Summer Skin Care Routine

Skin care has become a big focus for me over the last few years, so it’s no surprise that I’d have a specific summer skin care routine.

Summer in the Sacramento area is hot. This means I need light products that don’t make me sweat even more than I already am. Anyone else know that feeling of instant regret when you slather on a thick moisturizer on a hot summer day? No thanks.

The heat also means that I find myself outside in or around water a lot, which means I need all the SPF I can get my hands on. Being out in the sun more also means that I ease up on the retinoids and AHA/BHA a bit, using them mostly at night. These can react with sunlight to increase the chances of a sunburn. Some say it doesn’t increase your odds that much, but as a redhead, I take every precaution I can! Of course, a great sun hat works too.

Vitamin C does not have the same effects in the sun, which makes it a great product to add into your summer skin care routine, if you aren’t already using it.

Steps of a summer skin care routine

1. Cleanse
2. Tone
3. Eye Cream
4. Serum
5. Spot Treat
6. Moisturize
7. SPF

summer skin care routine: products

Cleanser

I like a simple drug store cleanser. Aveeno Positively Radiant has been a long time go to. A few days a week, I will use Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash if I have an outbreak. I also love The Original MakeUp Eraser to remove all my makeup.

Tone

Since most of my toners have alpha hydroxy acids in them, I try to use Garnier Micellar Water more often in the summer. A few days a week though, my skin needs the good stuff though, and I love Pixi Glow Tonic and Ole Henricksen Glow2OH Toner.

Eye Cream

I have been using It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream over the last few months and love it. But to be honest, I love the Trader Joe’s Hydrating Eye Cream just as much. Definitely go for the save over splurge on this one!

Serum

Vitamin C is great all year round, but especially in summer if you are reducing your AHA/BHA use. This Derma-E Vitamin C Serum is a great price, and is mild if you are new to Vitamin C. I love that it is a serum, so it absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel cakey on my skin.

Spot Treatment

I don’t have a specific spot treatment product I love, but if you do, you’ll want to apply it during this step.

For overnight spot treatment, I do love these Mighty Patches!

Moisturize

After my success with the eye cream, I tried It Cosmetics Confidence in a Moisturizer and have been loving that too. However, I think it’s going to be a little too thick for me come summer time. As the weather gets warmer, I find myself reaching for the basics more often, and applying The Ordinary Buffet. As the name implies, it has a bit of everything. It is more of a serum, but it leaves me feeling moisturized, so I’m calling it a moisturizer.

SPF: A summer skin care must have

Arguably the most important part of my skincare routine. I love Coola Full Spectrum 360 Sun Silk Drops. It has UVA and UVB coverage, as well as hyaluronic acid. I often use this in place of a moisturizer because it leaves you with a nice dewy look. For something more heavy duty, I like Coola Cucumber Organic Face Sunscreen. It doesn’t go on greasy, and because it’s formulated for faces, it won’t clog your pores. I was able to snag this at Costco last summer, so be on the lookout for a deal!

summer skincare routine: body

My skin tends to be really dry, and I find it gets even drier in summer, especially after swimming. I have been on the hunt for a lotion that absorbs well and doesn’t feel sticky, but still has fairly clean ingredients. The Cerave Unscented Daily Moisturizing Lotion hits every mark. It isn’t a fully green product, but it is free of many things like fragrance and phthalates that makes my sometimes sensitive skin happy. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which is just as amazing for the body as it is for the face.

We go through sunscreen like it’s going out of style around here. I have tried so many, and my all time favorite is Alba Botanica. It is reef safe, biodegradable, and broad spectrum (which means it protects from UVA and UVB rays). But my favorite part is that it isn’t stinky or leave your skin with that sticky feeling. Basically, it has all the benefits of mineral sunscreen without leaving that weird white finish that some others do that you can’t rub in all the way no matter what. If you are a Costco member, be sure to look for it in two packs- it’s a great price!

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