10 Common Summer Skincare Mistakes You Should Avoid

Summer has arrived, and with it, a relaxed approach to your skincare routine might follow. It’s true that the warmer, humid weather tends to treat our skin a little nicer than the cold dry months of winter, but that doesn’t mean your skincare routine should be abandoned completely. In fact, some adjustments should be made to make sure you’re protecting that sunkissed skin of yours. 

Here are 10 common skincare mistakes you should be avoiding. 

Mistake #1: Exfoliating in the Morning

While a regular exfoliation routine is good, even in the summer months, to rid your face of dead skin cells and keep your pores unclogged, exfoliating should be left for the evening. That layer of dead skin actually serves as a barrier between you and UV rays, and chemical exfoliators like retinol, AHAs and BHAs actually make your skin more sensitive to the sun. So leave them out of your morning routine and only reach for your exfoliation toolkit before bed. 

Mistake #2: Not switching from your winter cleanser 

In the summer months, because you’re actively sweating more, your skin needs a little more exfoliation assistance than in the winter. Therefore, your gentle cream or gel cleanser you might be using in the winter won’t pan out as well for the summertime. Opt for something that has gentle exfoliating benefits like salicylic or glycolic acid. 

Mistake #3: Skipping out on moisturizer

Your skin might be feeling a lot less dry thanks to the natural humidity in the air during the summer, and maybe its oils have increased slightly, but that doesn’t mean you can put away the moisturizer. What you can do is switch to a lighter-based moisturizer if what you tend to use in the winter is a heavier formula. 

Mistake #4: Not wearing sunscreen

While you should be wearing sunscreen even in the winter, you should especially be applying it during sunnier months. Not wearing sunscreen not only brings on risk of skin cancer, but UV rays are also the number one contributing factor to ageing skin. Make sure you’re wearing a minimum SPF 30, and apply it as the last step in your skincare routine. 

Mistake #5: Not reapplying your sunscreen

You slathered it on in the morning so you’re good for the whole day, right? Wrong. Sunscreen degrades in the sun and ceases to protect you against UV rays, making reapplication every two hours necessary. If you’re wearing makeup, reapply with a spray sunscreen or dab a liquid sunscreen on with a sponge. And remember that childhood rule — reapply after being in the water. 

Mistake #6: Not applying SPF to your lips

You’re probably tired of hearing about sunscreen by now, but the lips are so often skipped out on when SPF is applied. Your lip skin is just as sensitive as the skin around your eye area and should be treated with extra care. Find yourself a nice SPF lip balm and keep it with you at all times, reapplying like your regular sunscreen, plus after eating and drinking. 

Mistake #7: Thinking your SPF makeup is enough coverage

Ok, last note about sunscreen, but it’s important. Many makeup setting powders include SPF these days, and while they’re a great additional SPF protection step and great for reapplying that sun protection throughout the day, they’re not enough protection to be used on their own. Think of them as a nice dose of added protection, but make sure you’re layering a regular sunscreen underneath to fully protect you from harmful UV rays. 

Mistake #8: Shaving right before a trip to the beach

The sun is extra hot today and you decide on a last-minute beach trip, but you forgot to shave your legs last night. It happens, but you might want to decide to rock those extra little hairs over shaving right before spending time in the sun. Why? Sun, sunscreen and sand can lead to bad irritation on newly shaved areas. If you can, plan ahead and give yourself 24 to 48 hours between shaving and sun tanning. 

Mistake #9: Wearing makeup to the beach

Consider the beach your golden ticket for a makeup-free day. When we lay in the sun and sweat for long hours, or go in and out of saltwater, that foundation you’re wearing can clog your pores more than normal. If you do have the desire to wear makeup to the beach, try limiting it to a light powder or a touch of concealer versus a full face of foundation. 

Mistake #10: Not washing your face after a sweaty day

Feeling exhausted after a hot day in the sun? Remember to squeeze in a little nighttime skincare routine before hitting the bed. All that sweat and sunscreen are a bad combination for breakouts if not rinsed off, so grab a cleanser and wash off the day. If you have a little extra time, rejuvenate and purify your skin with a clay mask as well. 

That’s it! You and your skin are ready for summer adventures. 

 
Now go bask in the sun and enjoy summer! Want to refresh your skin care routine? Go glacial with NENA now!