This week You! has the perfect guide to some summer skin essentials that will have you glowing even in the sweltering heat…
skincare
Around the world, summertime brings with it a desire to be outdoors more, enjoy sports outside, sit by windows, and enjoy the warmth and light from the sun. In Pakistan, it majorly brings the desire to never leave your air-conditioned rooms (and no power cuts). We get a little too much sunshine in this part of the world and that also has a huge impact on our skin. Especially, women who go to work or young girls going to schools and colleges during day-time are at risk of having skin damage. So, long sunny days require an appropriate skin routine. Fret not, we’ve got you covered. This week You! has the perfect guide to you summer skin essentials that will have you glowing even in the sweltering heat…
Refreshing Face Cleansers
Facial cleansers in the summer should be gentle enough so it does not strip skin of its natural moisture. At the same time, formulations must clean deep into the epidermis to break down makeup, dirt, grime and residue of heavy SPF. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, CeraVe Foaming Face Cleanser, Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser are some good options. However, CoNatural’s Tea Tree & Neem Face Wash is also a budget-friendly option.
Vitamin C Serums
Skincare during summer is hard because you feel like you are just going to sweat off your product. However, that doesn’t exempt your skin of the good care it deserves. While winters are also about deep moisturising and hydration, in the summer you just need a little bit of healing. Vitamin C serums are going to be your best friend. L’Oreal Paris Revitalift 10% Vitamin C Concentrate, Pixi Vitamin-C Serum, Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Serum, Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum or any other brand will work wonders for you. Pro-tip: Keep the serum in the fridge, so it gives you a soothing effect too when you apply it.
Remember, your skin responds differently in warmer weather, so your winter moisturiser probably isn’t going to cut it during the hot summer months. It’s super important to have a great lightweight moisturiser on hand at all times. There are many nice light-weight moisturisers in the market. Your keywords are ‘hydroboost’, ‘gel-based’ and obviously ‘light-weight’. You can find a range in Neutrogena and there is also Calm Water Gel by Dermalogica.
Serious Sunscreen
We may pack on sunscreen when we are going on a picnic or for outdoor spots, but what we don’t realise that sunscreen is actually the most important thing to pack on when you are stepping out during the day. Otherwise, your skin suffers under harmful UV rays while you’re out and about. For the best skin protection in the summer, use SPF over 45+ and be sure to reapply every hour, especially if you’re going in and out of the water. If you are not a fan of how a sunscreen looks or feels, try using moisturisers that have sunscreen added in it like the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer which has an SPF of 50.
BB Cream
Swap out heavy foundations for a breathable base, which is the best way to keep your skin healthy during the summer. Try multitasking formulas like tinted moisturisers, BB creams, or CC creams that hydrate skin while also blurring imperfections with light coverage. Bonus points for formulas spiked with SPF. There is It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, Milani Cosmetics’ Glow Hydrating Skin Tint and also L’Oréal’s True Match line.
Powder Foundation
If you’re looking for something super light, give powder foundation a go. It may look like a simple face powder but it is actually so much more. It gives you a little more coverage like you’re wearing actual foundation but it feels like you have nothing on your skin. So, you don’t need to slather your skin in layers and layers of heavy build-up. This is probably the lightest coverage you can get – perfect for the summer! Some of the cult-favourite powder foundations can be found in L’Oréal and M.A.C.
Oil-Blotting Sheets
You may leave the house looking flawless, but 10 minutes won’t pass, and you would already feel like you’re melting. So, you stand there thinking what was the point of getting ready in the first place. Well, oil-blotting sheets are amazing thing to have in this weather. Whether you’re dealing with heat or humidity, this is much better than piling on the powder to soak up shine. They absorb sweat and oil in the scorching heat without messing with your makeup. We’re sure that these little paper saviours will become a part of your daily skincare routine this summer.
Long-Lasting Lip Stain
Put away your creamy lipstick and stick with something that’ll stay put, like a long-lasting lip stain! Lip stains are an ideal middle ground for those times when you need your lip colour to not budge a single inch through a multitude of precarious situations (like mask-wearing or sweating profusely). Luckily for us, lip stains no longer arrive in a few colour options with drying formulas. Nowadays, lip products have gotten a much-needed upgrade with a barrage of colour options and a variety of formulas and finishes. From the classic Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain, Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint or the The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain, it will be surely give you a natural looking summer lip (and cheeks!). Bonus: you can also use these on your cheeks to give you a healthy rosy glow that will last!
Waterproof Mascara
Mascara enhances the eyes in a number of ways. It not only darkens lashes, but can lengthen and volumise for brighter, bigger-looking eyes. It gives eyes depth and definition and ‘opens’ the eyes. It really is a game changer. However, if you are not a fan of the smudged racoon eyes, we suggest investing in a good waterproof mascara. This minimal effort addition is a great way to give your gaze a little extra (but natural looking) oomph all summer long.
Last, but certainly not least, the perfect skincare tip to deal with the hot weather, is to top everything off with a cooling spray. It will keep your skin feeling hydrated even in the worst heat. Simply spray the mist on your face for a refreshing mid-day pick-me-up. PIXI Hydrating Milky Mist, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist and Urban Decay Chill Makeup Setting Spray are some of the cooling sprays beauty enthusiasts swear by.
