Your Essential Summer Skincare Guide

Summer is officially here. And as much as we all love the effortless glow that comes with spending more time outside (and let’s be real, a constant light sheen of sweat), it’s important to pay special attention to your skin during the warmer months. 

Summer can come with both dry and humid heat - depending on where you’re located. Both of which can wreak havoc on your skin, particularly if you’ve only just nailed your winter skincare routine. Not to mention that in Australia, we’re lucky enough to have the highest the highest UV rating in the world. And while you should be applying SPF every day of year, you’ve got to be particularly diligent over summer. 

Whether you’ve got dry, oily, combination, acne-prone, or ageing skin; your summer skincare routine is one that’s going to be vastly different to the rest of the year. Your skincare regime should naturally change with the seasons. 

 

The Essentials for Summer Skincare

In summer, you’ve got to contend with the heat, humidity, UV rays, salt water, and then of course, the moisture-zapping impacts of air conditioning. It’s all a bit much for your skin. 

So, where to start? Upgrading your skincare routine for summer doesn’t mean completely overhauling your current product regime, but it should mean incorporating a few extra steps. Think stronger sunscreens, plenty of hydration, and antioxidants. 

Without further ado, let’s dive straight into our ultimate guide to summer skincare.

 

 

 

5 Essential Summer Skin Care Products

1. Sunscreen

Yes, it’s an obvious fact that you should be slapping on generous amounts of sunscreen, but it can’t be understated how important sunscreen is for skin protection. 

A regular moisturiser with SPF 15 isn’t enough - you need to be wearing SPF 50+ all day, every day. Wear SPF 50 when you’re outside, when you’re inside, when you’re working, when you’re on an airplane, when you’re swimming, when you’re sleeping (just kidding on that last one!).

But seriously, you need to be wearing SPF 50 skincare throughout summer - even if it’s cloudy, or if you’re stuck in an office all day. SPF provides a barrier (physical or chemical) between UV rays and your skin, saving your skin from sunburn, sun damage, Melanoma, and premature ageing. So while we can be vain and say that you should wear SPF to prevent wrinkles, we’re also not being dramatic when we say that sunscreen saves lives. 

At BONIIK, we provide a wide range of korean sunscreens. Our collection of sun care includes products that will leave you without a white cast, non-greasy skin, and will protect and be gentle on acne or sensitive skin. 

2. Hydrating Skincare Products

Ok now that we’ve got the serious stuff out of the way, let’s talk hydration.

Australian summer weather can range from dry, hot air, to humid, moist conditions. Both of which can be hard to contend with, without taking into consideration that we’re also constantly exposed to air conditioning air upon entering any office, retail store, or a grandparent’s living room (seriously - why do they always have it blasting at 16°?). If you’re also someone that spends a lot of time swimming during summer, you already know that both salt water and chlorine can be extremely drying.

It’s really important to keep your skin hydrated and moisturised during summer. And while extra moisture may seem redundant when we’re always sweating, more oil doesn’t equate to increased hydrating. Apart from sweat, during the warmer months, your skin will increase sebum production to protect itself from drying out, resulting in oily skin that is also dehydrated.

Hydrating skincare products for summer include a moisturiser, hyualuronic acid serum, and if your skin is suited to it, a face oil. Find the product that best fits your skin type - for those who can’t do heavy cream, go for a gel moisturiser. And if you can’t do face oil, pop on a hydrating mask once a week. 

Hydration in your summer skincare routine will ensure that your skincare stays hydrated (duh), moisture is sealed into the skin’s barrier, and that you’re supporting elasticity, which will minimise signs of ageing. 

Miss Hayley Beiber is onto something here - during Summer, your goal should be to go to bed with skin like a glazed donut. 

3. Don’t Skip Cleansing

Summer means more time spent outside. Whether it’s the beach, the park, the pool, or just generally out and about; we’re going to be sweating and exposed to the elements than at other times of the year. 

Cleansing the day away will play a vital role in your summer skincare regime. The right cleanser will help to remove dirt and built up sebum, both of which can contributed to blocked pores, blackheads, and breakouts. 

Find a cleanser that best works for your skincare type. In summer, we love a gentle cleanser like the Sulwhasoo gentle cleansing foam. 

 

 

4. Vitamin C Skincare

 

UV rays do more than just damage your skin, they can also break down collagen and irritate your skin. To help manage the effects of UV damage, use skincare products that feature Vitamin C as a key ingredient. 

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to protect the skin against free radicals like pollution and UV rays. It also stimulates collagen production, preventing and minimising the signs of ageing. Vitamin C can be found in skincare serums, face masks, and moisturisers. However - always make sure you’re using SPF when vitamin C is incorporated into your summer skincare routine!

3. Serums & Ampoules for Effective Targeting

Serums and ampoules are like little magic bottles of potion, designed to provide a more potent and effective skincare product. Some will target ageing, others will focus on blemish control, and almost everyone could do with adding hyaluronic acid into their skincare regime - especially in summer. 

Our favourite serums for summer skincare include:

• SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum
• COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Essence - a crowd favourite
• Dr Jart Cicapair Serum

Are There Any Skincare Products To Avoid in Summer?

Unless you’re planning to spend the whole season indoors, your skin will be getting a fair share of sun exposure. 

The damage that UV exposure can do to your skin can be exacerbated by citrus-based oils that are present in some skincare products, so try to avoid those, especially on days with high UV warnings. The reason for this is that citrus oils can become phototoxic when applied to skin that is then exposed to sunlight. Phototoxic effects may include redness, blistering and rashes.

Harsh skincare products that exfoliate the skin like face scrubs or peels should be used sparingly, as they can potentially make the skin more sensitive to sun damage when you’re out and about. 

It’s recommended that you should minimise retinoids, another type of exfoliation, as it can leave your skin sensitive to sunlight. 

Other tips for the perfect summer skincare routine include:

• Using non-comedogenic makeup
• Incorporate cold showers
• Try lightweight products rather than dense, rich moisturisers
• Double (or triple!) up on SPF - don’t be afraid of using a sunscreen, BB cream, or foundation with extra protection
• Embrace the natural glow that summer brings to your skin