Summer Skincare Secrets

As we enter July, I thought it would it be nice to share some of my skincare tips for the summer months. Your skin can undergo massive changes in these warmer months and so it’s important that your skincare routine reflects that. Below are some of the changes I’m making to my skincare routine to help keep my skin calm during this seasonal change!

Up your double cleanse game

You all (hopefully!) know the importance of double cleansing. I wrote a full blog on it that you can read here. In the summer months, sweat glands become more active and you may notice your skin becoming oilier. Unfortunately, an increase in oil levels can often lead to breakouts so this is something we all want to avoid! One way to do this is to ensure you are double cleansing every evening to help remove all traces of oil, pollution, dirt etc that can easily become trapped in pores. Remember, oil attracts oil but clashes with water so using an oil based cleanser will really help deep clean your skin. Shop our oil cleansers here.

Opt for multi-use, lightweight products

During winter, I layer several hydrating formulations to help keep my skin moisturised. However, in the summertime, I will opt for multi-use products that help shorten my routine. One such product is a lightweight essence which can double up as a toner to help close pores post cleansing. I am currently using the Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence which after my second cleanse, I will pour in to the palms of my hands and pat in to the skin. This not only closes the pores after cleansing but also has the additional benefits of a skin essence to help nourish the skin and brighten skin tone.

During summer, I will rarely use foundation but opt for a lightweight BB cream. Possibly the most well-known Korean invention, BB creams (blemish balms) are wonderful multi-use products that include a moisturiser, primer, suncream and foundation all in one. What more could you ask for? My personal favourite is the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream or for on-the-go usage, the Heimish Artless Perfect Cushion.

Get rid of those dead skin cells

As mentioned above, hot weather often sees our oil levels increase which can lead to clogged pores. We may also see a higher turnover in skin cells so to help regulate our cell turnover cycle, it’s important to exfoliate once or twice a week. Personally, I opt for exfoliating pads that offer both a chemical and mechanical exfoliation. The Neogen Wine Gauze Peeling Pads are still my favourite (perhaps because they smell amazing and are made of wine). They leave skin feeling wonderfully clean and smooth. Prefer a more scrub type exfoliator? Why not try our newest addition the Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

We’ve all been there. Too much fun in the sun and the result is dehydrated skin. It’s very important to keep skin hydrated during summer months but equally to not overload the skin with heavy creams. Thankfully, Korean brands have produced some wonderfully lightweight, moisturisers that help keep skin hydrated. The cream I am using at the moment is the Thank You Farmer True Water Light Gel Cream which is incredibly lightweight and soothing. This has been a long favourite of mine!

Stay cool

What with the tube in London combined with living in a top floor flat, I'm often a sweaty mess when I come home in the summertime! There is nothing nicer than having a cooling facial as soon as I get in to unwind and cool me down. I'll often pop my sheet masks in the fridge and then pop one on after cleansing. Shop our range of sheet masks here.

Need to keep cool on the go? Why not carry around a refreshing mist. I love the Whamisa Damask Rose Petal Mist because it smells amazing and has real Damask Rose petals floating around. It feels like a real treat for the skin!

The importance of SPF

The last one is a pretty obvious one but it’s time to up your suncream game in the summer months! Personally, I use suncream every day even in the winter months as using an SPF daily will not only help protect your skin but also help even out skin tone and reduce any hyperpigmentation. Many people are often scared to use suncream on their face as traditional formulations in the west have been gloopy, thick, smelly and leave a white cast. Not so with Korean suncreams! Our range of suncreams are lightweight consistencies that absorb quickly in to the skin, provide a higher SPF protection and leave no white cast whatsoever! Shop our suncream range here.

So these are the changes that I’m making to my skincare routine in these summer months. What changes will you be making? Do you have a favourite product to use for these warmer months? I’d love to hear!

Maree x