Skin Care for the Summer Season

With summertime just around the corner, there are some skin care products that you should have in your medicine cabinet to ensure you are protecting your skin and maximizing your anti-aging routine.

A gentle foaming cleanser morning and night is essential to clean your skin of daily impurities. If you have acne-prone skin, a purifying cleanser with vitamin C and salicylic acid is the best way to help prevent and treat acne outbreaks.

My favorite cleansers include Cerave gentle foaming cleanser, Alkeme Rx Solution 1.1 and 2.1, and ZO Skin Health exfoliating cleanser.

A hydrating and protective face sunscreen is an absolute must, especially during the summer months. It should be on be reapplied every two hours when outside directly under the sun.

In truth, sunscreen should be worn daily year-round. However, in the summer, it’s especially more important.

Finding the right sun protection factor (SPF) can be challenging, especially for tanned and darker skin. But after trying several brands, my favorites that don’t leave a white cast on the face and are brow-skin friendly and also hydrating include EltaMD tinted SPF, Supergoop Unseen sunscreen, ISDIN eryfotona ageless, and Glossier SPF.

These sunscreens are hydrating and can be used as both a moisturizer and SPF.

Be careful with certain skin care products and medications that may be photosensitive and can cause the skin to burn easily. Using retinols and hydroquinone during the summer requires extra care and protection because they make your skin more susceptible to burning.

Certain medications, such as many antibiotics, can also increase the risk of sunburn. Always check with your healthcare provider about your medications and whether they are photosensitive to ensure that you are protecting your skin.

If you’re using exfoliants and acids, be more mindful about the reapplication of sunscreen.

Dr. Zoe Gazola is the owner and medical director at The Indigo Clinic in Miami, which draws patients from all over the globe.