We women are funny creatures when it comes to taking care of our skin. We throw money at moisturizers, night creams and blemish removers. But when it’s time to head outdoors, we often throw away our good intentions and leave our skin open to the drying and aging effects of summer sun.
Summer is the worst time of year for your skin. High temperatures and plenty of sun mean most skin aging occurs during the summer months. You need to learn to listen when your skin says enough is enough. Here are my top tips for ageless summer skin:
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Just because we wear it on the outside we often forget that the skin is the largest organ in the human body. Water is essential in order to keep our bodies functioning well and feeling good. It’s also essential to keep our skin looking younger.
My dietician tells me to drink 72 ounces of water every day. That sounds like a lot of water! But if you get dehydrated, your skin will start to look saggy and tired. So reach for water instead of soft drinks or beer to keep your skin looking young and soft.
Block the sun
Don’t count on sunscreen to limit your sun exposure. Take your own steps to block out the sun, protect against skin cancer and keep your skin looking younger.
Dermatologist Dr. Robert Singer explained to me that the sun’s rays break down collagen, which is a connective tissue in our skin. When collagen is damaged, our skin becomes saggy and wrinkled which makes us look older. You can protect your skin from sun damage by staying in the shade when possible and covering up.
For women, our hands often give away our real age even when our faces look young. I like to protect myself from sun exposure by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and gloves, even around the pool! I also love light cotton scarves to protect the skin around my neck. They look pretty and it’s easy to slip them off when I go indoors.
No prickly heat
It’s hard to avoid sweating when you’re out in the summer sun. But perspiration can get trapped under the skin or in blocked pores leading to painful heat rash and ugly red bumps. Using cool cloths to sooth your skin and wearing natural fibers like cotton can help keep sweat from being trapped against your skin where it can cause irritation.
Mix up a mask
When you come in from the sun a great cool-down that will leave your face feeling soft and hydrated is an all-natural mask. I make mine by mashing half a cucumber and adding one tablespoon of plain yogurt, then blending it until it’s smooth. Apply it to your face for 15 minutes then gently rinse it off. I love the feel and the smell of it. And if there’s any left over, it makes a delicious snack!
You don’t have to finish the summer looking older than you did when it started. Protecting yourself from the summer sun and staying hydrated can help keep your skin looking soft and beautiful.
What do you do to take care of your skin? We’d love to hear your best tips or favorite face mask recipes. Share them here!