One of my favorite things about summer is the freedom to go from polished, makeup perfect professional, to bare-faced, bronzed beach mermaid. I look forward to experimenting with makeup and skincare every day, so much so that my routine is like a 20 step ritual every morning and night. But, I do love the chance to be lazy, and the summer season is perfect for literal as well as beauty getaways.
If you are like me, you probably enjoy laying out in the sun, living in salt water, and don’t really mind a little sweat–it’s just a natural highlight after all. You’ve maybe also stocked up on summer outfits from your Pinterest and Instagram dream boards and planned out your travel itinerary. And I’m right there with you! I’ve been excitedly planning my summer since I could see my finals as a “right around the corner” concept and not the far out, “will come eventually” idea I heard all through my spring semester. What I hadn’t thought about though, in past summers and until much recently, was how my skincare needed to change and adapt to summer conditions.
Our skin is not a one size fits all organ. We need to be mindful of the changes in the environment and weather and nourish our skin accordingly.
So, I’ve researched the best summer skincare routine for women in their teens, twenties, and early thirties, and will help you moisturize and protect your skin for a goddess-like glow. I’m using products from one of my favorite skincare brands, Murad, to guide you to the best and give easy to follow steps for those of you not super familiar with skincare.
1. Start with sunscreen, because it is the most important thing!
I know this won’t be the first step of your morning routine, but I find it to be the most significant product we can own, so I’m putting it first! I am a firm advocate for wearing sunscreen every day of the year. UV rays are incredibly damaging, which can be difficult and expensive to reverse. Sunscreen is your best line of defense, and honestly, one of the easiest steps once you integrate it into your morning routine.
Murad’s City Skin™ Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a super lightweight tinted sunscreen that helps to correct skin tone and protects your face from harmful causes of aging and sun damage, like pollution and infrared radiation. There is a bit of Vitamin C in the formula, which boosts radiance and is great for sensitive skin types! For me, I’m really picky when it comes to sunscreen because I don’t want something too thick that clogs my pores, or a formula that will leave streaks. So, this was a pretty good find.
Here’s a link: City Skin™ Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50
2. Pick a cleanser that isn’t harsh on your natural oils, but washes away unnatural impurities.
I’m guilty of buying the worst cleansers because I was under the misconception that painful cleansers with microbeads meant my face was as fresh as possible. I was so wrong. Cleansers are meant to wipe away dirt and oil build up from the day, but they also balance our natural moisture levels.
Cleansers are the first step to my morning and night routine, so I want one that takes off my makeup, but also doesn’t strip my skin. Murad’s Environmental Shield collection has an antioxidant-rich cleanser, designed to remove impurities from pollution, synthetic oils, and any other gunk that latches onto our skin throughout the day. It is also perfect for people who want a nice glow and enjoy the smell of citrus! I like the citrus scent in the morning because it wakes me up!
Here’s a link: Essential-C™ Cleanser
3. Face masks should become your best friend(s). Use them often and mix them up.
Moisture is key for the right summer hydration. Whether that is inside or outside your body, you need to HYDRATE!
What I love about face masks is the small bit of time I get to escape while wearing one. Typically, I put a mask on at night and use the ten to twenty minutes to meditate, read, or do absolutely nothing. Masks give a surge of moisture and essential antioxidants that regular products need time to build up, and for the impatient person, like me, masks are like a girl’s best cheat code.
I tried out Murad’s Hydro-Glow Aqua Peel masks, and I think these products will always be in my rotation from now on. This is a two-step process that gives my skin a slight peel. Please don’t freak out when you hear the word “peel,” because this isn’t painful and doesn’t strip layers of skin. The best way to describe the mask is a light tingling, but ultimately, it was intensely moisturizing and gave me an anti-aging glow after the second step sheet mask. The box contains four single-use masks, which is perfect because I like to switch out my masks every other day or so.
Here’s a link: Hydro-Glow Aqua Peel
4. Toners might feel unnecessary, but trust me, you will love them in the long run.
It took me years to accept that toners are a crucial part of skincare. In fact, I vehemently fought them off, because I figured they were a scam by beauty companies. But, like most things in my high school days, I was wrong about this one. Toners help to tighten pores, balance our PH levels and can act as a base for all other products and makeup.
Murad’s Clarifying Toner is perfect if you are worried about having too many products on your face. I know I feared clogging my pores, but this toner is a game changer. First of all, it helps reduce oil and prevents acne. Even if you don’t have acne prone skin, it’s always smart to protect your skin, especially in the summer heat when sweat and dirt can stick to your face for hours. This toner also has a nice blend of botanicals and witch hazel, so your face will feel refreshed. I love witch hazel and am kind of a hoarder when it comes to stocking up on it, so I’m a big fan of something that is a two-in-one.
Here’s a link: Clarifying Toner
5. Don’t forget serums for extra hydration and evenness.
Serums might be relatively new in American skincare trends, but there is a reason why they are so popular in Japanese and Korean beauty–they are amazing. It’s as if you are supercharging your skin with hydration, protection, vitamins, and everything in between. There are serums for morning and night use, and I would recommend incorporating one for at least one of your daily routines.
I prefer a serum that works double time and offers something unique. I looked into Murad’s Rapid Collagen Infusion™ and although I’ve only used it a few times, I can definitely tell a difference. If you aren’t familiar with collagen, it is the protein found in our skin that produces the youthful, plump appearance we have when we are young. Over time, collagen thins and our skin loses that radiance. This serum is like a natural and less expensive filler, as amino acids sink into our skin to volumize and fill wrinkles and erase dull spots. If you are worried about your skin in the summer sun, then this is the best product for you! Besides sunscreen, of course.
Here’s a link: Rapid Collagen Infusion™
6. Pick a moisturizer you love to smell, blends well, and serves its purpose.
I’ve been talking about moisture so much that it almost feels ridiculous to add this step in, but alas, it is not. Just because your other products say they have moisturizing properties doesn’t mean you can skip this step. Every one of your skincare steps has a distinct purpose, and a good moisturizer can lock everything in and perfect your routine.
I like to go for something lightweight that also has a little SPF in it as well to guarantee sun protection. Murad’s Balancing Moisturizer targets shine control and prevents blackheads, which is ideal for summer when I’m extra conscious of my skin’s appearance. It is also made with SPF 15 for extra protection from UVA/UVB rays. So, that’s a win for me, the sunscreen fanatic.
Here’s a link: Balancing Moisturizer
I hope a look into my routine helps you to create your own! I also want to add in that hydration is everything in the summer, so considering investing in a reusable water bottle and training yourself to drink two full bottles a day, you will see a huge change in the plumpness of your skin. And when you can, because I know I struggle with this, try to stick to a sleep schedule, because your skin feels the pain just as much as your mind when you stay up binge watching Riverdale. Good luck, summer ladies!