10 tips for Summer Skincare

1. Drink lots of water- Lotion and moisturizers cannot solve all of your problems. Much of your skin’s hydration comes from the water that you drink. Keeping your body hydrated is essential during summer months especially during outdoor activities. Many people experience oily skin during the summer, but are not sure of the cause. During the summer, the heat can cause the skin to loose vital and therefore . This leaves your skin dry, and so it can produces excess oil to compensate for the moisture loss. Drink your moisture, don’t just apply it!
2. Wear sunscreen- Perhaps the most obvious summer skin tip, but also one of the most important. UVA and UVB rays can do a number on your skin, and not just through sunburn. Exposure to harmful rays can age your skin at a more rapid pace. Even if you are just going to work, and do not expect sun exposure, it is always a good idea to apply sunscreen before leaving the house. Wearing sunscreen is perhaps the most simple, yet most effective form of protection you can give your skin this summer. For your whole body, a shot glass full of sunscreen is recommended and for your face, a whole tsp. Sunscreen should be applied at least 15 minutes before sun exposure. 
3. Take care of your feet- Summer means sandals, but it can also mean dry, cracked feet. Wearing sandals and no socks can leave your feet thirsty and itchy. Have no fear, there are a variety of ways to combat scaly feet. Using a pumice stone in the shower can gently remove the outer layer of dead skin cells. Be sure to use in it particularly dry areas such as your heels and your big toes. Using a gentle exfoliator can be effective, especially if it has moisturizing properties. Our Rosemary Mint salt scrub is perfect for dry cracked feet. Not only does it use salt to exfoliate the top layer of skin, it also hydrates and soothes with mint extracts and moisturizing oils. Be sure to apply lotion to your feet after every shower.
4. Lotion over powder- Powdered foundation can dry out your skin, which causes excess oil production. Instead, try a tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizers act as great makeup bases, but give you the hydration you need to keep your skin looking fresh. Our skin smoothing SPF 30 is a tinted moisturizer with sun protection. It is a 3 in 1 make-up base, moisturizer, and SPF. Whatever product you use this season, make sure that it is a liquid, not a powder!
5. Treat sunburn quickly- The key to keeping sunburn at a minimum is, sunscreen of course! But if you unfortunately caught some harsh rays, staying on top of your burn can minimize the pain. Pain and redness from sunscreen is caused by inflammation, keeping inflammation to minimum can help ease pain. Apply cold compresses to the affected area for 5 minute increments asap. Also, applying a wet cloth soaked in water or milk has been shown to hydrate the affected area, easing pain and protecting skin. Applying aloe after the cold compress and water can also help retain surface moisture. An aloe gel with added pain relief can increase pain defense. Vitamin C has also shown to be very effective at fighting the short and long term effects of sunscreen. Its anti-inflammatory properties help fight inflammation at the start. It also protects on a long term basis by restoring skin damage and protecting from suns rays that cause wrinkling and aging. Our pure C serum is a great supplemental topical treatment for sunscreen, and can be applied 2-3 times a week. 
6. Reapply sunscreen- Did we mention sunscreen is important? A common misconception is that you can slather on a high SPF sunscreen and you will be good to go all day. However, this is not the case. An SPF 30 only provides about 5% better protection than an SPF 15, and that number goes down as you get higher up in SPF numbers. A good equation for SPF is minutes that you can be outside before you burn x SPF number = total minutes you can be outside, given that the sunscreen is applied properly. Many people do not realize that sunscreen must be reapplied. Most sunscreens will provide a recommendation as to how often you should reapply, especially if you are sweating or swimming. Reapplication of sunscreen is what really makes it work. 
7. Take cool showers- Taking hot showers might feel refreshing, but all that heat can really dry out your skin. If you feel itchy or have blotchy red skin after a shower, turn down the heat a bit. Cooler showers can be a great way to cool down during the summer, and with no damage to your skin. After showering and towel drying, be sure to apply a moisturizer to lock in h20. 
8. Load up on antioxidants- Antioxidants help fight free radical in your body that can cause cancers, such as skin cancers. Exposure to UVA and UVB rays lead to aging skin, and in some cases, can lead to cancer. Foods rich with antioxidants such as blueberries, pomegranates, watermelon, red beans, cranberries, and blackberries are all great for gorging in the summer. Ingesting as well as applying antioxidants can greatly help your skin. While it is no replacement for sunscreen, it can help fight signs of aging. 
9. Get a lash tint- Swimming is a fun summer activity. Between pool parties and trips to the beach, chances are you will have to look your best even after a swim. Instead of experimenting with waterproof mascara, why not try a lash tint. It saves you the hassle of applying mascara, and the insecurity you may feel should your “8 hr. Waterproof” mascara turn out to be not so “proof”. You can pick the color you like, and it lasts for 3-4 weeks. Lash tinting is great for anyone who wants to look good on the go and loves a good swim!
10. Exfoliate- Your skin sheds cells on the surface at a very rapid pace. If you don’t remove those dead cells by exfoliating properly, your skin will remain lifeless and dull. To get the much sought after “summer glow”, exfoliation is a must. Moisturize all you want, but if you don’ exfoliate you will end up with dull skin, that although might be hydrated, is pretty lackluster. Exfoliation can come in a variety of forms whether it is mechanical or chemical. ESI’s answer for this type is our own Elaine Sterling Vita C Microexfoliant. Not only does it mechanically and chemically remove outer cells, it also provides Vitamin C for added radiance. As far as chemical peels go, we suggest you do your more aggressive peels in the fall and winter so that you do not promote pigmentation but if the idea of a whole summer without your favorite peel just leaves you gloomy, then opt for milder peels done more frequently during summer. Have your peels done on a Monday or a Tuesday much earlier on in the week whereby you have less chance of sun exposure. I great summer peel is our vitamin c peel that will not only brighten and protect the skin but also give you the exfoliation you desire.