7 Secrets To A Perfect Summer Skin That No One Told You About

Open arms, broad smile, spaghetti tops, cool shorts- these are just some of the things that we Canadians welcome summer with. Well, given the multiple layers we have to put on head to toe through winter, the warm welcome (pun very much intended) we give summer is completely justified. And so is our dream of the perfect summer skin…  sun-kissed, glowing, radiant. 

Now, we all have some summer skincare tips that we swear by. You know, the usual- liberal doses of SPF, staying out of the sun, drinking a lot of water, using a good cleanser to get rid of that extra layer of sweat, etc., etc. 

But what if we told you, that these aren’t enough?

Don’t get us wrong. We whole-heartedly agree with every single one of the aforementioned tips, we are merely saying that there are certain other things that you need to factor in when taking care of your skin during warmer weathers; things that are just as important as applying SPF (some even more important), things that dermatologists follow themselves and often recommend, things that can actually take your skin from drab to fab.

So we took it on ourselves to fill you in on these highly crucial summer skincare secrets that you need to consider STAT…

1. Just Like You, Your Skin Needs To Be Hydrated…

We’ve said this before and we won’t shy away from saying it again… every skin needs hydration. What’s more, is that it needs to be hydrated in every season. Most people befriend moisturisers in winters and cut them out as soon as the temperatures rise. However, the extra sweat and oil your skin is producing do not keep it hydrated. In fact, the primary reason your skin produces extra oil is that your skin cells aren’t getting the required dose of moisturizer as we outlined earlier in our skincare myth-busting blog. Instead of ditching moisturizers completely, you can switch to a lighter one like our One Better and White Knight. These are light-weight moisturizers for all skins, ages, genders and seasons.

2. Timely Treatment Of Sunburns Can Save You A Lot Of Trouble…

We are all guilty of brushing off milder sunburns as a tan. But like any other unattended problem, sun damage can have lasting effects which is why dermatologists, time and again, reinforce the importance of sunscreen. Despite all your efforts, however, if the sun gets to you, don’t wait for the burn to wear off on its own. Instead, try to contain the damage so it doesn’t go deep. You’ll find a good sunburn relief in shea butter. Not only does it cool down the burn instantly but also aids the skin’s natural repair process. In fact, shea butter also provides some level of protection from the sun, although it isn’t enough to replace an SPF.

3. Don’t Let Inflammation Get Out Of Hand…

Inflammation accompanied by itchiness and redness is a common skin trait for many during the warmer months. The cause for this, more often than not, is polymorphic light eruption or in simple terms, sun allergy. Much like sunburns, addressing inflammation at the initial stages can save you a lot of pain and sleepless nights. Believe it or not but shea butter can actually help you with this as well. It’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation while it’s emollient properties soothe itchiness and reduce redness of the skin.

4. A Liberal Helping Of Antioxidants Can Go A Long Way…

From blackheads and acne to inflammation to that of collagen fragmentation resulting in early ageing of the skin, there’s a lot to fear about oxidative stress caused by pollutants, ozone, UV radiation and other environmental factors. Given that the sun rays are even harsher during summer, it becomes crucial that we splurge on an antioxidant-rich product that not only prevents oxidative stress but also repairs skin damaged by it. Yet again, we present to you shea butter (clearly, it has well-earned the title of a skin superfood). Shea butter is naturally loaded with antioxidants like Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Cinnamic Acid Esters and Oleic Acid. To make it even better, we formulated Age-Defying Moisture Care, our shea butter face cream enriched with Vitamin C3 and Moringa Oil to give you a wholesome skincare solution.

5. Never Take Pigmentation Lightly…

Anyone with any level of pigmentation would know that it often tends to get worse during summer. Your best defence against this is to stay out of the sun and use SPF generously. Another helpful thing to have handy is a good quality shea butter product like our Cure-All Magic Masque. It won’t prevent pigmentation, but it will lighten it drastically as it will do with any uneven tones on your skin.

6. The Importance Of Shorter Baths Is Not To Be Underestimated…

Come summer and the number of showers and baths we take through the day goes up. While short and cold showers are a good way to rid yourself of sweat and stickiness, long showers and baths, especially with hot water will make your skin very dry. Now since we aren’t using heavy moisturizers or using moisturizers frequently in summer, the long, hot baths can actually do more damage than benefit. So try keeping showers and baths short and if you do indulge in a long-ish one, make sure to moisturize right after.

7. A Healthy, Well-Nourished Skin Is Key…

This is, undoubtedly, the most important secret to great skin, not just in summer but for every season and weather condition… nourish your skin well! Just like a healthy immune system is better able to fight diseases, healthy skin is better prepared to deal with harsh climatic conditions. Nurture your skin daily with a good dose of clean and natural nourishment, something Shea Butter XO can help you with. Our blends are made with a high concentration of the best quality organic shea butter that is made even better with the inclusion of other skin-nourishing ingredients.

Well, that’s the last of our summer skin secrets (for now, at least). How about you? Do you have any skincare secrets that you’d like to share? Feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Oh and have a happy, happy summer!