Summer is here! It’s time for beaches, cocktails, and sunshine. But the hot summer sun isn’t always our friend. Learn to keep your skin safe this summer to maintain that beautiful summer glow all season.

Arm your skin with natural defenses.

Protecting your skin from harmful sunlight is key to a healthy summer glow so don’t skip your sunscreen and reapply often. Sunscreen filters ultraviolet radiation. UV-B can result in a tan or burn. UV-A can cause premature aging of the skin and may lead to cancer. Even ancient societies used plant extracts to create a barrier on the skin to help protect their skin.

Your skin is made up of three layers. The top layer is your epidermis. It has stacked layers of cells. Your older cells will eventually die and fall off by rising to the top of the cells. Your strateum corneum is made up of these dead skin cells, and may affect your appearance if the water content of all the layers below are low. Repairing your skin’s barrier is key.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. Oxidative stress, when a disturbance causes your electrons to attack healthy cells, is caused by pollutants and environmental aggressors like UV rays. Adding vitamin C into your skincare routine can help combat some of this oxidative stress. It helps to fight inflammation and sun damage. The Dead Sea Land Day Cream is enriched with Vitamins A, C, E, and B5, as well as Dead Sea minerals, shea butter, and aloe vera. This facial cream is high in vitamins and minerals, which protects your skin from the elements, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth. 

Looking for another great natural skin defense? Check out the algue velours sorbet cream from Compagnie de Provence. Seaweed from the Mediterranean is rich in minerals and amino acids, providing a long-lasting moisturizer (up to 48 hours) while helping to restore the barrier function of your skin.

Stay hydrated.

The golden rule: stay hydrated. It is essential that you drink two litres of water a day especially as we sweat more in warmer weather. Sweating is your body’s way of regulating your temperature and cooling your skin. However, your sweat is mostly water (and some salts), which dehydrates you even as it cools your body.

Moisturizer is an integral part of any skincare routine all year long so don’t skip it just because you're feeling a little oilier. Moisturizing helps to maintain your outer layer of skin, which is your first defense against pollutants and irritation. However, you may want avoid heavy creams and opt for a moisturizer that feels light on your skin instead like Lothantique's line of hand and body lotion. It is vegetable based, paraben-free hand, and enriched with linseed, sesame, jojoba oils and cotton seed extract, which absorbs quickly leaving skin supple and moisturized.

Don’t neglect your hands and feet.

With the dawn of flip-flop and sandal season, digging in the garden or playing in the sand – your hands and feet are being exposed to even more environmental aggravators than usual. On top of being more exposed, your hands and feet can also play a key role in your mobility. Cracks, cuts, and callouses on your feet hurt. Plus, having dry hands can be extremely itchy or even painful.

Truth be told, your hands are exposed to just as many elements as your face. Yet we often neglect them and leave our hands vulnerable to the effects of aging like premature wrinkles and pigmentation. In fact, the skin on our hands is often the most delicate (and thin). Carrying around a convenient and perfectly sized hand cream from Lothantique can provide a quick fix. This thick, ultra-rich hand cream is ideal to travel with or keep (several) in your purse. Besides, you’ll be the most popular person at brunch when everyone asks to borrow some lotion.

Applying a cream like the intensive foot cream from Dead Sea Land can also make the world of a difference. Made with minerals from the Dead Sea, cocoa butter, and coconut oil, this foot cream is great to soften dry, tough skin. Use a generous amount on your feet and ankles and massage until fully absorbed.

Schedule your exfoliation.

Any dermatologist will caution you against over-exfoliating, but skipping exfoliation entirely during the summer months isn’t the best solution (especially if you have oily skin). But exfoliation does increase sun sensitivity. This means it is important to create an exfoliation schedule for yourself during the summer. For instance, try not to exfoliate the day before you plan to sunbathe at the beach as you might weaken your skin’s barrier defenses. Instead, exfoliate once or twice a week, ideally earlier in the week at nighttime, to remove dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores.

You should also avoid any harsher chemical exfoliates during the summer. Opt for gentle scrubs and use a brush or belt where you can control pressure to avoid irritating sensitive skin. Try the Belle de Provence natural soap bag, which holds your soap while the jute material buffs away dead skin cells and stimulates blood circulation.

What are your plans for the summer?