Thinking about summertime might conjure up images of bronzed, glowing and smooth uncovered skin. Unfortunately, rising temps and the sun’s powerful rays can lead to excess sweating, breakouts, sunburn, sun damage and more. While you don’t need to completely overhaul your winter skincare routine in order to optimize it for warmer weather, a few small tweaks can make a big difference in combating summer-skin issues. Here are our best tips for protecting and hydrating your skin in the warm summer months to keep it glowing and healthy.

1. Small but Powerful Changes 

You don’t need to toss all of your current products in favor of a completely new skincare routine for summer. But there are some small changes you can make to your daily routine that can have a huge impact on the appearance of your skin. For example, this is the time to switch up your heavy cream cleanser for a lighter, foaming option and press pause on your extra hydrating moisturizer in favor of something light-weight and easily absorbed.

2. Sun Protection is the Name of the Game!

Listen, sun protection is important all year round, so incorporating an SPF into your daily ritual shouldn’t be a new addition. That said, if you’ve been slacking on your sun protection now is the time to get back on track. An SPF of at least 30 should be used on your face daily, to protect the skin both from sun damage and early signs of aging as well as skin cancer. Don’t forget your lips, either! A good lip balm that includes SPF protection is a non-negotiable. Remember that sunscreen is always the last step in your skincare routine before layering on makeup. 

3. You Might Not Need a Moisturizer

Depending on your skin type, you might be able to ditch your moisturizer altogether in the summer months. That isn’t to say your skin doesn’t need any hydration, but your SPF might provide plenty of moisture that makes a seperate moisturizer unnecessary. If you find your skin to be a bit on the drier side using sunscreen only, a good hyaluronic acid serum can be a lifesaver. Hyaluronic acid hydrates deeply and powerfully but it is a light option good for all skin types. Hyaluronic acid serum would fit in after your cleanser and toner, before any other serums and sunscreen.

4. Think About Adding a Vitamin C Serum

Perhaps the best addition to your summer skincare routine will be a vitamin C serum. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects the skin from sun damage and other oxidative stress, brightens the skin and lightens pigmentation issues and even stimulates collagen production. A vitamin C serum would be best put to use in your daytime skincare routine, so it can properly protect against UV damage. It slides in directly before your sunscreen layer.

5. You Don’t Have to Ditch Your Retinoid

People get nervous about using retinoids in the summer months since it can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, but the benefits of year-round retinoid use definitely outweigh the risk. Retinoids induce collagen production, exfoliate the skin, even out the complexion and even repair sun damage. If you’re wearing your daily SPF like we talked about (you are, right?), and not overexposing your skin to the sun, there is no reason to not keep using a retinoid in the summer. Add a retinoid to your evening routine only, as your skin tolerates it.

6. Focus on Hydration

I know you get this one all the time, but it makes every skincare list because it's important! You need to stay adequately hydrated for your skin to look its best. Water plays a critical role in so many of the body’s essential processes and the health of your skin is only one of them. Commit to drinking a sufficient amount of water each day so that your skin stays hydrated from the inside out. 

You can keep your skin glowing and healthy in the summer months with these easy swaps to your daily skincare routine!