Top 10 Summer Skincare Tips

1. Adjust your sunscreen usage—early and often

The sun's rays are more intense in the summer compared to the winter months, so make sure you protect your skin each morning.

Apply sunscreen to your face and your body with at least an SPF 30.

UVA/UVB rays not only damage and age the skin, but exposure to them also puts you at risk for developing certain skin cancers.

Want to avoid that hot-and-sticky feeling? Look for sheer, breathable formulations, such as Lancaster Sun Control Sun Sensitive Radiant Glow Fluid for Face SPF50 30ml

2. Consider switching up your face wash

During summer we tend to product more sweat and oil, which can trap dirt on the skin. So your trusty hydrating cleanser may not be strong enough to remove this extra oil and dirt.

So we suggest using a gel based cleanser, these are designed to remove dirt and oil whilst reducing skin irritation.

3. Power up with antioxidants

Summer is the season to stock up on serums, moisturizers and sunscreens that have the added punch of antioxidants—such as vitamin C and certain natural extracts—that can help protect your skin against environmental damage.

In doing so, antioxidants can not only help repair past damage, but they can also help your skin combat whatever is coming its way next.

4. Pare back how often you exfoliate

Given that you may be washing your face more frequently in the summer—all that sweat and swimming!—you may not need to exfoliate as often as you do in the wintertime.

5. Lighten up your moisturizer

The increased heat, humidity and sweat that comes with the sunny season means you just don’t need (or want) a heavy moisturizer this time of year.

6. Pick a retinol with moisturizing punch

Retinol can be a powerful anti-ager, because it helps stimulate collagen production, which can help strengthen the skin’s foundation and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

7. Zap oil and shine

Whether your skin is naturally dry or oily, summertime’s warm, humid weather can make almost all skin types look shiny, since natural skin oil accumulates on the surface of the skin.

8. Take aim at dark spots

This is the time of year that dark spots can go from barely noticeable to front and center because ultraviolet light causes the overproduction of melanin pigment in the skin.

To help diminish dark spots (and keep new ones at bay), look for a skin-brightening product that contains licorice extract or vitamin C.

9. Opt for a different foundation

Heavier foundations can weigh your skin down in the warmer months, so if you typically use a stick or cream formula in the cooler months, opt instead for a lightweight liquid this time of year.

And if acne is a problem, look for a foundation that contains salicylic acid.

You may also want to consider having two shades on hand in the summer—your normal shade and one that's slightly deeper—to help adjust for any areas that get a bit darker with sun exposure.

10. Don’t forget your lips

Like the rest of your face, your lips need a little TLC come summer, too.

The skin on the lips is extremely sensitive, they also often go unprotected from the sun, increasing the likelihood of developing skin cancers on the lip—particularly the lower lip, which faces up toward the sun every day.