The sunny side of skincare

The summer season brings warmth, sunshine, and a whole new set of challenges for our skin. As we soak up the sun's rays and spend more time outdoors, it's essential to adjust our skincare routine to protect and nourish our skin. With the right approach, we can maintain a healthy and radiant complexion throughout the summer months. In this blog post, we'll explore some essential tips and tricks to help you embrace the sun while keeping your skin healthy and glowing.

1. SPF SPF SPF (can we be more clear?)

One of the most crucial steps in your summer skincare routine is sun protection. Sunscreen is your best friend during this time of the year. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to shield your skin from harmful UV rays. Apply it generously to all exposed areas of your body, including the face, neck, arms, and legs. Remember to reapply every two hours, especially if you're spending time in water or sweating.

2. Swap the Aperol Spritz for a Water Spritz (or at least a 1:1 ratio)

Summer heat and increased outdoor activities can lead to dehydration, which can take a toll on your skin. Ensure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Hydration helps maintain your skin's elasticity and overall health, giving it a natural glow. Consider carrying a reusable water bottle wherever you go to stay refreshed and moisturized from within.

3. Cleanse Your Worries Away

With higher temperatures and humidity, your skin can become more prone to excess oil, sweat, and clogged pores. Establish a consistent cleansing routine, using a gentle cleanser suited for your skin type. Cleansing removes impurities and excess oil, promoting a clean and refreshed complexion.

Additionally, exfoliation is crucial for removing dead skin cells and allowing your skin to breathe. Opt for a gentle exfoliator to avoid irritation and over-exfoliation. Regular exfoliation helps maintain a smooth and radiant appearance while preventing breakouts.

4. Keep it Light

Swap out heavy creams for lightweight, water-based moisturizers and serums during the summer. These formulas provide hydration without weighing down your skin. Look for moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid, a powerful hydrating ingredient that binds moisture to your skin. Serums with antioxidants like vitamin C can also help protect your skin from environmental damage and brighten your complexion.

5. Sunnies & Kissable Lips

While we often focus on facial skincare, it's important not to neglect our lips and delicate eye area. Apply a lip balm with SPF to shield your lips from the sun's harmful rays. Choose sunglasses that provide UVA and UVB protection to safeguard your eyes and the surrounding skin from sun damage. These simple steps can help prevent premature aging and keep your lips and eyes healthy.

As summer unfolds, it's crucial to prioritize your skincare routine and adapt it to the changing weather conditions. By following these essential tips, you can protect and nourish your skin while enjoying the sun. Remember, a healthy and radiant complexion is within your reach with proper sun protection, hydration, cleansing, and the use of lightweight skincare products. Embrace the summer season with confidence, knowing you've taken the necessary steps to keep your skin looking and feeling its best!

Winter Skincare

We're a few months into the winter season, and our skin is letting us know it too. If you haven't found a winter skincare routine that works for you yet, here are a few tips to guide you in the right direction!

1. Moisturizer is your new best friend (though it already should be): We've all been told plenty of times how important moisturizer is, but have you been told how important it is to choose the right one for you? There are many different types of moisturizers, so you need to find the one that is tailored to your skin type.  Normal/Combination Skin? Choose a medium-weight moisturizer (We recommend Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream). Oily Skin? Make sure you choose a lightweight moisturizer to ensure that you don't over-hydrate which will increase the amount of oil on your skin (We recommend Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier). Dry Skin? Avoid any moisturizers with drying ingredients, focus on a heavier-weight moisturizer (Try Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance). Pro Tip: Less is more. Use a toner just before you apply your moisturizer to make the most out of a small amount. It allows you to use less product and in turn your moisturizer will last longer!

2. SPF - the gift that doesn't stop giving: You may have already put your SPF away for the winter, thinking that the sun is no longer capable of damage. Well it's time to pull it back out and put it to good use. SPF is still an extremely important part of your skincare routine in winter. The cold doesn't change the suns effect on your skin and you still need to stay protected from UV rays. This helps prevent your skin from prematurely aging, developing dark spots, and other negative effects caused by sun exposure. You can either purchase a moisturizer that already includes SPF (Dermalogica Dynamic Skin SPF 30) or you can use an SPF booster and add it to the moisturizer of your choice.

3. Avoid going outside with Wet or Damp skin: You've most likely already been warned not to go outside with wet hair. Did you know that having wet/damp skin can have equally damaging effects? The cold air on damp skin will cause it to dry out more frequently and a lot faster. Make sure your skin is fully dry and moisturized before heading out into the cold to prevent excessive drying and cracking.

4. Lip balm... That actually works: When your skin begins to dry out, chances are the first thing you'll notice is chapped lips. You may be tempted to slap on the drugstore-brand chapstick thats been sitting at the bottom of your purse for months, however, many of these brands actually include drying ingredients and are doing more arm than good. Instead look for something higher-grade that includes ingredients such as Shea/Cocoa Butter & Tocopherol (Vitamin E). Try to avoid ones with Synthetic Dyes, Hyaluronic Acid, and Parabens. Next time, try Dermalogica's Lip Renewal Complex and notice the difference for yourself!

5. The Golden Rule - STAY HYDRATED: The best thing you can do for your skin and overall health this winter is to get plenty of hydration. Make sure you are drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. If you're finding it hard to consume this much water, try swapping out a few glasses with a glass of herbal tea instead!

Photo Credit: Dermalogica Canada