Although here in Ireland we don’t get much sun throughout the year, what little we do get during the summer can take its toll on our skin. That, coupled with pollution, heat and humidity, brings about all kinds of challenges. In order to best combat these challenges, and properly take care of your skin during the summer, here are 6 great tips you can apply every single year. Let’s begin!
1. Exfoliation is still key
As you may know, one of the most important rules of basic skincare is exfoliation. Your body sheds around 0.03 and 0.09g of skin every hour of every day. If you don’t get rid of it through exfoliating, then your skin will look dull and dry. Exfoliating can also increase your body’s collagen production which results in your skin being more vibrant and gives it that glow we all want. It also helps maintain your skin’s elasticity, and therefore, minimises the appearance of lines and sagging. Aim to exfoliate once per week for the best results during the summer.
2. Drink 8 glasses of water per day
We’ve all heard that it is important to drink a specific amount of water each day but how many of us actually follow this! During the summer when it is especially hot, making sure your body gets enough water is especially important, even more so for your skin. You should aim to drink at least 8 medium-sized glasses of water every day. It is advisable to keep a water bottle with you so that you can remember to drink enough throughout the day. Drinking enough water not only helps you feel refreshed, but it also prevents dehydration and helps to wash out toxins in your body.
3. Don’t forget your Sunscreen
Many of us forget or avoid putting on sunscreen for a number of reasons but it is very important. Sunburn can increase your risk of getting skin cancer. Although quite surprising, you can even get sunburnt in Ireland, even whilst cloudy. There’s no safe or healthy way to get a suntan and having a tan itself does not protect you or your skin from the sun’s harmful effects. It is advised that you should try to spend more time in the shade when the sun is strongest – which is usually between 11 – 3 pm when the sun is at its peak. Experts recommend going for a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 and to reapply every 1 to 2 hours that you are in the sun. This will help to ensure that your summer is both safe and fun.
4. Don’t forget your feet
It’s sandal season and when the sun is out, usually, so are our feet! Make sure you take care of your feet during summer. At Akina we offer the DMK MediPedi foot treatment which removes calluses / corns / cracked heels / rough, dry hard skin build up / dark pigmented areas and any fungal or bacterial infections You’ll quickly notice a massive difference in how your feet feel in terms of softness. As well as making sure your feet look great, remember to also regularly apply sun lotion to them. Your feet will be the first places to tan (or burn) as they aren’t being covered.
5. Introduce a good Toner
Using a good toner can help you to refine your pores. This is crucial during summer in order to prevent the accumulation of oil in your open pores. During the summer months your skin will produce more oil, so you might want to change the type of cleanser that you use to a wash or a gel as opposed to a lotion and use a toner regularly.Keep this in mind and pay close attention to this area when toning your face.
6. Moisturise, Moisturise and Moisturise
During the summer we tend to sweat more and this in return causes our skin to lose essential layers of protection. It’s important to apply a good strong moisturiser throughout your day to ensure you’re constantly giving your skin the hydration it needs and also keeping it protected. Some moisturisers come with a built in spf protection which is great for protecting your skin while keeping it hydrated.
