Spring has woken up and the rising temperatures are rushing us into the summer season. On the one hand, this means clearing out your wardrobe of warmer clothes, getting the sandals out and getting ready for some sun. It also means taking care of your skin, because the sun is ruthless and we need to prepare ourselves.
So let’s take a look at the important skin prep steps to take to get ready for this summer season!
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Saying goodbye to hair
We’re not talking about the summer haircut that will let your neck breathe: here we’re talking about the all-over treatment. Some might have started waxing as soon as spring began, but many wait for summer for that type of ritual. Especially for some parts of our bodies that are only seen when we’re in a bathing suit, like the bikini area and the stomach, if you prefer to have a hairless look, start thinking about it. Sure, if your method of hair removal is shaving, you don’t have to think about it until a few days before getting in the bikini, but other methods like waxing require some time for your skin to calm down, and laser hair removal can take quite a few sessions to get the job done, so you should consider it as part of the preparation.
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Sun protection
There isn’t any miracle method that will help you protect your skin from sun damage if you do it a month in advance. However, there are some things you can do to make it a bit healthier to go into the sun. Firstly, of course, you need to use sun protection products whenever you go out into strong sun. It is the only way to protect your skin from sun damage, especially during the mid part of the day, when the sun is at its worst. Secondly, something you can already start doing in spring is to start building up your tan gradually. Exposing your skin to the sun for fifteen minutes or so at a time will help it get used to the sun and build a protective tan, so that you don’t burn instantly when the first summer sun arrives. This, of course, is no replacement for sunscreen!
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Skin imperfections
Nobody’s skin is perfect. We all have little problem areas that we would like to correct, and usually do so with makeup. But during summer, you don’t want to have your face caked in foundation and concealer because it will all melt off anyway. This is where visiting a cosmetologist and procedures like pigmentation removal come into play. They are a way to permanently correct your skin, so that you don’t have to worry about covering those areas with makeup. For any temporary issues like zits or sun damage, the best thing you can do is apply concealer that has some healing properties and just let it heal on its own for as long as you can without covering it in products. Our bodies have a natural way of healing those short term imperfections, and anything we apply is only getting in the way of the natural process.
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Dry and cracked skin
Putting on the first summer outfit, you might notice some things that haven’t been brought to your attention until the short dresses and sandals came out. Cracked heels, rough skin on elbows and knees and other parts of your bodies you just haven’t been paying a lot of attention to are now becoming an issue. To avoid this, start caring for your whole body on time. Apply body milk after every shower and pay extra attention to notoriously dry areas. Give your feet – especially the heels – some extra love, remove the dead skin and moisturize them daily. Carry hand cream with you and apply it to your hands, but also your elbows and knees to make sure the skin is well hydrated. Before the start of sandal season, visit a beauty salon to get a professional treatment for your feet to deeply moisturize them.
Preparing your skin isn’t a lot of work; it is just small changes we can make in our daily routine. And even if it seems like a lot of work, it will all be worth it when summer starts and you can simply enjoy the sunshine, without worrying about how your body looks!
