6 Skin Hydration Tips To Beat Summer Heat

Summer, sans the beach trips and school break, is really a time of incredibly hot days, longer sunshine hours, and increased humidity, that can affect our skin badly.

The excessive sweating, dust, and grime, can make your skin appear dull and lifeless and cause skin problems such as dry skin, heat rashes, skin pigmentation, wrinkles, and even risk of skin cancer.

To protect yourself from potential health hazards and to keep your skin looking radiant and fresh despite the heat, here are 6 skin hydration tips you can try to beat the summer heat and keep your glow naturally throughout this hot season.

1. Use Sunscreen

Sunscreen isn’t just a summer staple, but this is a skincare step you shouldn’t miss especially during summers when sun rays are strongest. Pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 and apply it on all exposed areas of your skin every 2 to 4 hours, 30 minutes before sun exposure.

Also take the extra layer of protection by wearing sun glasses and hats or long-sleeved clothing (if you’re not lounging by the beach, of course). Try to stay indoors between 10 am to 2 pm when sun rays are harshest.

2. Keep yourself hydrated

The summer sun can leave your body dehydrated as it loses moisture throughout the day. Keep dry skin at bay by drinking plenty of water. This will not only quench your thirst and keep your skin moisturized, but also help flush out toxins from your body.

3. Eat Water-Rich Food

Give your body that extra boost of hydration by eating more foods that are rich in water content such as lettuce, cucumber, watermelon, apples, berries, and oranges. These foods are also great sources of antioxidants that can help your body fight against free radicals and the sun’s UV rays.

Avoid eating salty snacks that may contribute to more dehydration. Introduce more fruits and green vegetables to your diet to stay hydrated and healthy too.

4. Cleanse Gently

Cleanse your face in the morning and evening using a gentle foaming cleanser containing mild AH and BH acids. Cucumber, papaya, or aloe based products are excellent at giving your skin the gentle cleanse it needs while removing dead skin cells.

5. Exfoliate

Exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin cells and any impurities. This also preps your skin to benefit the most from toners and moisturizers. Be mindful to only exfoliate at night because skin becomes highly sensitive to UV rays after exfoliation.

6. Use Water-Based Moisturizer

As the season changes from cool to warm, so should your moisturizer. When the weather becomes hot and humid, it’s best to use a water-based moisturizer instead of oil-based ones. Water-based moisturizers help lock in the water molecules in the skin while not being too oily that they clog your pores.

Head over to this blog post by Women’s OK for more tips on keeping your skin hydrated despite the heat.

You can also check out these 6 Natural Ways To Stay Radiant And Fresh This Summer.