Love Your Summer Skin.
Summer skin needs extra care to stay healthy.
Although June 21st is technically the first day of summer, we Bostonians know that Memorial Day Weekend is the true summah solstice. If it’s sunny and 70°, we’re heading to the beach!
Summer in New England is synonymous with fun. Whether you're swimming, biking or gardening, summer is the perfect time of year to relax and bask in the glow of the sun (safely, please).
The b.LUXE esthetics team wants you looking and feeling your best, so let’s get your skin warm-weather-ready with these essential tips for feeling confident and glowing, no matter the temperature.
SUMMER SKINCARE ESSENTIALS
Here are your three summer skincare essentials you need to keep your skin healthy and happy this season.
AM & PM Skincare Routine
Sunscreen (Well, duh)
Regular Facials
Wait, what? No crazy, cutting-edge treatments? No miracle in a bottle?
That’s right! Say it with me now - Cleanse, protect, treat and repeat! That’s it!
Unfortunately, there’s no one treatment that can protect your skin or reverse sun damage, but keeping your skin healthy throughout the warmer months is easier than you think.
Summer’s heat and humidity can increase sebum production. Sebum is the sticky, oily substance produced by your sebaceous glands that helps to protect your skin. Although some sebum is essential, an overproduction of it can trap heat and moisture, which leads to congestion, blackheads, and an unhappy complexion.
You wouldn’t go an entire day without washing your hands, so why are you ghosting your face?
Dust, allergens, sweat and makeup should not be lingering about when your head hits the pillow.
These freeloading particles deserve the boot! Our No. 1 recommendation for revealing your best skin is to simply wash your face in the morning and night with gentle cleanser and mid-temperature water. This is the foundation for all solid skin care routines. We also recommend a toner, a targeted serum and an AM & PM moisturizer. But more on that in a bit.
Recommendation #2 - Arm your skin with a great Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50.
The letters SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and an SPF 50 blocks 98% of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. In general, the SPF number on your sunscreen refers to the amount of time you can stay protected in the sun without burning, compared to unprotected skin. SPF 50 allows you to stay in the sun fifty times longer than you would if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.
According to skincancer.org, “Unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB damages the DNA in skin cells, producing genetic defects, or mutations, that can lead to skin cancer and premature aging.” Yikes! Remember, skin can burn within 15 minutes of sun exposure, with sun being strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM during the summer months.”
Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply after swimming or strenuous exercise. You’ll also need to reapply throughout the day to maintain UV protection. No SPF can offer 100% protection, so for maximum gorgeousness and the ultimate in sun-safety, our esthetics team also recommends wearing a hat, polarized sunglasses and covering up with UV protective clothing.
And if a summer tan is your ultimate goal, try an organic spray tan. They’re quick, easy and in as little as 3 hours, your skin will have a natural-looking, bronzy glow.
And lastly, in our opinion, nothing promotes and enhances cell turnover and skin tone quite like a monthly facial.
Short of cosmetic surgery, regular, professional facials are the best way to maintain your skin’s health.
As if the relaxation of a monthly facial wasn’t reason enough, scheduling and prioritizing this service will deeply cleanse and exfoliate your skin.
Your esthetician will perform a full-skin analysis and determine your problem areas and goals. They’ll also recommend products tailored to your specific needs. Picking these with your esthetician allows for the utmost in customization when selecting targeted, high-impact products like serums and moisturizers.
The biggest benefit to having a monthly skin care routine: the deep exfoliation of a regular facial allows for those skincare products to actually do their job post-facial and penetrate your skin for maximum performance.
Wishing you a wonderful summer with so much sunshine and outdoor fun – you deserve it.
