More Summer Skincare Tips

Caring For Your Skin During Summer

Your skin changes with the seasons, that much is for sure. How, exactly, varies from person to person. Most people will find that their skin is oilier in summer, a result of increased air humidity sending your sebaceous glands into overdrive. A significant sub-group of people experiences the exact opposite, ending up with dry skin, however. Dry summer skin can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from showering more often, being exposed to chlorine in swimming pools, and spending a lot of time in air-conditioned environments to clogged pores blocking the sweat glands and exfoliating too much to compensate for previously oily skin.

If your skin is oily, keep your eyes open for lighter oil-free moisturizers that won't clog your pores, and exfoliate with alpha hydroxy acid based products twice a week. You will want to choose BB creams or mattifying moisturizers, and loose powder will, along with blotting sheets, become your best friend if you don't think shining and dripping skin is very glamorous.

Those suffering from dry skin should, on the other hand, use a more nourishing moisturizer. While not neglecting exfoliation, which gets rid of the old skin cells that will give you a flaky look if you leave them there, you should certainly not overdo it either. Over-exfoliated skin removes the barrier that protects your skin from the elements, including the sun. Watch out! If you have dry skin during the summer, following conventional wisdom by applying mattifying foundations will leave you looking dull and artificial. Liquid full-coverage moisturizers will be your friend.

Summer Hair Care

Both the sun and the inevitable swimming will dry your hair out during the hotter months, leaving it looking dull and frizzy if you're not careful. What can you do to keep your hair looking luscious in summer?

• Did you know that hair-care products with UV protection are available? If you didn't, you do now. Look for them!
• Have a shower to wet your hair prior to swimming in chlorinated water to prevent the chlorine from saturating your hair. This will prevent drying to some extent, but if your locks are still looking a little worse for wear, specialized shampoos and conditioners designed to strip chlorine from your hair also exist. If you don't want to get those, at least make sure that you condition your hair every time you wash it, because shampoo-only washes leave your hair wide open to chlorine damage.
• Use a hair mask once a week.
• Consider making ample use of cute straw hats to protect your hair from the sun.

READ "Hair Vitamins" for Healthier Hair and Faster Hair Growth

Water, Water, Water!

When temperatures rise to the point that your body needs to self-cool by sweating more and dilating its blood vessels to radiate heat away from your body, you lose fluids rapidly and are at risk of dehydration.

During summer, boost your water intake by always having a bottle of water with you and snacking on water melon, berries, cucumbers and other foods that contain plenty of H2O. Guess what you should stay away from? Yes, it's alcohol, of course! If you do go out boozing during summer, sports drinks that contain electrolytes will help you recover your losses more quickly.