How to look after your skin in summer: 10 enemies (that aren't the sun)
THE QUICK ANSWER
Looking after your skin in summer takes more than sunscreen. Sand, sea water, chlorine, air con, friction, soapy showers, too little sleep and heat all dry it out or make it shiny, and none of them are in summer's small print.
What works: rinse off with fresh water after the sea or the pool, pat yourself dry, don't wash your face with soap more than twice a day, and pack a light moisturiser, an aftersun and sunscreen. Below are the 10 enemies, ranked from "meh" to "watch out for this one", and what to do about each.
The most predictable number one, the sun, gets its own post because it plays in a different league and we bang on about it enough already. Today it's the turn of the other suspects: the ones that fly under the radar and still make the most of summer to mess with your (sun-kissed) angel face.
IN THIS ARTICLE
The 10 summer enemies of your skin
(Ranked from "meh" to "watch out for this one")
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Sand
Sand on its own is pretty innocent, but rubbing it into your skin with a towel day after day ends up working like sandpaper. So: quick shower at the end of the day, and pat yourself dry instead of scrubbing.
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Showing more skin
More skin out means more surface exposed to wind, sun, friction… whatever comes your way. So if you look after your face, don't abandon the rest of your bod. It has feelings too.
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The sea
When salt water evaporates on your skin, it encourages moisture loss and leaves that tight feeling we all know. That's why our mums told us to rinse off with fresh water as soon as possible after the beach, and then put the lost moisture back with a light aftersun like Melonizer.
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The pool
Here the arch-enemy is chlorine (yes, worse than salt). But the fix is the same as for sea water: a quick shower after your swim (there's usually one right there) and a bit of extra moisture are normally more than enough.
The fact
In a study with elite athletes, 2 hours of pool training increased water loss from the skin far more than a football session did. The chlorinated pool environment takes its toll on your skin barrier, even if you don't feel it.
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Air conditioning
Car, hotel, plane, restaurant, shopping centre… all of them cold enough to breed penguins. On top of the sudden temperature changes, air con dries out the air, and in dry air your skin loses water faster. So if your face feels tight, go heavy on a light moisturiser like Dragon Shot.
(And heads up: in winter, central heating does exactly the same.)
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The rub
Towels, backpacks, wet T-shirts, wetsuits... In summer we spend all day rubbing up against stuff. None of it does much damage on its own, but together they give your skin barrier a bit of a beating. So: less force, more care. You're not scrubbing the barbecue grill after a bank holiday.
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Showering five times a day
There's nothing wrong with showering more when it's hot. But if every shower involves soap, you keep stripping away the oils that protect your skin. Try to make some of them just a rinse with water.
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Too little sleep (at odd hours)
While you're out on terraces, dinners, drinks and "no alarm tomorrow anyway"… your skin loses part of the time it uses to repair the day's small damage. And no, a nap on the beach doesn't count. No need to turn in at 9pm, but giving your skin the odd decent night is self-care too.
The fact
In a study with 60 women, good sleepers recovered their skin barrier 30% better than poor sleepers, 72 hours after it was deliberately damaged in the lab.
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The heat
In the heat you sweat a lot more, and your sebum also flows more freely (its production goes up with skin temperature). When sweat and sebum mix, you get more shine and, sometimes, more spots on your face and body. The key is resisting the urge to wash your face every two hours: a gentle cleanser twice a day is enough. Then go for a light moisturiser with shine control, like our Dragon Shot.
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Lack of (self) love (10/10)
This one wins by a mile. Most blokes don't pay their skin much attention during the year, but in summer the (sparse) routine disappears between suitcases, beach bars and the classic "I'll sort myself out in September". No need for a twelve-step Korean routine, just pack a moisturiser, an aftersun and sunscreen in your wash bag, next to the deodorant and toothpaste.
And use them.
Job done.
The cheat sheet: what to do about each enemy
| Enemy | What it does to your skin | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sand | Sandpaper effect when you rub it with a towel | Quick shower and pat dry |
| Showing more skin | More surface exposed to sun, wind and friction | Look after your body too, not just your face |
| Sea | Salt dries on the skin and leaves it tight | Rinse with fresh water and use aftersun |
| Pool | Chlorine dries skin out and increases water loss | Shower after swimming and add a bit of moisture |
| Air con | Dry air: your skin loses water faster | Light moisturiser when it feels tight |
| Friction | Wear and tear on the skin barrier | Less force when drying off and with wet clothes |
| Soapy showers | Strip away the oils that protect the skin | Soap in one, water only in the rest |
| Too little sleep | Less time to repair the barrier | The odd decent night every now and then |
| Heat | More sweat and sebum: shine and spots | Gentle cleanser twice a day and a light moisturiser |
| Lack of love | All of the above, unchecked | Moisturiser, aftersun and sunscreen in your wash bag |
In short
In the end, summer rarely wrecks your skin with one big mistake, but with lots of small slip-ups. The good news is that it works exactly the same the other way round: a few good habits kept up through August can make far more difference than you think. 😉
The summer wash bag that actually works
P.S.: This week's post is sponsored by our aqua-like moisturiser Dragon Shot. Perfect for summer because it isn't sticky, isn't heavy and doesn't feel like a chore. A water-cream texture with hyaluronic acid, which helps hold water in the skin, plus shine control for when the heat kicks in. Just what you need after salt water, chlorine, air con... or being a bit too optimistic with the sun.
And if you want the full wash bag from enemy #1: moisturiser, aftersun and sunscreen. All three come to €90.97, with free shipping (from €59).
€27.99
Dragon Shot
Everyday moisturiser with a water-cream texture: absorbs fast and doesn't leave your face shiny.
- Hydrates with hyaluronic acid
- Helps control shine
- With dragon's blood, an antioxidant
- Not sticky, not heavy
€25.99
Melonizer
Light aftersun for after a day of sun, beach or pool.
- Soothes and moisturises after sun
- Helps prolong the look of your tan
- Light texture
€36.99
Handsomefyer Sun
Moisturiser and sunscreen in one: one step instead of two.
- Broad-spectrum SPF 50 UVA + UVB
- Blurs pores and evens skin tone
- Matte finish
FAQ: your skin in summer
Does pool chlorine dry out your skin?
It can. In a study with elite swimmers, 2 hours of pool training increased water loss from the skin far more than a football session. Shower with fresh water when you get out and put on some moisturiser.
Should you shower after the beach?
It's worth rinsing off with fresh water as soon as you can. The salt left behind when the water evaporates leaves your skin tight and dry, and any sand stuck to you rubs against the towel. You don't need soap every time: water is enough, followed by aftersun or moisturiser.
Does air conditioning dry out your skin?
Yes. It lowers the humidity, and in dry air the skin barrier works less well and loses water faster. If your face feels tight in the car, the office or the hotel, use a light moisturiser. In winter, central heating has the same effect.
How many times a day can I shower in summer?
As many as you like, just not all with soap. Soap strips away the oils that protect your skin, so one soapy shower a day is usually enough; the rest can be just water.
Why is my face shinier in summer?
Because you sweat more in the heat and your sebum flows more freely. Sweat plus sebum means shine and, sometimes, spots. Washing your face every two hours won't fix it: a gentle cleanser morning and night, and a light moisturiser with shine control.
What should I pack in my wash bag to look after my skin in summer?
The minimum that works is three things: a light moisturiser, an aftersun and sunscreen. That covers almost every enemy on this list. The important bit is actually using them.
Keep reading
- How your skin changes in summer: what happens and why.
- What aftersun is actually for: the myths you've been told.
- Moisturiser with SPF: sun protection made simple.
- Oily skin in men: why your forehead shines.
- Cleansers: wax on, wax off: how to wash your face without drying it out.
Not sure what your skin needs?
The quiz takes a minute and tells you where to start for your skin type.
Siwon
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