The Importance of summer skin care

Summer can be a hard time for our skin. Sure, the winter dryness is behind us, but the (unfortunately) damaging rays of the sun will be the strongest all year - and those can wreak havoc on our skin and be just as drying as the harshest winter. We all know that laying out in the sun for hours, wearing only SPF4 and burning to a crisp isn't exactly the healthiest option, but I'm not saying to avoid the sun all together. We need sunlight to live a healthy life, boost our vitamin D and elevate our mood. That's why proper summer skin care should be an important part of all of our routines (I'm talking to you too men!). When choosing a form of sun protection you should not only look for the SPF ( Ideally SPF15-30) but also look for one containing antioxidants like vitamin C, hydrating ingredients and maybe even anti-inflammatories. Also, based on your activities during the day, choose which would be best for you - sunblock or sunscreen. Sunblock will actually block most of the suns rays while a sunscreen will absorb some of them while letting others pass through - and always remember is to reapply your protection every 2-3 hours! When you are out of the sun, such as in the evening before bed, apply an all over lotion to your body and a face cream (formulation for night wear) to your face. These products should contain antioxidants such as pomegranate or green tea to help neutralize free radicals and stop them from doing damage. Always remember - face and body products are NOT the same. Throughout the summer you'll want to keep your skin soft, smooth and hydrated so that it will look its best and stay that way for years to come. Let sun protection be your number one personal care priority this season, but make sure regular deep cleansings and proper skin maintenance are close behind.