It’s official! The heat this year has broken all records and has confirmed that summers will only get warmer and more oppressive going forward.
So what does this mean for your skin and for your skincare routine?
Before we dive into the “what we need to do”, let’s take a minute to understand why your skin has been feeling less than happy these past few months.
IMPACT OF HOT WEATHER AND SUN ON YOUR SKIN
DEHYDRATION: Hot weather causes our bodies to lose more moisture. This includes the skin, which is after all the largest organ of our body. As a result our skin feels dry and irritated, prone to itching and redness.
BREAKOUTS: if you have oily skin, hot weather will only increase your woes. Your oil producing sebaceous glands go into overdrive. This, combined with sweat and dead skin cells, causes your pores to get blocked, resulting in breakouts and acne.
UV DAMAGE: While ultra violet (UV) radiation is present throughout the year, it is at its strongest during the warm months of summer. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and show up right away as a tan or as a sunburn in case of prolonged exposure. They can penetrate windows and clouds. UVA rays cause skin aging as well. UVB rays on the other hand do not penetrate as deep as do UVA rays. They are responsible for most skin cancers especially in areas with depleted ozone levels.
INCREASED SENSITIVITY: Hot weather poses a special set of problems for those with sensitive skin. Even if you do not normally have sensitive skin you may see your skin reacting to all the above mentioned irritants. Spending hours in an air conditioned home or office also causes your skin to lose more moisture making it feel tight and dehydrated after a few hours. Once the moisture barrier of your skin is compromised it feels less elastic, more dry and prone to itchiness and irritation.
MASKNE: This special skincare concern has become a focus area for dermatologists who are seeing more patients with maskne thanks to the extra challenge of living with the corona virus. It now has a scientific name “acne mechanica”. Simply put, the nose, cheek and jaw area show signs of clogged pores and breakouts thanks to the mask fabric pressing down and capturing sweat, oil, makeup, dirt and dead skin cells in the aforementioned areas. Hot weather further exacerbates this condition by causing your skin to produce increased sebum and sweat.
HERE ARE A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO TACKLE THESE SPECIAL CHALLENGES
Listed below are some changes you can make to both your lifestyle and to your skincare regime in order to protect your skin from the debilitating effects of heat and sun.
HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE: Make a conscious effort to increase your hydration level. Measure how much water you are drinking in a day. The results may surprise you. We all know we should be drinking, on average, 2-2.5 liters of water a day but not all of us manage to do this. Take the extra step to hydrate your skin separately from the amount of water you put into your body.
- Keep a bottle of your favorite hydrating toner handy in the fridge and in your handbag. Spritz your face with it regularly. Pure floral distilled waters are refreshing and calming when your skin is feeling dehydrated and stressed
- Introduce your skin to HYALURONIC ACID, nature’s humectant. Hyaluronic acid’s super power is its ability to attract and hold over 900 times its own weight in moisture. Dampen your skin with water, pat in Vya Naturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum, follow up with moisturizer. If your skin is especially dry you can repeat this process applying a few extra layers of the serum.
STAY AWAY FROM DIRECT SUN: It would be impractical to suggest that we should stay indoors during sunlight hours. But a few changes incorporated into your daily routine could make all the difference.
- Limit your exposure to UV rays. Try switching to indoor workouts as much as possible. If you have to exercise outside, step out as early in the morning or as late in the evening as you can. Wear light weight apparel which covers as much of your arms and legs as possible. Swimming is a great way to exercise while staying cool but keep in mind that water bounces UV rays onto your skin so you are getting a double dose! Again schedule your swim sessions for when the sun is least potent (or look for an indoor pool if you can).
BUILD UP YOUR SKIN BARRIER: The top two layers of your skin form a skin barrier that protects the lower levels of your skin by locking out irritants and pollutants while also locking in moisture. Extreme weather can cause your skin barrier to get compromised making your skin feel tight, uncomfortable and dehydrated. Sensitivity and inflammation are also signs of a damaged barrier.
- Good, gentle skincare routines are the keys to maintaining a healthy barrier.
- Avoid harsh chemicals, the tendency to use too hot or too cold water temperatures and do not over exfoliate.
- Add Vya Naturals Niacinamide Serum to your skincare routine. Niacinamide is basically Vitamin B3. It boosts the levels of ceramide in your skin thereby strengthening the skin barrier.
ADDRESS YOUR PIGMENTATION CONCERNS: Exposure to sun and heat is a direct cause of pigmentation. The steps you take to address pigmentation will not only address this concern but will also improve the overall health and appearance of your skin. Make a note of the following steps:
- Gentle exfoliation will lift off discoloration from damaged cells. The key word here is “gentle”. Harsh scrubs have no place to play in any skincare routine.
- Introduce a skin brightening serum into your skincare routine. Vya Naturals Vitamin C Serum as well as Vya Naturals Alpha Arbutin Serum are a great addition to help gently and effectively brighten your skin.
- Keep your skin cool as heat triggers melanin production. Add a cooling gel after sun exposure. Spray cooling floral waters onto your skin.
- Protect your skin with daily application of broad spectrum SPF irrespective of the weather.
According to renowned aesthetician Renee Rouleau “Skin cells have a memory and the longer you have them, the harder they are to fade and, even then, small amounts of UV light can reactivate them quickly”.
DON’T IGNORE THE SKIN ON YOUR BODY AND SCALP: The skin on your face is not the only area you should be tending to during hot weather. The skin on the rest of your body as well your scalp also displays signs of stress during extreme weather.
- The skin on your body can also benefit from regular exfoliation during the summer. A simple hand held loofah can do the trick, or your favorite scrub, be it home made or store bought. Follow up with a light weight body oil or moisturizing lotion while the skin is still damp.
- Keep it covered with light weight loose clothing to minimize exposure to harsh rays of the sun.
- Keep the skin on the scalp clean by avoiding product buildup. Spritz a diluted solution of Apple Cider Vinegar into the roots of your hair. Massage it into the scalp and then follow up with a mild shampoo and conditioner treatment.
IN CONCLUSION, your skin will feel the effects of extreme heat and sun exposure. However it is possible to soothe it and to counter the effects of summer weather with a few well chosen products and lifestyle changes.
DISCLAIMER:
Content of this website is not a substitution for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do NOT replace any relationship that exists, or should exist, between you and a medical doctor or other healthcare professional. Results given in testimonials/reviews are from real people who have used Vya Naturals products, but identical or similar results are not guaranteed. Individual results may vary depending on skin type, sensitivity, lifestyle, age, skincare products combinations, skincare history, as well as how the products are applied and stored.