Scorching heat outside can make your skin feel and look dull, dehydrated, and even dry. That’s why you need to switch up your skincare routine to suit the summers, just like your wardrobe and mood. And we’re not going to ask you to drink gallons of water, have a balanced diet, or even apply sunscreen because that’s just what everybody’s going to advise you. We’re here with the top 5 summer skincare mistakes you have to stop committing when indulging in your summertime skincare routine!
But don’t forget that each of these mistakes’ results will vary from skin type to skin type. While one might not work for some, it might work for others.
Don’t over-cleanse
Summers don’t mean washing your face every other hour because of excessive sweating or humidity. Doing so will rip off your skin’s natural oils, eventually leading to breakouts.
Note: With the right cleansers and techniques in place, double cleansing twice a day can work. But if that sounds too much to you, go for a night-time double-cleansing routine.
Not moisturizing at all
Whatever be your skin type, moisturization should follow cleansing every single day. Stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin which protects from harmful pollutants and chemicals while still protecting from dryness or irritation, re-establishes itself when moisturized. So, use a combination moisturizer or SPF as its lightweight texture will keep the outer layer nourished without looking or feeling heavy.
Note: Going overboard with heavy and thick moisturizers can lead to an oily look and feel to your skin. Try swapping your moisturizer for facial oils any time of the day for better results.
Don’t over-exfoliate
Same as over-cleansing, over-exfoliation as well can cause damage to the outer layer of the skin. Irritation, breakouts, hypersensitive skin, and stinging sensation when applying other products are signs of over-exfoliation.
But it also depends on your skin type. While oily skin can take up to 4 times exfoliation a week, dry to sensitive should go for 1-2 scrubs per week.
Not paying enough attention to eyes and lips
The skin around the eyes is very delicate and thus demands extra attention. The same goes for lips as well. Don’t forget to put on only UV-reflecting sunglasses. Also, don’t forget to apply an SPF-backed lip balm to protect your lips from the harsh sun.
Note: In case of a burning sensation in your eyes, wash them with cold water. Cold cotton pads dipped in potato juice can be soothing as well.
Last-minute shaving, waxing, or laser hair removal
If you head out in the sun immediately after waxing, shaving, or laser hair removal, your skin might feel irritated, experience sunburn, and in turn, cause redness. In the case of the first two hair-removal techniques, give your skin at least 24-48 hours of healing time before heading out. While in the case of laser, there should be a gap of at least 10 days (to not experience delayed healing, pigmentation issues, or even damaged results).
And there’s a lot more that you ought to avoid, like too much layering, doubling up SPF-based makeup products’ application for double SPF, not re-applying sunscreen, etc!
Summers is just that time of the year that demands a light yet effective skincare regime. A patch test of any new product(s) is highly recommended to check if it will suit your skin or not.
Note: Apply the product(s) to a small area of your face which can be covered easily like behind your ear, side of your neck or forehead, etc. for the patch test of skincare products.
Though the extraordinary times call for staying indoors ( which is a blessing), the above pointers on avoiding the top 5 summer skincare mistakes will come in handy for your summer outings.
Happy, Safe Summers!