Summer Skincare For Men

Everybody enjoys the summer with numerous warm sunny days – but your skin may not be quite so keen!

Your skin can easily suffer during the hot weather from heat, UV rays, humidity and perspiration. The result is that skin can be left dry, irritated and not looking its best – rather than glowing and healthy. If you haven’t established a good skincare routine, now is definitely the time!  A good routine doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming. The key to its effectiveness is following the routine twice a day and buying the correct products that suit your skin type. Why not promise yourself great skin this summer?

We bring you 5 summer skin care tips to keep your skin looking good this summer….

1. Cleanse your skin

This is the cornerstone to your new skincare routine because when the weather is hot, skin produces plenty of perspiration and oil and these need to be effectively dealt with. Always choose a gentle cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. The correct type of skin cleanser will not strip your skin of all its natural oils – only the excess. After you have used cleanser, take your shower and rinse your face in lukewarm water, before gently patting the skin dry with a soft towel. It is important to cleanse your skin twice a day – morning and night.

2. Exfoliate your skin regularly

This step in your skincare routine is more important during the summer months because your skin is producing more oil and there are more dead skin cells which can make skin look dull. A gentle exfoliating scrub will remove the dead skin cells to leave your skin looking clearer and brighter. Ideally, exfoliate your facial skin twice a week, but when you do, stay out of the sun for a day or so afterwards to give your skin the chance to heal – and always wear a high factor sun cream for protection.

3. Hydrate your skin

Facial skin gets really dry in hot weather and this can lead to irritation, so it is important to moisturise your skin well, twice a day after you have cleansed it. Check that your chosen skin moisturiser is the correct one for your skin type. A key ingredient to look for is hyaluronic acid which is light and effective as it helps locks moisture into the skin, but does not clog skin pores – resulting in smoother looking skin. Apply the moisturiser straight after your shower and leave your skin to dry for a few moments before dressing.

4. Protect your hair and lips

It’s a fact that hair doesn’t like the summer! While you’re caring for your skin, why not check that your hair stays in good condition? The sun can leave hair dry and brittle. It’s important to use shampoo and conditioner that are appropriate for your hair type. Try not to wash your hair too often.

Lips can also become dry and chapped from the sun. A lip balm applied several times during the day will really make a big difference- a lip balm containing shea butter will prove particularly effective.

5. Apply good sun protection

When the UV ray reading is high this means that the rays are particularly harmful – The sun doesn’t have to be shining and it can be a cloudy day. UV rays cause sunburn, but worse still, they can cause premature ageing of your skin and possibly skin cancer. It is essential that you protect your skin well from the sun every day – whether you are going out and about in the sunshine or not. The best protection for your face, neck and other exposed areas of skin is to apply sun cream with SPF 30 (Sun Protection Factor). This offers a high level of protection, but will still need to be re-applied halfway through the day.

How SPF numbers work is straight forward.- each SPF number gives ten minute’s skin protection so if you use SPF 10 you will get 100 minutes of protection (10 minutes X 10 = 100 minutes)  and if you use a sun cream with SPF 30, you will get five hours of sun protection (10 minutes x 30 = 300 minutes/ 5 hours). If you do go swimming, you will need to re-apply your sun protection cream as soon as you come out of the water – even if the cream says that it is waterproof.

You will definitely reap benefits from introducing a good skincare routine and the condition of your facial skin will have noticeably improved within about ten days. To maximise this improvement, make sure that your diet is as healthy as possible and includes plenty of fruit and vegetables. Ensure that you drink at least two litres of water every day to stay hydrated and drink only a moderate amount of alcohol. It is also good to quit smoking as this also damages the quality of your skin. Even if your days are busy, if you can get out to walk or exercise for 30 minutes most days, this too will be really beneficial – And not just for your skin, but mental well being too… Happy summer!