for natural exfoliators that don’t contain any harsh surfactants that might irritate the skin and cause long-term damage.
One great option for a natural exfoliator is an Ubtan, which is an age-old Ayurvedic face masque made with plant-based extracts finely milled into a powdered form – and ready to be applied on the face as a paste. These help in micro-exfoliation, detoxification and rejuvenation of the skin.
Our Facial Ubtans are prepared using hand-pounded and hand-ground herbs, dry fruits, flowers and nutrient-rich soil compounds that are sundried and transformed into a fine, powder-like consistency for optimal usage. They can be mixed with a binding liquid agent (like Rosewater, Aloe Vera Juice, Yoghurt, Milk or cream of Milk) to form a thick, creamy paste that can be applied to the face and left to rest for 5-7 minutes, until semi-dry. Ubtans can help eliminate issues like tan removal, sun spots and even premature ageing when used regularly and consistently.
Use an SPF, daily
Protecting your skin from the harsh rays of the sun is an absolute must! A fundamental step in your skincare in summer should be to wear sunscreen and keep reapplying it throughout the day, according to the time spent outdoors in the sun. A moisturiser for skincare in summer or an SPF forms a natural barrier and prevents UV/UVB rays from penetrating the skin to damage it. Looking for the best cream in summer for face? We recommend using a day moisturiser with a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen on all of the exposed skin.
Our SPFs are infused with Yashad Bhasma or Zinc Oxide — a naturally derived sunscreen, prepared by finely processing pure Zinc metal with Aloe Vera juice, as per ancient Ayurvedic texts — that helps to prevent future sun damage and dark spots.
Go easy on the makeup
Layering your skin with heavy and cakey makeup prevents it from breathing as the intensive heat and humidity impact the skin immensely. Therefore, opt for lightweight and natural makeup products with easy and breathable coverage that feel and act as (literally) a second skin in your summer skincare routine!
The Forest Essentials Natural Makeup collection is a potent blend of skin-benefiting, naturally pigmented formulas — infused with hand-pressed floral oils, nourishing butters and Pure Cow’s Ghee — and crafted using traditional Ayurvedic processes, to enhance your complexion whilst enveloping your skin in a sheer veil of coverage.
Drink ample water
Drinking an adequate amount of water every day stimulates the circulation of blood and supplies the skin not only with adequate oxygen but also keeps it hydrated and maintains its natural balance. A major problem for the skin (in summers) is dehydration as it constantly loses water due to perspiration, and the scorching heat also results in excessive breakouts. So to avoid that, the Indian Medical Association recommends drinking at least eight glasses of water every day to help the skin renew its natural moisture levels – keeping it soft, smooth and supple.
Skincare, inside Out
Though summer skincare products are great and most of the time they might work, Ayurveda also advocates that healthy and glowing skin is a sign of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. So here are a few quick steps to care for your skin in a holistic manner:
- Limit your time in the sun: Easier said than done but whenever you can, stay indoors or wear sun-protective clothing, sunglasses, and campaign or wide-brimmed hats.
- Reduce your sugar intake: Too much sugar may cause an immediate spike in the body’s insulin levels and insulin surges tend to make your sebaceous (oil-producing) glands go on an overdrive, which might lead to incessant breakouts, blemishes and redness. So reduce your intake of sugar from your daily diet and look for healthier alternatives like raw fruits and fruit juices, sans preservatives.
- Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! This should be a no-brainer. A strenuous workout for an hour can have immense skin benefits as exercising helps improve blood circulation levels and enables the body to deliver the essential nutrients to the skin. And an added benefit? Exercising also helps reduce stress levels!
- Get THAT beauty sleep: At night, when your body is at rest, it replenishes the tissues and organs by providing them with all the vital nutrients and it also helps get rid of toxins, which in turn result in beautiful and healthy skin. When you don’t get enough sleep, the body releases stress hormones in excess that may cause skin conditions like inflammation and breakouts which may cause long-term and irreversible scarring. The National Medical Journal of India recommends daily sleep of at least 7-8 hours for adults in order to achieve healthy, glowing and rejuvenated skin.
D.I.Y. Summer glow masque
Incorporate this anti-oxidant face masque in your summer skincare routine for glowing and porcelain-smooth skin.
Step 1: Mix 1 tsp. of Turmeric powder with ½, a fresh Tomato made into a paste, with 2 tbsps. of Cream of Milk.
Step 2: Apply the paste using a beauty brush on the face and neck and let it rest for 5-7 minutes, until semi-dry.
Step 3: Rinse with warm water. Then, splash cold water or run an ice cube over the skin.
Conclusion
The sweltering summer heat means taking good care of your skin and in this blog, we’ve highlighted how to do so with some simple, easy-breezy tips. A summer-friendly skincare routine using summer skincare products will keep your skin healthy, hale and hearty.
FAQs
What should be the summer skincare routine?
Protect your skin from the perilous rays of the sun with these steps for your summer skincare routine:
- Always use a facial cleanser.
- Don’t step outdoors without applying broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- Avoid using excessive makeup.
- Drink lots of water (ideally, 8 glasses a day).
- Reduce your sugar and inflammation-causing food intake.
- Exercise every day for an hour.
- Sleep for at least 7-8 hours a day.
How can I clean my face in summer at home?
Use a gel-based cleanser to cleanse your face, as the first step of your skincare in summer routine. Opt for plant-based cleansers that won’t strip your skin of its natural moisture. Alternatively, you can use an Ubtan — an age-old, non-foaming Ayurvedic cleanser — to cleanse your face and remove all the excess dirt and impurities. Just use a small amount by mixing it with water and gently massage using circular motions. Follow with a toner and finish with a face moisturiser for summer.
Should I use a toner in summer?
During summers, skin tends to produce a lot of oils that might clog open pores, leading to acne and breakouts. Hence, using toners in your daily skincare routine is a must as they tighten and help minimise open pores after a gentle and purifying cleanse.
Which moisturiser is best for summer?
While the best natural face moisturiser for summer should ideally target your unique concerns, we recommend that you opt for a formula that is lightweight and non-sticky in texture, making it ideal for skin hydration and softening.
Discover Forest Essentials’ hydrating Light Day Lotions that are infused with SPF 25, floral extracts and cold-pressed oils, making them one of the best moisturisers for summer.
How can I take care of my skin naturally in summer?
Healthy-looking skin is a sign of a balanced lifestyle. It’s not only what you put on the skin from the outside but how you take care of it from within. Here are some of the steps you can follow:
- Limit bath time
- Avoid smoking and alcohol intake
- Eat healthy and fibrous vegetables and fruits
- Exercise daily for an hour
- Drink two litres of water every day
- Sleep for 7-8 hours daily
What should I apply on my face in the summer?
Since the scorching rays of the sun can cause damage to the skin, we recommend opting for lightweight products that don’t weigh too much on the skin. After your summer face care routine, we recommend using natural makeup products that give lightweight and buildable coverage without making your skin and your face look and feel cakey.
What skincare routine is best for oily skin?
For oily skin, begin by cleansing your face with a gentle, gel-based cleanser; follow with an alcohol-free, water-based toner; and finish by applying a lightweight moisturiser to lock and seal moisture into the skin. Last but not the least, during the daytime, don’t forget to apply a matte SPF to shield the skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun.
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24719062/