It's summer! Is your skin ready?
Bare legs and arms, al fresco dining, endless vacation days... Summer is finally here! You've already traded in your winter wardrobe for lighter outfits, but what about your skincare routine? It's time to adapt it to the new temperatures and switch from rich formulas to lighter textures while protecting yourself... Here are our 5 tips for keeping your skin glowing and happy, all summer long. We promise!
1. Protect, protect, protect!
As we explained in our previous newsletter, as tempting as the sun may be, you need to protect your skin from its harmful rays. Make sure you reapply sunscreen (and lots of it!) every two hours or after every refreshing swim. So choose a product you actually enjoy using.
Our selection
COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 A lightweight cream that absorbs effortlessly and provides high UV protection that is completely invisible and without any greasy film.
Classic Spray SPF50 (Fragrance-Free) by COOLA This high-performance, hypoallergenic SPF 50 body sunscreen spray is simply magical! It's designed to work in all positions with consistent spray efficiency, even upside down. Completely transparent and enriched with over 70% certified organic natural moisturizing and antioxidant ingredients.
2. Every night, double cleanse
How to deeply cleanse your skin without damaging it? By using two cleansers in the evening—one oil-based, then a gel or milk—you optimally cleanse your skin, ensuring that no traces of makeup, sunscreens, sweat, excess sebum, or pollution particles remain on your face. The bonus? Truly clean skin absorbs the active ingredients in your skincare much better.
Our selection
REN Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser An oil-based cleanser that effectively removes makeup, traces of pollution, and sunscreen residue. Massage onto dry skin for one minute, then emulsify with warm water. When the oil turns milky, rinse.
Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Gel Cleanser A formula with hyaluronic acid and gentle cleansing ingredients, which cleanses without drying.
3. Hydrate
UV rays, chlorine, seawater, and air conditioning in the office/train/plane... are all factors that dry out the skin. That's why in summer, just like in winter, it needs moisturizing active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe vera, which help maintain the skin's moisture level. Aloe vera is especially recommended because, in addition to moisturizing, it also soothes the skin after sun exposure.
In summer, we like to swap the rich creams that comfort us in winter for lighter gel or serum formulas. They're refreshing and best suited to oily or combination skin, which sweats more in summer. For optimal hydration, pair your hydrating serum with a gel day cream and apply them to slightly damp skin: this allows the gel formula to retain more moisture.
A tip? Always pack a highly moisturizing product in your carry-on before a flight or long journey. Your skin will thank you.
Our selection
Serums
Circular Hydration Serum by DERMALOGICA An ultra-light serum with hyaluronic acid and amino acids that instantly replenishes the skin with moisture and improves its hydration cycle by continuously irrigating it.
Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum by TAN LUXE A bath of hydration and antioxidants that gives you a dose of sunshine. This self-tanning serum is a top multitasker that hydrates your skin while intensifying your tan with each application for a natural, customized tan.
Gel texture moisturizers
Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel by BENTON This light and fresh gel is made from 80% aloe vera, an ingredient well known for its moisturizing, soothing and antibacterial properties. Its formula, also containing 10% propolis, is perfect for thirsty and/or blemish-prone skin.
Niacinamide Cucumber Aqua Gel Cream A true hydration bomb with a gel texture formulated with cucumber water (32%) to refresh and lightly hydrate the skin. Its concentration of niacinamide (4%) helps regulate sebum, tighten pores and soothe inflammation while acting as an antioxidant.
REN Daily Radiance Cream Gel Vitamin C This vitamin C cream helps prevent and blur dark spots. Refreshing and naturally citrus-scented, it's a wonder for the skin and the senses. The gel-cream texture melts into the skin, for an easily absorbed boost of hydration.
4. Long live floral waters!
Swap your classic toner for a super multitasking floral water. Use it after cleansing to prepare your skin for your skincare routine. Floral water is ideal for prepping skin before applying a hydrating serum and/or day cream. Remember tip 3? Spray it on your face before applying your skincare and throughout the day whenever you need a hydration boost. And when you've been exposed to too much sun, floral water also helps soothe your skin.
Our selection
Century Flower BioAffinity Lotus & Orange Blossom Toner by PAI SKINCARE This toner with lotus and orange blossom water refreshes, hydrates and soothes even the most sensitive skin.
5. Gently exfoliate
Dead skin cells can dull your tan. An exfoliating product helps remove them to reveal soft, smooth, and radiant skin. However, you need to be a little careful with exfoliation in the summer. Use an enzymatic exfoliant rather than an abrasive one made with grains or fruit acids (AHAs). The latter can thin the epidermis and make the skin more sensitive to the sun. Fruit enzymes such as papaya are gentle and only remove dead skin cells.
Our selection
GROWN ALCHEMIST Papain and Amino Complex Enzyme Exfoliator This papaya exfoliating peel-off mask gently removes dead cells without damaging fragile skin.