Seasonal Skincare

It is no secret that your skin has different needs that change with the seasons! In the fall and winter, your skin could need some extra hydration. In the spring and summer, it has different needs based on the weather and your activity level! So leading into summer, this is what I recommend you change in your skincare regimen to accommodate the changes! 

1. Protect, Protect, Protect

   • If you aren't wearing sunscreen daily yet then this is your perfect opportunity to make it an everyday habit! 

   • Think of UVA and UVB light separately. UVB light are your “burn” rays. They are what make you tan and get sunburnt. UVA light are your “aging” rays. You don't really know you are being exposed to UVA light but they are a huge cause of the outward signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, leathery skin, pigmentation). 

   • Both UVA and UVB light break down collagen and are causes of skin cancer. So the summer time, when we are all out and about, is the perfect time to give your skin some extra protection and make a habit out of applying sunscreen that will carry you into fall. 

   1. My favorites: UV Pure by EltaMd, ToneSmart SPF 75 Lotion by SkinBetter, ToneSmart Compact by SkinBetter 

   2. Ditch the heavy moisturizers 

   • The humidity in the summer, especially in the south, cranks up and you wont need those really hydrating products. Some of the deeply hydrating products can also clog your pores more in the summer. You will want to avoid oily formulations and heavy hydrators. 

   • Unless you are chronically dry (which really needs to be addressed with a provider), start using a lighter moisturizer or switch to a hyaluronic acid. These won't clog your pores in the heat and sweat!

   1. My favorites: HA Immerse Serum by Alastin and Trio Moisturizer by SkinBetter 

   3. Use a pigment inhibitor twice DAILY 

   • Pigmentation gets worse in the heat and with sun exposure. I always tell my patients that pigmentation is something that cannot be cured, only managed. 

   • So when we think about managing pigmentation, there is always an understanding that it will get worse in the summer regardless of all the effort we have put in the fall and winter. But our hope is that our “worst” of pigmentation in the summer will get better and better each year due to the use of topicals and in office treatments we do every season. 

   • So in the fall we focus heavily on correction of the pigmentation with prescription topicals, pigment inhibitors, and in office treatments (lasers, chemical peels, etc).

   • In the summer, we focus primarily on protection (vitamin c, sunscreen) and maintenance with a pigment inhibitor. 

   • This summer, make sure you are using a non-prescription pigment inhibitor in the morning and night to manage your pigmentation! 

   1. My favorites: Melanotech drops by DMK and Even Tone Correcting Serum by SkinBetter 

   4. Reapply your sunscreen every 2-4 hours 

   • I mean lets be real, they say to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours but it's hard to remember and then add kids to the equation and it's all over haha! 

   • So if you can remember to reapply your sunscreen on your face AND body every 2-4 hours then you're on the right track! 

   • My favorite way to reapply face spf is the ToneSmart Compact by SkinBetter. It doesn't mess up your makeup, comes with an antimicrobial sponge and mirror for easy application! 

   • The best spf application is the one you love doing and can be compliant with! Find something that works for you! 

   5. Double Cleanse your face morning + night

   • The summer brings more oil, more sweat, more residue on your skin that can build up throughout the day. Make sure you are properly cleansing your skin to remove any residue and ensure your skincare products are penetrating the skin! 

   • I recommend using an oil or cream based cleanser first to remove any makeup, sweat, dirt, spf etc then use a separate cleanser to remove anything that you might not see like pollutants or debris. 

   • This provides a clean surface for your skincare products and increases penetration of the products and their efficacy! 

   1. My favorites: Ultra Calm Cleansing Cream by Alastin, Milk Cleanser by DMK, Oxygen Infusion Wash by SkinBetter, Resurfacing Polish by Alastin