Top Tips For Glowing Summer Skin
The sun is finally out, and it’s time to celebrate by shedding those winter scales and getting glowing skin ready for the beach. To follow on from our ‘The Smarter Way to YOUR Bikini Body’ post, we will give you some of our tips on how to get your skin ready for summer. Being confident in swimwear (and summer outfits in general) and yourself is all about looking and most importantly feeling great – pampering yourself is just one way to help this happen.
Exfoliate from head to toe
Did you know that 90% of the dust in your home is dead skin cells? What a lovely thought to begin with!
Your skin sheds at an alarming rate. Quite surprisingly, we shed about 40Ibs of skin in a lifetime. Don’t spend too much time dwelling on this thought though…! If you don’t get rid of this excess skin, it will sit on top of your skin and make you look dull and dry. This is why it’s so important to exfoliate, particularly when there will be a lot more on the show when the sun is out!
There are so many different methods of exfoliation available – scrubs, brushes, lotions, and creams, to name a few. If you opt for a scrub, gently rub it all over your body in a circular motion and rinse off. Try not to be too harsh with the scrub as it can cause discomfort if applied too aggressively. Make sure that you moisturize immediately after you dry off. If you follow these steps, then you will definitely see the difference in your skin.
Dry brushing is also a great option. Just be sure you brush on totally dry skin to avoid damaging the top layer and use long circular strokes to encourage lymphatic drainage.
Remember, freshly exfoliated skin is more susceptible to sunburn, so use sunscreen on your face and body afterwards.
A homemade exfoliator
This is a really simple, at-home exfoliator that requires minimal ingredients and effort.
1/3 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2/3 Sugar
Some Vanilla Extract for Scent
Get a safe summer tan
It is so important to wear SPF when outside in the summer. You can wear suncream under makeup, and it doesn’t take long to put some on in the morning. A lot of sunscreens these days can actually be used as moisturisers too as they contain hydrating properties.
The sun can be damaging to your skin. The damage is mainly caused by ultraviolet rays- both UVA and UVB rays that penetrate deep into the skin causing damage such as wrinkles and sin damage. In the UK, one 1/10 of us will suffer from skin cancer, and there are 100,000 new cases every year.
Steve Richards, director of Macmillan Cancer Support, feels the increase in skin cancer is due to people living longer and tans being fashionable. He says that ‘It’s not about scaring people but about taking simple steps to stay safe in the sun.’
Tan from a bottle
There are so many great fake tans on the market that range from cheap to expensive, super dark to a slight hint of tan that sizzling outside in the sun shouldn’t really be a priority anymore. If you aren’t keen on straight fake tan, why don’t you try a moisturizer with an added tint instead?
Find the right suncream for you!
The only way to pick the right suncream for you is to know your skin type. Take the time to figure out whether your complexion is super-sensitive, acne-prone, flaky or dry and then pick a suncream accordingly. If you can’t decide what skin type you are, it may be useful to book yourself in for a skin diagnostic facial so that a professional can decide for you!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Your body tends to lose a lot of moisture in the summer, so it’s important to replenish the H20 regularly. Drink at least 8,150ml glasses of water a day, and your skin will stay soft and moisturized. Water not only helps you feel fresh, but it will also help you flush out lots of toxins.
Summer Make-Up
When the weather is hot (we’re thinking more about during your holiday in Spain than your weekend trip to London) it’s important to make some changes to your make-up. These changes may include a lighter foundation or opting for a tinted moisturizer and a waterproof mascara. It’s best to be as simple as possible when it comes to make-up in the hot weather, as no one looks good with a melting foundation face or eyeliner sliding down their eyes!
Don’t forget your feet.
It’s amazing how much nicer you feel after a fresh manicure and a foot scrub – your feet have been hibernating in boots for months after all! Get your feet ready for sandals this summer and invest in a pumice stone or diamond file to scrub away flaky skin, and follow this with a rich moisturizer. One tip is to slather your feet in your favourite moisturizer and then put some socks on overnight to lock in the moisture even more so.
Another tip for those toes is to get bold new nail polish. Toenails can be painted a much bolder colour than you would usually put on your fingernails.
All these tips will help you produce beautiful glowing summer skin, but don’t forget that eating well, exercising, and getting the right amount of sleep are all factors!
