The Top 5 Summer Skincare Tips to follow this summer when you’re on vacation, simplified.

The Top 5 Summer Skincare Tips to follow this summer when you’re on vacation, simplified.

Summertime is when we take vacations, enjoy the outdoors and relax. Amanda Martyniuk, the Master Aesthetician with Sanctuary Cosmetic Center, has her top five summer skincare tips to keep you looking great on vacation and into the fall!

1.     Avoid Sunburn, Ouch I am sure most of you are saying, here she goes again going on about the usage of SPF, blah, blah, blah.

 This is perhaps the most essential product in your tote bag! Since most summer vacations involve a bit of sun worshipping, you’re going to want to pack a medical grade, UVA/UVB SPF (30 or more). And, don’t forget to re-apply. 

Here’s why:  Radiation from the sun is classified as UVA, UVB and UVC rays. UVA and UVB are of greatest concern since our skin is exposed to these rays throughout the year. UVC is mostly filtered by the earth’s ozone with very little reaching the surface.

Ever hear that you can get sunburn on a cloudy day? Well, it’s true! UVA has the ability to penetrate through clouds and windows deeply into the skin and is present regardless of weather conditions. Many people refer to this ray as the “aging” ray since it breaks down the dermal layer of skin which is responsible for much of our skin volume and elasticity.

UVB, (or the burning ray) is more intense on sunny days and during the summer months. Damage from both of these rays contributes to loss of elasticity, sagging skin with rough texture, uneven skin tone and broken capillaries. Worst of all, these rays can cause skin cancer, especially melanoma.

2.     Exfoliate your body One of the most basic rules for skincare is to exfoliate. Your body sheds skin cells at an incredible rate every minute of every day.  So, if you don’t get rid of them, they’ll just set in on your skin making you look dull and dry. 

It doesn’t matter how much lotion you use, you’re never going to have glowing skin if you don’t exfoliate. Grab a dry brush or mild body scrub and gently massage in a circular motion on your entire body from the shoulders down!

3.     Stay hydrated Water is essential for life, but it does so much for the skin. If possible, carry a water bottle with you and remember to drink at least once every 30 minutes. Water not only helps you feel fresh, but it also prevents dehydration and will help wash out a lot of toxins.

4.     Keep makeup to a minimum Who wants to cake on makeup on a 90 degree day in the middle of summer? Definitely, not me.

I always suggest swapping out your normal foundation and switching to a tinted SPF BB cream. While foundations are great, they can sometimes seem a little heavy for everyday wear in the middle of summer, which is where tinted moisturizers and BB creams come in. 

Lighter in texture and feel, yet varying in coverage, and great for all skin types, especially those with acneic, combination or oily skin.

5.     Repair and treat sun damage.  As you read above, UV light causes skin damage at the cellular level. When sunlight comes in contact with skin, a cascade of damage results, including the stripping of barrier lipids causing inflammation, production of reactive oxygen molecules that affect healthy cell growth, and stimulation of collagen destructing enzymes.

Even though everyone looks forward to that summer glow, it is still essential to protect your skin so you aren’t spending hundreds, even thousands trying to reverse the damage you have done. Although, if you do, there are a multitude of treatments you can do which include a variety of medical grade products, chemical peels, laser resurfacing and other specialty treatments. They range in cost from $250 to $1,500 per treatment.