Summer is here and that means lots of opportunities to enjoy the warmer weather, wear our best summer clothes and generally spend more time outside. However, many of us feel apprehensive about doing this if our skin isn't quite at it’s best. Fortunately, there are several simple ways you can ensure your skin glows this summer that will help your confidence shine as brightly as the weather.

Protect your skin from the sun

Whilst many of us love to sit out in the sun and feel more confident with tanned skin, it’s vital that we do so safely. Using an SPF of 30 upwards reapplied every 2 hours can help to keep our skin feeling super soft whilst building up a gradual tan, it will also help to prevent long term damage to our skin and overall health. Alternatively using a self-tanner can be a more beneficial option for those who’d rather stay out of the sun altogether. UV rays are extremely intense and so making sure you use a daily SPF in your skin care routine can help to protect your skin even when it seems like the weather is cloudy, which again in the long run will prevent signs of sun damage. For your face be sure to look for foundations, primers and moisturisers that have high SPF protection.

Choose products that match your skin type

There are so many skincare products out there that it's natural to feel overwhelmed. But what can help here is that not all skin products will suit your needs, so just look out for the ones that do. That means if you have oily skin, you’ll want products that are made specifically for this issue such as stronger, more astringent cleansers, and toners. You’ll also want a non-greasy moisturiser.

On the other hand, if you have dryer skin, you’ll need more gentle cleansers and toners, as you’ll want to get clean without stripping all the natural oils from the skin. You also likely want a heavier moisturiser to ensure your skin stays as hydrated as possible.

Similarly, if you have a specific skin issue such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and the like using products particularly made to manage it can be helpful. For example, if you have rosacea then there are special cleansers, colour correctors, and moisturizers designed to help reduce the redness.

Keep your face clean

It may sound simple, but you’d be surprised at how many people forget this foundational skincare step. First of all, you need to cleanse and moisturise your skin in the morning after you’ve slept because this revitalises the skin from sleep and also creates the perfect base for your makeup for the day. Secondly cleanse at night to clear away all of the dirt and pollution from the day, ensuring that as you go to rest your skin can replenish and heal overnight.

As mentioned earlier be sure to invest in a cleanser and toner that is suitable for your skin type as these will help you remove any makeup in a gentle way, preventing irritation and flare ups. Facial skin is delicate and rarely if ever needs to be scrubbed, instead, use a chemical exfoliant no more than once a week. The same also goes for retinol and vitamin C serums, when used correctly these ingredients can make your skin feel healthy and supple, however over use can again cause irritation.

Keep your makeup clean

Another way you can make sure that your skin glows this summer is to not only keep your face clean but your make-up too. After all, your makeup has direct contact with your face so any dirt, debris and bacteria that it holds, your skin will too! Indeed, if you don’t practice clean makeup habits you can find yourself with unwanted blemishes, reddish, rashes and pimples this summer.

With that in mind be sure to wash your brushes, sponges and applicators regularly. This means using shampoo to remove as much product as you can, then rinsing them, and leaving them to fully dry. Do not use brushes when they are still wet as this can encourage fungal infections.

Another important aspect of keeping your makeup clean is throwing away any old items once they have passed their use-by date. Unlike food, makeup items do not have a specific date printed on them. Instead, there is a small container symbol with the number of months you can keep the product once it's been opened, so be sure to check your makeup stash every so often for products that have become out of date.

Embrace non-surgical procedures

If you feel like no matter what you do, your skin feels tired and lack lustre you could look towards feeling more refreshed with aesthetic treatments. Whilst an expensive option, non surgical procedures like botox, can significantly help to reduce lines and the appearance of tiredness. Botox is an injectable procedure that requires no general anaesthetic and can be done very accurately to target any specific concerns you may have about facial issues including minimising lines on the forehead and around the eyes, reshaping and lifting the brow and even reducing a gummy smile. It can be done in a small amount of time and results can be seen as quickly as 7 days. Botox treatments can help people to feel more refreshed as their complexion feels and looks smoother. It is vital to undergo this kind of procedure with a registered practitioner.

And finally

It’s age old, but in order to glow from the inside you must keep your skin hydrated which means drinking lots of water and eating nutritious foods. Aiming to drink around 8 glasses of water a day will help to keep your skin looking fresh, whilst boosting your brain activity and combating fatigue. Water helps the body to maintain everyday functionality and so when we feel energised we can truly glow from within.

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