News & Politics

Light and Easy: Tips for Seasonal Beauty Products

Do you use the same beauty products in summer as in winter? You can help hair and skin by making seasonal changes to your daily routine.

Most people use the same beauty products year-round. But hair and skin have different needs during a February snowstorm and a July heat wave.

We asked hairstylists, makeup artists, and aestheticians how Washingtonians should vary hair and skin routines for summer.

Every expert began with the same advice: Wear sunscreen. Sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer and slows the signs of aging. Experts recommend a daily moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunblock at least 20 minutes before heading outdoors and reapply every 1½ to two hours.

Sunscreen isn’t just for skin. Hair products with SPF—shampoos, leave-in conditioners, and sprays—protect color-treated hair from dulling.

Here are other tips:

• Put away that hydrating face cream. Heavy lotions that hydrate skin are great for winter but thick for summer. To minimize breakouts, look for an oil-free, lightweight moisturizer. LaVerne Walker of Synergy Day Spa in Adams Morgan recommends staying away from any moisturizer labeled “for dry or severely dry skin.”

• Go natural. “Summer is the perfect time to cut back on makeup,” says makeup artist Kim Giammaria. On hot, humid days, she says, “just a sweep of color over the eyes and a touch of mascara can be enough.” Swap foundation, which can feel thick and clog pores, for a tinted moisturizer or bronzer. On cheeks, eyes, and lips, warm colors—pink, apricot, bronze, and gold—complete the natural look.

• Lighten up. Like skin, hair tends to be dry in winter, oily in summer. Frankie Sanderson, a stylist at Molécule Salon in downtown DC, suggests shampoos that say “for normal hair” rather than heavier ones labeled “for dry or damaged hair.”

• Protect hair. Duane Reed, a colorist at Celadon in DC, recommends a waterproof gel to protect hair exposed to chlorine and salt water. This is particularly important for blondes and redheads, whose hair can take on a dull, brassy look.

If you’re at water’s edge without protection, David Cohen, of David’s Beautiful People in Rockville and David’s Hair and Day Spa in Bethesda, suggests this trick: Wet hair with tap water before diving in. Hair can hold only so much water, so soaking it first blocks some chlorine absorption.

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