Above: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Marty S.
If you haven’t been able to tell by now, countless people are ready for the summer season to begin. After the year we’ve all had, we can’t wait to start having fun outdoors and spending time under the sun. However, don’t throw caution to the wind just yet. Sunburns and an excess tan are common from too much sun exposure, but they can actually be the least of your concerns. Sun exposure can damage your skin and make it look more lackluster, lifeless, and aged. If you’ve ever gone back inside and noticed blemishes, dullness, or marks appearing on your skin, that is likely due to your excess sun exposure.
Sun damage is certainly capable of devastating your skin and your summer, but you don’t have to go back and stay indoors. There are things you can do to protect your skin so that it looks flawless without you having to sacrifice any outdoor summer fun. Today, you will learn 10 tips that will help you care for your skin during the summer. No matter what summer brings, these 10 tips can help you achieve a glowing, youthful complexion free of dark spots all season long.
1. Don’t Spend Too Much Time in the Sun
As we mentioned in the introduction, the sun can damage your skin and worsen your complexion. That’s because of the UV radiation and free radical damage from the sun’s rays. The longer you leave your skin unprotected and exposed to the sun, the more vulnerable your skin is to developing dark spots, rapid aging, and discoloration. When you are out and about during the summer, you should try not to spend too much time under direct sunlight. Try to utilize shady places and indoor buildings when you can, especially if it is hot and sunny outside.
“I bought two of your serums, just the serums, the [Rosehip & Citrus serum] and the [Sweet Almond & Wheatgerm serum]. They made this [hyperpigmentation] go away.”
2. Go Outdoors During Dusk and Dawn Instead of Midday
If you do have to walk out in sunny weather, the best thing you can do is plan out when you do so. The worst time to go out is between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. because this is when the sun is at its peak and when the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest. Conversely, the best time to go out is during dawn (before 10 a.m.) and dusk (after 4 p.m.). Making adjustments to your schedule in the summer so that you avoid this 6 hour period can result in less sun damage even if you choose to walk outside during sunrise and sunset.
3. Wear Sunglasses to Protect Your Eye Area
During the summer, you have to pay attention to your eye area, too. The skin surrounding your eye area is quite delicate, which means it is even more prone to sun damage. With regards to your eyes, excess sun damage could start appearing as dark circles and discoloration around the eye area. The easiest way to avoid sun damage is to wear a good pair of polarized sunglasses whenever it is sunny outside. Sunglasses will also reduce eye strain, and less eye strain could lead to fewer eye wrinkles.
If you already have eye wrinkles or dark circles, we recommend using our Cucumber Under Eye Serum to keep your eye area flawless and beautiful.
4. Wear a Wide-Brimmed Hat
On that note, after putting on those sunglasses to protect your eye area, don’t forget to put on a hat. One of the easiest things you can do to avoid sun damage is to wear a wide-brimmed hat. A wide brim will give your face enough cover and shade from the sun’s rays.
5. Hydrate Regularly
Before walking out to a hot, sunny summer day, you wouldn’t forget to bring a bottle of water, would you? It is important to keep your skin hydrated during the summer, especially if you live in a dry region. Drinking enough water every day will support your system and encourage soft, supple skin and a youthful glow. Alternatively, if you don’t drink enough water every day, at the very least, eat more hydrating foods such as watermelon and cucumber.
6. Use Natural Products That Contain Ingredients with Sun-Protection Properties
Because of how prevalent sun damage is during the summer, now is the perfect time to make adjustments to your skin care routine. One simple adjustment you should make to your summertime skin care routine is to use skin care products that contain natural ingredients known for their sun protection properties. For example, while not a certified SPF, shea butter is thought to adequately shield your skin from sun damage.
There are many more ingredients with sun protection properties that you should research, but at Apsara Skin Care, we formulate many products that utilize some of these ingredients. For instance, sandalwood has been used in Ayurveda to minimize excess tan, and you can find it in our Sandalwood Facial Serum.
If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you may start to experience hyperpigmentation, melasma, and dark spots. However, we have a home remedy you can try to fade those skin issues in a jiffy. Enjoy and please subscribe to my YouTube channel!
7. Use Natural Products That Are Rich in Antioxidants
Another handy tip for your summertime skin care routine is to prioritize antioxidant-rich natural products. Antioxidants will help undo sun damage by mitigating free radical damage to your skin. Thus, using more antioxidants will help you protect your skin and can fade the appearance of lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and other troublesome skin issues. Turmeric, for example, is an Ayurvedic favorite and has antioxidant properties due to the compound curcumin. Turmeric is a part of many Apsara Skin Care products, including our Turmeric Facial Cleanser and Rosewater & Turmeric Facial Toner.
8. Use a Facial Toner with Rosewater to Cool off Your Skin
Within your daily skin care routine, you should already be using a facial toner to tighten up your skin, but a toner will do even more for you during the summer if it contains rosewater. Rosewater is a natural ingredient that has natural cooling and skin-pacifying properties. Using a toner daily will refresh your skin and prevent it from becoming irritated due to any summer weather conditions. Less inflammation can contribute to more glowing, youthful skin.
Don’t have a rosewater facial toner? No matter. At Apsara Skin Care, we have a wide selection of rosewater facial toners for you to choose from, depending on your skin type.
9. Gently Exfoliate Every Week
Within your weekly skin care routine, it is vital to continue gently exfoliating your skin. For those with dry skin, the summer heat might make your dryness worse. For those with oily skin, your skin may pump out a lot of sebum to protect and nourish itself, which could end up clogging your pores and causing acne. Exfoliation will help slough off the dead cells on the surface of your skin and unclog congested pores, which will hopefully lead to more balanced and youthful skin.
If you need to add an exfoliant to your weekly skin care routine, we have just the product for you. Our Nut Shell & Facial Scrub is gentle on your skin and can reveal a clean, more radiant, and more youthful complexion.
10. Use a Cucumber Home Remedy on Your Skin
If your daily and weekly skin care routine isn’t enough for you and you want to go the extra mile to avoid sun damage, you can always use a home remedy to cool and nourish your skin after a long day under the sun. One ingredient to note is cucumber; similar to rosewater, cucumber has natural cooling and skin-pacifying properties.
At Apsara Skin Care, we have many cucumber-based DIY home remedies you can use regularly to keep your skin in tip-top shape throughout the summer. Here are a few that you must try today.
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Go natural. It is good karma!