Now that summer is officially in full swing with hot and humid days, your skincare and makeup routines are probably in need of an update. However, this season typically calls for a change in products to keep the sweat-inducing temperatures in mind, rather than swapping out your light foundation for a darker one.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Jatin Mittal, skincare expert, cosmetologist and co-founder of Abhivritta Aesthetics, explains that it all depends on how your skin behaves and if there are any adjustments that need to be made during the summer season. Our skin reacts and absorbs information from our surroundings, hence, summer season changes in temperature, humidity and UV exposure can affect the production of sweat and sebum on our skin, which can then impact our skin’s pH or microenvironment.
Dr Jatin Mittal suggests, “Observe how your skin behaves before making any changes to your routine, as it may be perfectly comfortable with the same products throughout the year, but if you find that your skin is reacting differently, whether that means you are getting more acne or have more dry skin, you should consider modifying your routine.”
The first change he suggested was to “switch to products with lighter formulations that are less occlusive and hydrating, to allow the skin to breathe.” Occlusives, a group of ingredients that includes waxes, petroleum, silicones, and mineral oils, are used in skin care to form a protective seal over the skin to retain moisture.
While these ingredients can be useful in winter, especially if you have dry skin, they can often be too heavy in summer. Dr. Jatin Mittal recommends that whenever you buy or use any skincare product in the summer months, keep these tips and precautions in mind:
- Stay away from thick or occlusive moisturizers and makeup that isn’t marked as non-comedogenic. Those cosmetics and products have the potential to wreak havoc on acne-prone, oily, or even normal skin types.
- One option for lighter, more breathable summer makeup is to use a tinted B.B. cream instead of a powder or thick liquid foundation.
- The summer months can cause increased sebum and oil production in people with oily skin, so it may be worth considering a mattifying or oil-control treatment.
- If you think that using mattifying products will increase acne, blotting papers are an additional option. They can be used to remove excess oil that accumulates on your face during the day.
- Exposure to the sun’s harmful rays is also something to consider during the summer, which is why it’s advisable to include antioxidants and skin brightening products in your routine.
- Skin brightening products are beneficial because they can make dull skin look more radiant and even dark spots appear less visible. In addition to helping with hydration and irritation, antioxidants protect the skin from aging by reducing the production of free radicals.
- To promote skin turnover, which is when our skin sheds old skin cells and grows new ones in their place, exfoliation is especially essential in the warmer months of the year. Using an ultrasonic brush can facilitate the process.
While there are many changes you can make to your summer beauty routine, the two most important parts of any routine are applying a daily sunscreen, which Dr. Jatin Mittal describes as “the most important skincare product,” as well as washing your face daily to remove any dirt, debris, and pollutants from the environment.
