Guide to Good Skin for Summer
Let’s give the sunny days a warm welcome because we don't have a choice. What we can choose though is our daily skin care routine.
Believe you me, summer’s no friend to our skin or hair for that matter. I’m sure you can read my mind. I’ll elaborate anyhow. Humid weather, blazing sun and a heat wave in the blend. It’s the perfect recipe for dehydrating disaster.
Breakouts, brittle hair, dull skin, tan takeover, and open pores. Ring a bell? Yeah, these are the trauma most of us face at this time of the year, every YEAR!
Day-to-Night Skin Care Routine
Here’s the twist for 2019: I’ll make sure your skin problems see a “Do Not Enter” sign this year with a day-to-night skin care routine, so your skin’s all prepped for the summer!
Truth be told, summer brings festivities. You have bridal showers to throw, weddings to attend, and dawats to host. In between, you have birthdays, tea parties, book clubs, and food festival. Oh yes, you are going on a vacation as well. This means you will be taking tons of selfies. For that, you need to have flawless skin.
The only way to get it is by following a daily skin care routine religiously. Now, a word of warning: if you are suffering from any skin-related issues, please consult a medical professional. This skin care routine is not medical advice.
Rise & Shine
Use whatever face wash has been kind to your skin. I’d always recommend a tea-tree clearing wash or a mild foaming face wash during this time of the year. Keep those red unwelcomed bumps at bay as much as possible throughout the day.
Sunblock first. SPF 50+ to be exact! Home or out and about, your skin needs protection against the harmful UV rays from the sun. An SPF 50+ is great if you’re hitting the road to get your work done. Staying inside? Just use a milder SPF30 sunscreen for continuing protection.
Avoiding makeup might not be an option if you are working a 9-to-6 hustle. In that case have a bottle of rose water ready for the mission of toning your skin before you begin.
FYI rose water needs to be a daily participant in your skin care routine.
Coming back to your make up. Less is more. You don’t want clogged up pores due to excessive sweating or chemicals to seep in.
Stick to a BB-cream to avoid using a concealer other than to camouflage dark circles underneath your eyes. Primer’s as important for your skin as your base. Use a 24k gold serum if you’re blessed with a skin where breakouts aren’t a regular visitor. This will work on any scarring or uneven skin tone while ensuring smooth, baby soft skin!
Apply a vitamin E balm before using your lippie--and you’re good to go!
Later in the Day!
Don’t give your skin the excuse that you’re tired, else you’ve no right to complain later. Cleanse your face thoroughly after you’ve been through a tiring day at work (whether at office or out in the bazaar). My recommendation? A cleansing charcoal face wash, subsequent to the use of a tea-tree (for oily skin) or aloe vera (for sensitive skin) toner to rinse away any dirt or oil build up.
For the ladies at work (from 9 to 6), makeup removal is essential. No you don’t just wash your face. You pick one of the three:
- Make up wipes
- Micellar water
- Cleansing lotion.
If you are using a cleansing lotion, be gentle to your skin and wipe the cleanser with a soft cotton pad. Then, wash your face with a face wash if you’ve been cursed with acne prone skin like mine.
Next step: hola rose water! Again. Spurt it all over your face for an extra boost of freshness and if you can, take a nap. Beauty sleep helps!
If you are a stay-at-home mom, cleansing is an obligation for you too. Why? You are bound to clog your pores as you run your errands. Skipping it is out of question, if you’re adamant on achieving a glowing skin. Option # 3 for you!
Before Bedtime
Your night time skin-care ritual before the festive summer season is as essential as your shopping list! Please follow these steps to ensure that clear, plump skin that makes life beautiful (pun intended).
Step 1
Let’s face the dire realities (intense much?). Working in some way or the other, around the clock leaves no time on our hands for apa kay totkay. Choose wisely when you’re opting for a mask.
For oily skin: a tea tree mask can work magic on your skin within 15 minutes. Tea tree has antibacterial properties FYI so it has a built-in animosity for breakouts.
For normal or combination skin: An instant glow mask, with that traditional blend of grandma’s kitchen totkaas inclusive of mainly turmeric, Rice Powder, Ginger Extract, Orange Peel Powder and Sandalwood Powder is the perfect recipe for a healthy, younger looking skin.
For dry skin: The only “no regret” mask I can recommend is an Aloe Vera gel mask. Just apply a thick layer of Aloe over your skin. Let it dry and then wash it thoroughly.
Step 2
Use Vitamin C and E serums or a Hyaluronic Acid serum. These are your skin’s thirst quencher. Remember those morning shows ranting about the benefits of rubbing lemon juice on your skin? Quit that. Vitamin C serums have all the necessary amount of moisture your skin needs to maintain elasticity and a youthful glow. For sensitive skin, hyaluronic acid can be a substitute.
Y’all are already familiar with the best skin care brands: I’m not endorsing any here, but reliable skin care products these days can be bought online. The best part is these brands are completely local and live up to their claims!
Step 3
Sleep well! A good skin care routine needs a life-time partnership with a good lifestyle and 7-8 hours of sleep so switch off those lights, set your alarms and get your skin, Eid-Ready before it’s too late!
