Everyone wants to make the most of their summer—and it’s easy to help your skin stand up to the season’s heat and humidity, as well as the extra time we’re spending outdoors. Our founder, Harvard-trained dermatologist Dr. Iris Rubin, shares her six top skincare tips that will carry you through the summer.
Tip #1: Wear sunscreen
As a dermatologist-founded brand, there’s no way this wasn’t going to be number one! Our skin serves as our bodies’ protection from the outside world, and it takes a beating from damaging environmental factors like the sun. Using sun protection every day in addition to beach days is beyond proven to help keep the skin healthy and able to do its job while preventing premature signs of aging and skin cancer.
Dr. Rubin recommends that everyone use a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 daily. This is especially important if you use medicated anti-acne ingredients like exfoliating acids, benzoyl peroxide, or retinol since these ingredients can make the skin more sensitive to the sun. And be sure not to forget your scalp, especially if you have a distinct part or have fine or thinning hair.
Remember, sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours to remain effective. A few other ways to protect the skin include avoiding mid-day sun, seeking shade, wearing protective clothing with UPF, and wearing a hat.
Tip #2: Don’t wait to wash
This goes after exercising and after swimming! Post-workout, you want to get out of those sweaty clothes ASAP to help prevent breakouts. Also be mindful of wearing tight-fitting clothes made of fabrics that create friction (such as sports-bra straps) or don’t “breathe” for an extended period of time after working out. They can trap oil, dirt, and debris on the skin and potentially make body acne worse. After taking a dip in the pool or ocean, be sure to rinse off with fresh water to remove any chlorine or salt water that could lead to skin irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Tip #3: Keep your cool (in the shower)
This skincare tip is especially easy to follow during the summer when you find yourself constantly wanting to cool down. It’s important to avoid too-hot water year-round to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils, and taking a cool shower may also help boost circulation as well.
Tip #4: Moisturize
All skin types need a daily moisturizer to maintain skin hydration levels. Period. In addition to using your non-comedogenic daily facial moisturizer, a lightweight body lotion can help meet your skin’s hydration needs from the neck down. This is a great opportunity to multitask with targeted formulas that can provide anti-aging and other benefits. (Just make sure your body moisturizer is non-comedogenic as well if you have acne-prone skin.)
Tip #5: Opt for skin-friendly haircare
Dr. Rubin believes (and has proven) that haircare is skincare, so healthy skin requires taking a closer look at all of your products. Haircare that contains pore-clogging ingredients can lead to breakouts on the face and body. SEEN offers a full range of hair and skincare products that have been clinically proven to be non-comedogenic (which means they won’t clog pores) so you know your routine isn’t going to contribute to unexpected breakouts or make existing problem spots worse. In fact, in a dermatologist-graded study, 70% of participants with body acne and 52% of those with facial acne saw improvement after using non-medicated SEEN Shampoo and Conditioner as a regimen for eight weeks.[1]
Each and every SEEN product is also safe for sensitive skin, non-irritating, and available fragrance-free. Our goal is to deliver gorgeous hair and healthy-looking skin, without having to choose one over the other.
No one wants to stress about the side effects that summer can have on the skin. With these dermatologist tips, the right skincare essentials, and skin-friendly haircare from SEEN, you can have great skin days through Labor Day and beyond!
