Summer Skin

By Leslie Peck

Exfoliate Regularly

Exfoliating is one of the most important steps to maintaining healthy skin. The best way to remove dead skin cells and deep clean the pores is gentle, all-over exfoliation. It is important to find something that works for your face and a different product for your body.

For the face, there are chemical exfoliants and manual exfoliants. Manual exfoliants are scrubs that have small particles in them, brushes, loofahs, sponges and gloves. All of these work well to slough away dead cells, you just have to find what works best for you. Chemical exfoliants are alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHA). AHA’s have lactic, glycolic, citric and tartaric acids that break down the dead skin cells and gently shed them. The BHA have salicylic acid and beta hydroxyl acid which are better for acne prone skin.

Exfoliating two to three times a week will keep the skin glowing and healthy. For the body, use exfoliating scrubs, brushes, gloves and loofahs to smooth and polish the skin to a healthy glow. Don’t forget elbow, knees and feet have rougher skin and need extra time to soften.

Hydrate Often

Even though our summers are so humid it feels like we are walking around in soup, it is still very important to add hydration to your skin. Long days outside in the sun will dehydrate the skin and deplete the nutrients it needs.

At the end of the day, after you have cleansed and exfoliated, slather on a generous layer of body oil, lotion or a mixture of both to your entire body. Anytime you use soap, remember you are taking all of the moisture, along with the dirt, off the skin. You have to replace the moisture back into the skin to maintain a balanced pH. When hydrating your face at night, add serums and eye creams layered with a thick moisturizer. During the day, a lighter moisturizer and SPF are a must.

SELF-TAN

As much as we love the look of sunkissed skin, the harmful UV rays will cause premature aging and can cause cancer. There are so many great options for selftanning on the market along with many businesses that offer spray tan services. This is the best way to have that golden glow and maintain the health of the skin. Self-tanners can be drying on the face so it is always best to use a self-tanner that is specifically made for the face or use a darker foundation and bronzer to blend into the shade of your body. Always exfoliate the entire body before tanning for a smooth, even application.