Summer Skincare Essentials: Our Ultimate Guide

Who doesn’t love summer? Relaxing with friends on a long summer evening, picnics in the park, and getting that glorious summer glow – divine.

But, the sunshine also brings about changes that mean you might want to adapt your summer skincare routine to better look after your skin. Increased exposure to UV rays, more time outside, and even simply sweating in the hot weather will all affect how your skin behaves; and how you should look after it.

In this guide, we’ve picked out some of our favourite summer skincare essentials for a radiant glow this summer…

What changes with summer skincare?

As we mentioned before, there are a lot of factors that change when the seasons do – and this affects the best products to look after your skin. Summer means it’s typically hotter out, so you’ll sweat more; the sun is brighter, upping your exposure to UV rays; and you’re likely to spend more time outside, exposing your skin to more irritants like pollen, dust, and dirt.

All of this means that, in the summer, you may be more likely to experience:

• Sweaty or oily skin: hotter temperatures can increase oil production, and you’ll also sweat a lot more. If left alone, this can lead to more impurities blocking your pores, increasing the risk of breakouts. 

• Tight skin: dehydration can leave your skin feeling tight, so you need to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, and using hydrating products. Unlike in winter, where you want thicker moisturisers, in summer skincare you can use lighter products for hydration.

• Sun exposure: increased exposure to the sun can cause uneven skin pigmentation, sun spots, and sunburn, so your summer skincare routine needs to prioritise protection.

Pro tip: if you have specific skin conditions, these may also change in the summer. Hotter weather can cause eczema flare-ups or cause acne to worsen. If you do experience this, we strongly recommend consulting your dermatologist or medical professional for more advice.

Ingredients to look out for

Understanding how summer can affect your skin is one thing, but how do you know what products to include in a summer skincare routine? We’ve got you covered. There are some ingredients that are absolutely key to supporting your skin during the hotter weather, such as:

• Vitamin C: according to a 2017 research study, Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help counteract damage caused by free radicals (the pesky unstable molecules that can harm other cells), support collagen and elastin production (the stuff that makes your skin stretchy and firm), help to reduce hyperpigmentation for a more
  even skin tone, AND may reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Impressive, right?

• SPF: we’ve all heard of SPF – in fact, we’ve even written a guide on it, called Everything the experts want you to know about SPF. And, while SPF should be used all year round, it needs to be a summer skincare staple to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. UV rays can cause sunburn, damage your skin on a deeper level, and increase signs of skin aging. SPF helps to protect from all that by stopping UV in its tracks, like a bodyguard for your skin.

• Humectants and emollients: keeping your skin hydrated is essential whatever the season. But, in summer, your skincare should offer lighter ways to draw in and retain moisture to avoid your skin feeling tight. Humectants like Hyaluronic Acid bring water to the surface of your skin; while emollients like Ceramides help to reinforce your natural skin barrier to keep moisture in, and irritants (like pollen) out.
  

Sculpted summer skincare essentials

With all this new information in mind, it can be a little overwhelming. So, to help you out, we’ve picked out some of our summer skincare favourites to help you adapt your routine for a summertime glow.

DuoCleanse Cleanse & Clarify

Come rain or shine, cleansing is the first thing you should do as part of a skincare routine. Your skin goes through a lot: sweating, natural oil production, wearing makeup, and just existing in the world can clog your pores or leave you feeling a little grimy after sleep or at the end of the day. The best cleansers are jam-packed with helpful ingredients to help clear your skin and leave you feeling refreshed.

For summer skincare, we love our DuoCleanse Cleanse & Clarify. The first of this 2-step cleanser gently cleans and prepares your face, while the Clarifying Cleanser targets blemishes and congestion to help clear your pores and reduce the risk of future breakouts. 

How? Our formula contains 2% Salicylic Acid, a deep-reaching exfoliant which helps to remove dead skin cells and stubborn products (like oil-based SPF), enhancing your natural radiance. 

What’s more, this cleanser contains Antioxidants to protect from free radical damage, and Glycerin for maximum hydration. Perfect for starting your summer skincare routine off right.

HydraBright Illuminating Serum

If it’s Vitamin C you’re looking for, you’re in the right place. When it comes to maximising your radiance, our HydraBright Illuminating Serum is your fast-track to fresher looking skin.

Packed full of powerful Vitamin C and Antioxidants, this serum is a must-have for summer skincare. The antioxidant-rich formula helps to protect from environmental stressors and free radical damage, while Vitamin C can help reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation for an even, radiant complexion.

But how do these work? Serums are designed to target specific skincare concerns; their lightweight formula allows them to absorb deeply into the skin and get to work without feeling heavy. Our Illuminating Serum for example, is silky soft to leave your skin feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

Beauty Base Original

Summer skincare needs to be simple; no-one wants to slog through a 10-step routine in the heat. That’s why we love a multitasking product like our Beauty Base Original Primer. This all-in-one moisturising SPF primer is a hard-working hero that prepares, protects, and perfects your summertime glow.

Enriched with Hyaluronic Acid for super hydration, Peptides for plumper, healthier skin, and SPF PA+++ 30 for excellent UV protection, this is a one-stop product for soft, glowing skin. Wear it alone for a natural skin moment, where the light-reflecting microparticles mean you’ll shine like a diamond in the sun. Or, mix into your foundation for the perfect, lightweight base before putting makeup on.

Sun Mist SPF 50 Spray

Our summer skincare favourites wouldn’t be complete without an SPF to help shield your skin from the sun. SPF is the most important part of a summer skincare routine, but it can be hard to know what your best options are – especially if you’re wearing makeup. 

That’s why we’re incredibly proud of our Sun Mist SPF 50 Spray.

Instead of rubbing a cream into your face, this broad spectrum SPF spray is a lightweight, invisible mist that can easily go on top of makeup without smearing. The hydrating, non-comedogenic formula is enriched with Vitamin E and Apricot Oil to gently moisturise your skin throughout the day without clogging your pores. The small size makes our spray perfect for on-the-go protection; spray every 1-2 hours to top up your hydration and SPF protection.

Pro tip: use our Beauty Base under makeup and our Sun Mist over the top for maximum coverage.

Don’t forget to look after your lips! We have a HydraLip Balm with SPF 25 for summer hydration and protection for this incredibly delicate skin.

Boost your summer glow with Sculpted by Aimee

Radiant, glowing skin needs a little bit of care, and you deserve to look after you! Especially in the summer months, when hot weather and lazy days in the sunshine are at the top of the agenda.

Upgrade your summer skincare routine with help from Sculpted; we’ve even done all the hard work on the science so you can concentrate on looking fab and having fun in the sun.

Explore our Skincare collection today for more of our favourites, or check out the Sculpted by Aimee blog for information and inspiration.

We think you’ll love… Everything the Experts want you to know about SPF | Morning vs Night Skincare Routines | Skinimalism: The Sculpted How-To Guide

Disclaimer: this article is not a replacement for medical advice. If you have questions about summer skincare, or require personal advice, please contact your dermatologist or medical professional.