The Best Ways To Care For Sensitive Skin In Summer
Stay ahead of soaring temperatures and irritated skin with our easy-to-follow tips for caring for sensitive skin in the sun.
Sensitive skin can get all kinds of crazy during the summer months as the heat rises, the beach beckons and A/C gets serious. And the fact that somewhere between 50 and 70 percent of adults report having some level of sensitive skin means that potentially a whole lot of people are dealing with redness, itching, dry skin and/or discomfort right now.
Of course, there are many causes of sensitive skin, many of which are complex little beasts. But if your sensitivities are triggered by things like sunscreen, swimming, soaring temperatures and air conditioning, read on to discover the best ways to keep your skin happy this summer.
Choose Mineral Sunscreen
Sunscreen is non-negotiable, no matter your age, gender, skin color, skin type or level of sensitivities. If your skin often feels a little ‘off’ after applying SPF, however, switch to a mineral formulation that contains physical filters like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Mineral sunscreens are highly regarded as the smart option for reactive skin as they aren’t absorbed into the skin. Instead they act as an invisible shield on the skin’s surface which blocks UV radiation and delivers immediate protection without causing the irritation often linked to chemical-based formulas. Both of our sunscreens are crafted with zinc oxide – in our opinion, the gold standard of sun protection – and deliver incredibly lightweight protection with a broad-spectrum SPF 30.
Say No To Hot Showers
It’s not often you want to crank up the water temperature in the summer, but should you be tempted by a hot shower or bath, know this. Scorching hot water messes with your skin’s barrier function, stripping away many of its vital oils and proteins thus leaving it vulnerable to dryness and redness. Do you often jump out of the shower and notice your skin looks red? This is a sure sign that your shower was way too hot. Turn. It. Down. Lukewarm temps are way more refreshing in the summer, anyway.
Avoid Synthetic Fragrances
Take a good look at the ingredients in your skincare regime to check for common skin irritants that could be triggering your summer flare-ups. Fragrance, for example, is known to be the number one irritant and the biggest cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis in the US so avoiding that should be your first port of call.
Other potential no-nos that have the potential to mess with your barrier function include strong surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), preservatives, dyes and potent alcohols like ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and denatured alcohol (aka alcohol denat). These can all strip away the skin’s natural oils, leading to dryness, redness, itching and more.
Wear Loose, Cotton Clothing
It’s super important to wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in the summer to minimize sweating and reduce your risk of skin sensitivities like burning and itching. This is especially important if you suffer from ongoing summertime skin issues like prickly heat or folliculitis. Organic cotton clothing is ideal but other natural fibers like linen are similarly better than man-made fabrics.
Cleanse Gently
The best cleansing technique requires the gentlest of touches – even in hot weather. Granted, it’s tempting to cleanse more vigorously in the summer when you sweat more and have extra layers of sunscreen on your face, but if you rub away at your skin using overly potent formulations your skin will not thank you for it. Think breakouts, freakouts and anything else your skin likes to do when it’s unhappy.
Instead of this utter madness, use a kind-to-skin cleanser that contains hydrating ingredients as well as those that help to remove impurities after a day in the heat. We love Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser which is formulated to suit all skin types and deep cleans the skin without drying it out. Spend a few minutes massaging it gently into your skin morning and night and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm – never hot, remember? – water.
Be Smart With Your A/C
Going inside to take a break from the heat and damaging UV rays is a smart move… but watch out for overly zealous air conditioning. A/C feels like bliss at the time but not only does it cool the air but it also removes moisture which can dehydrate your skin and give you the itch.
To minimize the risk of A/C skin meltdown (uncanny, right?), keep yours at the recommended comfortable temperature of around 78 oF. Added bonus: as well as saving your skin it’ll also save you a good wad on your utility bills.
Double Down With Moisture
Extra hydration is crucial during the summer months to help minimize the drying effects of all the summer greats – eg. swimming pools, the ocean and air conditioning – and keep your skin healthy, strong and itch-free. And the best trick for the ultimate moisturization? Layer it on with serum and moisturizer.
Hyaluronic acid, aloe and glycerin are important ingredients to look out for here as these draw water to the surface of the skin. But you must also include ingredients in your moisturizing routine that help to seal water in – otherwise it'll evaporate lightning fast meaning all that hard work will go to waste. Shea butter is a favorite of ours as it creates a lightweight seal on the surface of the skin without clogging up your pores. Jojoba oil, vitamin E and ceramides also have equally incredible moisturizing superpowers. Try the combination of Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum (so good for sensitive skin) followed by Collagen Day Cream (ditto!).
Shower After Swimming
Chlorine is essential for pool hygiene but, if you have reactive skin, this powerful detergent can strip away at your skin’s uppermost layers, screwing up the pH level and unbalancing your skin’s delicate microbiome. The results? Anything from dryness and itching to full on eczema flare-ups.
If you love a good al fresco dip in the pool make sure to apply water-resistant sunscreen first (this’ll create a kind of barrier against chlorine disruption as well as UV damage); and shower as soon as you leave the pool. If it’s not possible to take a proper shower, rinse yourself in fresh water, then shower thoroughly at the end of the day. Same applies after going for a dip in the ocean.
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![Great Sleep = Healthier Skin: Your Guide To Better Sleep Starts Here]()
Read on for all the proof you need that sleep, alongside an awesome skincare routine and a balanced diet, is everything for beautiful, healthy skin.
‘Beauty sleep.’ How many times have you heard that phrase banded about? Funnily enough, the powers of getting your beauty sleep is not just an old wives’ tale made up to force you to go to bed at a decent hour. In fact, there’s a world of truth in it because the powers of quality sleep are almost unbeatable for the look and health of your skin.
Get your eight hours, invest in a consistent skincare routine, eat well, stress less and exercise regularly, and you’ve pretty much nailed the ideal combination for fabulous skin.
So let’s begin with arguably the most important of those five skin-saving must-dos: sleep. Sleep is crucial for every single process within the human body. From brain function and mental wellbeing to your entire physical health, without sleep, you simply would not be able to successfully live. And as far as your skin is concerned? Well, this important period of rest is when your skin undergoes a busy time of regeneration and rejuvenation.
What Happens To Your Skin When You're Asleep?
Sleep plays a crucial role in the way your skin looks and feels because sleep time equals action stations for many of its important biological processes. After a busy day fighting hard to protect itself from environmental damage from things like pollution and UV radiation, when you hit the sack, your skin goes into full-on repair mode. The following occurs...
Collagen Production Accelerates
Collagen is an important protein found within the skin that gives it optimal strength and structure. Collagen synthesis remains pretty stable during the day but when your body is sleeping, growth hormones kick in that stimulate a boost in production.
Blood Flow Increases
Strangely enough, your circulation accelerates during sleep – even more so during deep sleep. This is great news for the skin as this high level of blood delivers nutrient-rich oxygen to the cells, supporting regeneration and helping the skin to repair itself.
Antioxidant-Rich Melatonin Kicks In
Melatonin is a hormone that’s produced by the body when it’s dark. It has incredible antioxidant properties which makes it your very own damage control hormone, neutralizing free radicals and aiding repair from environmental stressors like pollution and UV radiation.
Cellular Turnover Almost Doubles
Skin cells are constantly renewing themselves throughout the day, replacing dead cells with new ones to keep your skin looking fresh and radiant. This renewal process increases when you’re asleep which expedites repair from environmental damage. Say no more.
Cortisol Levels Drop
Otherwise known as the ‘stress hormone’ (which says it all), cortisol is an important hormone that keeps you aware and alert throughout the day. When you’re asleep, cortisol levels drop to reduce stress on the body and help your skin optimize this crucial recovery period.
It’s A Fact: Poor Sleep Can Seriously Impact Your Skin
Miss out on the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night and you deprive your skin of all the great stuff it goes through during these vital hours of regeneration and recovery. What does this mean for your complexion? Nothing good.
Disrupting collagen production probably creates the biggest impact on the skin as collagen is the absolute foundation for healthy skin. When you deprive it of this important time your levels of collagen become depleted which has a knock-on effect across many areas of skin health. Hydration becomes impaired, your barrier function gets compromised and all manner of premature aging signs start to crop up including fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin.
Couple this with less time for a) antioxidants to work their wonders, b) blood flow to nourish the skin and c) cellular turnover to kick into gear and dull, dehydrated skin is practically inevitable. Not to mention the fact that high levels of cortisol encourage sebum production and increase inflammation. Which sounds like the perfect recipe for breakouts.
Because it is.
5 Tips For Improving Your Sleep
1. Keep A Regular Schedule
According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the most important ways to get a better night’s sleep is to go to bed and get up at a similar time each day so that you get around seven or eight hours of quality sleep daily – yes, even at the weekends. Consistency is vital for maintaining a successful sleep-wake cycle and thus allowing your skin the time to regenerate.
2. Optimize Your Sleep Environment
Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet and at a cool, comfortable temperature. Studies show that the optimum temperature for restful sleep is somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit, so aim for that if you can. If your curtains aren’t dark enough, invest in a sleep mask and if noise is an issue, ear plugs work wonders.
To truly help your skin do its best as you sleep, cleanse, tone, treat and moisturize before bed every night. We love the combination of Retinol Facial Serum followed by Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream. Oh, and you might want to think about purchasing a humidifier for your bedroom – especially if you live in a dry climate. This’ll help stop your skin from becoming dehydrated overnight.
3. Avoid Screen Time Before Bed
Staring at any kind of light-emitting screen before bedtime will mess with your circadian rhythm and delay natural melatonin production so put your phones, tablets and laptops down at least an hour before you hit the sack. Come on people, you’ve got this!
4. Limit Late Night Treats
Caffeine and alcohol stimulate your nervous system, and their effects take hours to wear off which stops your body from relaxing for quite some time. Not the most sensible idea before bed, so best not to indulge too heavily.
Similarly, don’t hit the sack hungry or completely stuffed full of rich food. This can cause discomfort and stop you from falling asleep. Small, healthy snacks like raw veggies, fruit or natural yogurt are fine, but a late-night, three-course meal? Nope.
5. Manage Your Thoughts
If you have a lot on your mind, a great trick to stop you from tossing, turning and worrying all night is to jot down your thoughts or worries. Make a ‘to-do’ list if you need to, or simply make a note of random thoughts and ideas. This is a very powerful way to get things off your chest and give you a clear mind for a better night’s sleep.
And as we've discovered, a better night's sleep goes a long way to giving you healthier-looking skin.
Great Sleep = Healthier Skin: Your Guide To Better Sleep Starts Here
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