Summer Skin Care

When it comes to skin care in Austin during the warmer months, any dermatologist in Austin will tell you that the products that typically keep your skin smooth and moist in the winter don’t have the same effects in the summer. For example, the products that keep your skin moist in the winter may leave it oily in the summer. In order to help you determine the different types of products that keeps your skin smooth and flawless throughout the summer, here a few helpful tips.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to read the product labels beforehand. In the dry winter months, it’s safe to use products that contain ingredients like glycerol and urea to collect water from the air and keep it against your skin. But in the summer, those same products may make you perspire more, especially when you’re out jogging or involved in other aerobic activities.

It’s also a good idea to exfoliate your skin, because doing so helps remove some of the dead skin cells that tend to block your pores. You need to give your skin the ability to breathe, which is important when you’re involved in outdoor activities like jogging. You can exfoliate your skin using a light brush or an exfoliate scrub.

In the warm summer months, be sure to use products that have lightweight ingredients, especially when you spend a lot of time running, biking, hiking and swimming. For example, you should look for ingredients like silicone, squalane and glycerin. These types of products and ingredients help create a breathable barrier for your skin.

During the summer, the oil glands on your skin are more active, and more oil means more potential for skin breakout. Some of the best products to reduce oil are zinc and titanium-based sunscreens.

The experts also say that it’s a good idea to stay out of the direct rays of the sun, but it’s easier said than done, especially when you’re heavily involved in summer activities. At any rate, it’s essential to protect your skin from head to toe, and most dermatologists recommend using an SPF between 15 and 30 during the summer months.

The experts also say that women should layer sunscreen under makeup to be safe on the safe side. If you use a chemical sunscreen (with oxybenzone or avobenzone), you should start with clean skin, and then add anti-aging serums, sunscreen and finally makeup.

As a general rule, you should switch to lighter, water-based products in the summer. Also look for makeup products that do double duty like BB creams with moisturizer.

Dr. Lawrence Broder, MD is the founder of Beleza Medspa in Austin, Texas. Beleza Medspa now has five locations where Dr. Broder is among the leading providers of Botox, Juvederm, DOT therapy, photofacials and all around skin care in the Austin, Round Rock and Cedar Park, Texas areas.