Whether you fastidiously prep for summer with a complete overhaul of your skincare regime or are looking for products that give you that summer glow without the hassle, our range of organic, natural, vegan and ethical beauty brands have got some incredible options that are all made in the UK in small batches. Here we share our top tips for your summer skincare routine.
Wear suncream
It won't come as a surprise that wearing SPF is absolutely essential in summer, if not all year round. Kelly from Husk and Seed Skincare advises not to leave the house without wearing a good quality SPF, stay in the shade if you can, or if you can't, make sure you're covered up and wearing a lovely big sun hat to protect your face and shoulders. We recommend Odylique's Mineral Sun Cream factor 30
Often, our skin can feel clogged and heavy when wearing suncream more frequently so it's important to use a cleanser at night that helps to break down all of the dirt and grime that's on our skin after a long day in the sunshine. Husk and Seed's Gentle Cleansing Balm which is vegan and made with organic ingredients, is perfect for removing SPF, sweat and dirt. As you massage it into the skin, it softens to an oil and gently lifts dirt and impurities. And for an extra pampering treat, Kelly advises leaving it the fridge and apply it cold to hot, summer skin!
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is the key to good, clear skin all year round, but particularly in summer. By drinking plenty of water our bodies stay refreshed and our skin plump and radiant. Marian, founder of Silvan Skincare also advises us to cut back on caffeine and alcohol too as these can dehydrate you, difficult when you want to have just one more G&T in the sunshine!
You can add some surface hydration to the skin or cool yourself down on-the-g by adding a facial mist into your regime like the Acqua Di Rosa Balancing Mist from Terre Verdi which rehydrates and rebalances the skin throughout the day or Olixa's Mushroom Mist which also helps protect from pollution due to its blend of adaptogenic shitake and reishi mushrooms.
Eat your way to beautiful skin
Lucia from Casa Mencarelli advises that preparation for summer in fact starts with a healthy diet. Be sure to increase consumption of fresh colourful fruits, vegetables and salads because these are a fantastic source of Beta Carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which will provide protection and support to your skin on sunny days against the action of free radicals which are responsible for skin ageing. And if you'd like to top up your anti oxidants and carotenes via your skincare, the Casa Mencarelli range is packed with high quality organic ingredients that feed your skin and give it a healthy glow like their Tomato Night Cream and Cleanser.
Restore your skin overnight
After a day exposed to the hot sun, pollen, dust and pollution it's ideal to try to repair your skin overnight, particularly if you need to soothe over exposed skin.
Husk and Seed Skincare's Calm and Soothe Face Mask is excellent at helping hot, sun-damaged skin that has been over exposed. It feels lovely and cool on the skin and the kaolin clay, blended with calming cucumber and broccoli oils, is a fantastic healer for delicate skins.
For a natural alternative to pharmacy aftersuns why not reach for a salve or a balm like Silvan Skincare's Rescue Balm which includes pomegranate oil, ideal for soothing for sun damaged skin, reduce inflamed skin and regenerate new skin production. There's also chickweed which is great for calming itchy skin, calendula for its soothing properties and lavender which is an all-round wonderful ingredient for red, sore skin.
Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliation is a great way of removing dead skin cells which can help gain an even tan and balanced complexion. It also helps to remove any bacteria build-up which may help combat any sun induced break outs. Be sure to exfoliate gently though, as exfoliation can remove the skin's protective layer making it more vulnerable to UV rays so it's important to listen to your skin type. Fine skin is more delicate than thicker skin for example.
If you've got fine or sensitive skin, gently exfoliate with fruit acids or AHA's like the Olixa Gummy Cleanser which is naturally rich in AHA's and phenolic acid from the kakadu plum which gently resurfaces the skin if used as either a daily cleanser or a longer mask-like treatment. If your skin can handle some gentle but grittier exfoliation BAO's Radiance Face Scrub is a creamy exfoliator that uses jojoba grains to gently slough off dead skin cells without drying.
The skin on our bodies can handle a little heavier exfoliation than the delicate skin on our face and sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Using a natural exfoliator like a loofah can help to increase circulation, unclog pores and brighten the skin. We love Whitford's 2-in-1 body oil and loofah combo so you can dry brush to exfoliate and apply a slick of body oil to give your legs and body a lovely glow.
Switch up your regime
Swapping in a couple of different products during the summer months can help maintain the condition of your skin.
The heat and humidity can prompt our skin to produce excess sebum. Rather than stripping the skin, it's a good idea to look for products that focus on keeping your skin balanced. Hydrating any dry areas and working in harmony with our skin's natural sebum on the oilier areas.
Terre Verdi's Herbs and Trees Balancing Serum is fantastic at balancing the skin which is the ideal solution for excess shine. It's got an argan and camellia oil base which are both dry oils that penetrate the skin easily without residue, sebum-like jojoba oil to nourish and balance and then astringent frankincense and tea tree oils to tone and prevent blocked pores. Or why not try Casa Mencarelli's Sea Buckthorn Serum which is super light and fragrance free. It is extremely rich in antioxidants and a particular seaweed extract to help increase production of collagen and protect the skin from the action of free radicals.
If you start to see some pigmentation appearing on your skin as a result of sun exposure you might want to slot in some products containing rosehip, bakuchiol or cacay oils into your summer skincare routine. We rate Olixa's Cacay Oil blend used nightly or as part of your gua sha routine or Whitford's Papaya and Bakuchiol Gel Serum as a weekly mask treatment.
Don't go wild though, make sure you stagger any swaps you make and have thoroughly tested the product beforehand to avoid any breakouts or reactions.
Stock up on summer remedies
We love those long, warm days and spending more time outdoors but it means we're more susceptible to those pesky midges, flies and mosquitoes which can pounce at any moment and when they do the itching can be unbearable.
Use Odylique's Mosimix Body Oil as a preventative to bites and stings. It's a natural mosquito repellent with lemongrass, lavender and thyme essential oils that have been blended at effective concentrations to repel insects and mosquitoes. Sunflower, coconut and extra virgin olive oils also hydrate the skin so it's also a great summer holiday body oil if you like packing light.
Magic Organic Apothecary's Green Balm is your summer staple. With soothing and healing yarrow and anti septic, cooling tea tree to keep itching at bay and aid repair. This little green pot of magic is our travel essential because you can also use it to soothe sunburn, as a cleanser and a moisturiser.
Take good care of your feet
At the end of a humid day your feet can feel puffy and your legs heavy. There is nothing more pampering than a cooling foot soak with Magic Organic Apothecary's Fortifying Bath Potion. Just pop a few drops into a bowl or a bucket with some cold water and soak your feet for 20 minutes. It's full of peppermint and fennel to ease aching muscles and put the spring back in your step. Then give them a bit of nourishment with Silvan Skincare's Foot Cream with paw paw and calendula for cracked skin and heels.
If you'd like to hear more about summer skincare then check out our Ask the Experts videos below for some extra skincare tips!