How To Take Care Of Your Skin In Summer : 15 Tips For All Skin Types

Giving your skin a healthy shine in the sunny season is not as hard as you think!

Medically reviewed by Dr. Vindhya L Veerula, MD, FAAD
Written by Ramona Sinha, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach
Edited by Anjali Sayee, BTech
Fact-checked by Shiboli Chakraborti, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach  • 

Summer is the time to plan beach holidays and have fun under the sun. However, it is also time to switch your skin care routine. So, stop wondering how to get glowing skin in summer, as we are here to help you set your summer skin care routine. It is vital to protect, nourish, and hydrate your skin to keep it glowing during summers. Therefore, the tips cover skin care, diet, and lifestyle changes, along with a few DIY remedies. Scroll down and check them out.

15 Useful Tips To Keep Your Skin Comfortable And Glowing In Summer

The scorching summer heat can be unforgiving on your skin. The pollution, intense summer sun, heat, and humidity cause many skin issues. Tanning, dry patches, overactive sebaceous glands, sunburn, pigmentation, blemishes, and acne – these are a few issues that you may face during summer. That is why you need to take care of your skin during this season. You also need to update your skin care products and routine with the changing seasons. Below, we have suggested some changes that you need to make in your skin care routine.

1. Consider Changing Your Face Wash

Changing your face wash can give your glowing skin
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Cleansing your face is the most basic skin care routine that you need to follow, irrespective of the season. During summers, the climate is hot and humid. Your face tends to produce more oil during this time, so you need to change your cleanser accordingly.

Oily skin takes the maximum beating as your pores can get easily clogged and cause acne. Get a foaming cleanser that contains salicylic acid for summers.

If you have dry skin, you may experience redness and rashes. Use a non-soapy face wash to clean your face twice a day. The same is applicable for those with combination skin.

Those who have normal skin can switch to a gel-based face wash during summers. Wash your face twice or thrice a day to feel refreshed.

2. Do Not Forget Sunscreen

This is something that you absolutely cannot forget during summers. Sun protection for your face, hands, legs, and any other exposed parts of your body is vital.Excessive UV exposure can permanently damage your skin and cause sunburn, wrinkles, fine lines, skin cancer, and premature aging (1).

Invest in a sunblock or sunscreen that has a broad UV spectrum (at least SPF 30). Apply it twice a day on all the exposed parts of your skin. You should also wear sun hats and UV-protective clothing for extra shielding.

3. Add A Punch Of Antioxidants

Invest in serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens that come with an additional punch of antioxidants. For instance, vitamin C protects your skin from environmental damage, prevents wrinkles, and boosts collagen development (2).

Creams and serums loaded with natural extracts and antioxidants reduce inflammation (which is pretty common in summer), neutralize harmful free radicals, and repair your skin.

4. Add Fruits And Vegetables To Your Diet

To get glowing and radiant skin eat fruits and vegetables
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Applying antioxidants topically is not enough. Have a summer skincare routine that includes eating healthy fruits and vegetables. To maintain radiant skin, you need to nourish it accordingly. Healthy eating is a must during summer. Consume chlorophyll-rich foods and water-rich fruits and vegetables, like watermelon. They contain essential vitamins, nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that boost collagen production, reduce inflammation, and protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun (3).

5. Keep Yourself Hydrated

Drink plenty of water and don’t forget to carry a water bottle with you wherever you go. Apart from drinking water, you can consume cold green tea and coconut water or cucumber juice for a change as well. This is important to keep your skin hydrated, flush out toxins from your body, and feel refreshed during the hot summer days (4).

6. Go Easy On Makeup

When it comes to makeup during summer months, go minimal. That’s because your skin needs to breathe, so try wearing mineral-based makeup when the weather is super hot and humid as these products are light and anti-inflammatory. If you absolutely cannot do without your foundation, go for a tinted moisturizer with SPF and layer it with face powder to avoid any patchy spots.

7. Exfoliate

Exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells and dirt and keep your skin glowing
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During summer, your skin works hard to keep itself healthy and heal any irritation or sunburn. Help your skin in this process by exfoliating it gently. Exfoliation helps buff away the dead skin cells, leaving your skin looking radiant.

You can use home-made sugar scrubs to exfoliate your skin or simply scrub your skin gently with a washcloth. A sandalwood scrub not only exfoliates the skin, but also keeps it cool and bright. However, make sure that you do not over-exfoliate your skin.

8. Tone Your Skin

Toners are a must-have during the summer months. A good toner keeps your skin oil-free and clean. It also reduces the appearance of pores. When applying toner, pay attention to your T-zone as it is the part of your face that secretes the maximum oil during summer. You can also use aloe vera juice as a toner for natural hydration.

protip_icon Quick Tip
If you have oily skin, choose a toner with salicylic acid to remove excess oil. Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or vitamin E are suitable for dry skin.

9. Update Your Moisturizer

If you think your skin does not need moisturizer during the summer months, you are wrong. The only difference is that the heavy moisturizers that you used during winter will not work during summer. You need to use light moisturizers when the weather is warm. Pick non-greasy and lightweight moisturizers (pick one with SPF for daytime use) that will help lock in the essential moisture of your skin. You might need to invest in a good air humidifier to keep your skin moisturized through the summer heat!

10. Do Not Forget Your Feet

Your skin does not end at your neck. Most of us tend to forget our feet. Now that you have replaced your winter boots with summer sandals, you need to take care of your feet as well. Give yourself a pedicure at home. Use a scrub to remove the dead and dry skin cells. Moisturize your feet, and don’t forget to apply sunscreen lotion on them.

protip_icon Quick Tip
Mix five drops of lemon juice, 1tbsp of honey, 1tbsp of sugar, coconut oil, and Epsom salt to make homemade foot scrub. Leave the paste on for 10 minutes. Scrub and rinse off with water.

11. Get Enough Exercise

Get enough exercise to get glowing skin in summer
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If the summer heat, sweat, and humidity are keeping you off the treadmill, don’t give up. Though staying in and watching a movie while sipping iced tea is a tempting option, exercise is equally important for maintaining healthy skin during summer.

Physical activity improves blood flow, which means your skin cells get more oxygen (5). Exercising can be one of the best stress reduction techniques, so do go out this summer. Thus, your body heals any tissue damage (like a sunburn or acne) easily. You think exercising in the gym is monotonous? Add some fun to your workout routine and try Zumba instead. Even better, go cycling, play volleyball with your friends, or try hiking. Any form of exercise is good for your health.

12. Don’t Cut Down Your Resting Time

Your body needs time to repair itself and maintain healthy skin. That’s why no matter what schedule you maintain, try to take out enough time to rest. This is crucial because during the summer months, the days are longer, and most of us tend to be active for longer. Being exposed to the sun longer also leads to dullness and the appearance of the signs of aging.

Getting enough sleep prevents the signs of aging, improves skin barrier function, and makes you look generally fresher and more attractive (6).

13. Do Not Forget The Eye Area

The area around your eyes is more delicate than the rest of your face and needs special care. Whenever you are stepping out in the sun, do not forget to wear sunglasses. This will prevent the formation of wrinkles around your eyes.

Don’t forget to apply a moisturizing eye cream both during the day and at night. Use products that contain hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, honey, and cucumber. Massage the area around your eyes every night to relax the muscles.

14. Cool Off With A Face Mist

Cool off with a face mist
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A cooling face mist works wonders on a hot and humid summer day. It helps in soothing sunburns and inflammation and makes your skin look fresh and dewy. Try getting your hands on calming ingredients like chamomile and lavender as they soothe and rejuvenate the skin. You can buy facial mists or even make one at home. Check out the recipe in the following section.

15. Always Take Cold Water Showers

Avoiding hot showers and steam baths during summer may be the best idea as they dehydrate the skin. Take a cold water shower instead. It keeps your skin pores unclogged and prevents acne breakouts. It is also much more refreshing.

Check out these simple skin care recipes that can help you get glowing skin in summer at home.

Home Remedies For Glowing Skin In Summer

1. Cooling Cucumber Face Mist (For All Skin Types)

Cucumber feels extremely soothing on the skin. For this face mist, grate one cucumber and strain the juice through a cheesecloth. Mix the juice with a tablespoon of rosewater, mint leaves and, a teaspoon of lemon juice in a spray bottle. Spritz it on your face throughout the day.

2. Gentle Coffee Body Exfoliator For Tan Removal (For All Skin Types)

Why spend money on store-bought body scrubs? If you have coffee grounds at home, making this body scrub is a breeze. Mix a quarter cup of brown sugar, half a cup of coffee grounds, 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, olive oil, a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil, and a tablespoon of sea salt. Store the mixture in a glass jar. Use this mixture as a body scrub.

3. Soothing Cucumber And Mint Eye Mask

A refreshing eye mask can instantly take all the tiredness away from your delicate eye area. For this easy eye mask, blend a few mint leaves, extract the juice, and mix it with half a cup of cucumber juice. Add rosewater to it. Dip cotton pads in this mixture and place them on your eyes. If you want, you may place the soaked cotton pads in a ziplock bag and refrigerate it for 15 minutes before using it. You will love the cooling sensation of this eye mask.

4. Strawberry And Lemon Face Pack

If you love fruit face masks, you are going to love this one. Combine mashed strawberries with a tablespoon of yogurt, half a teaspoon of lemon juice, and honey. Apply this on your face as a face mask and wash it off after it dries. Make sure that you dilute the lemon juice before using it on your skin. Since lemon makes the skin photosensitive, use a sunscreen before you go out after using this face pack. Avoid lemon juice if you have sensitive skin.

A blogger shared her experience of using fresh fruit masks to beat the heat in summer: “One of my favorite summer rituals is creating DIY face masks using fresh fruits. For instance, I love mashing up ripe strawberries with a splash of honey for a brightening and exfoliating mask (i).” She added, “I’ve found that using products with natural ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber, and green tea can provide a soothing and refreshing experience.”

5. Pore Tightening Egg White Face Mask

This is an easy home-made face mask. Mix a teaspoon of orange juice and a pinch of turmeric powder with one egg white. Apply this mask on your face. Let it dry for 15 minutes before washing it off.

6. Honey And Yogurt Face Mask

A honey and yogurt face mask is like a creamy treat for your skin and is very easy to make. Just mix some honey and yogurt, and you are good to go. Apply it on your face, then let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and work its magic. Afterwards, rinse it off with warm water. Honey’s natural moisture-locking property will leave your skin feeling soft and hydrated, while the lactic acid in yogurt reduces wrinkles and fine lines boosting skin appearance (7), (8), (9). It’s like a mini spa day at home. Consider incorporating this mask into your skincare routine once or twice a week for best results. So, grab that honey and yogurt from your kitchen and treat your skin to some pampering.

Infographic: 10 Essential Summer Skincare Tips

No matter the season, skincare should be an important part of your lifestyle. It goes beyond aesthetics. A nourishing skincare routine pampers your skin and keeps painful and irritating skin conditions at bay. That said, skincare routines change according to the season because your skin reacts differently to changing climates. Hence, your summer skincare needs to be different from that of the winter. We have provided an infographic below summarizing the essential summer skincare tips. Check them out.

10 essential summer skincare tips(infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Following a summer skin care routine will help you protect, nourish, and hydrate your skin. To get that glowing skin in summer, you can try out a few DIY skin care remedies and make some diet and lifestyle changes. A face wash suitable for your skin type, sunscreens, moisturizers, serums, and creams help keep your skin healthy. You may also consume fruits and vegetables rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants and get enough exercise to achieve radiant skin during summer. Home remedies are also a great option to cool your skin in this weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should apply to your face at night in the summer?

You should apply a night cream on your face in the summer. Pick a cream with an oil base if you have dry or combination skin and a water-based cream if you have oily skin.

Which face serum is best for summer?

A vitamin C-based serum is ideal for summer as it can keep your skin hydrated and work to reduce pigmentation.

How often should I exfoliate during the summer to keep my skin looking its best?

Exfoliating 1-3 times a week is usually sufficient for most skin types during the summer months, but those with sensitive skin should limit it to once a week.

What skincare to avoid in summer?

Avoid heavy moisturizers and creams as they clog the pores and cause breakouts. Certain exfoliating agents like retinol can make your skin sensitive to the sun. So, avoid using them on days you have to be outside. Fragranced skincare products can increase the risk of skin irritation and sensitivity, particularly in the sun. Alcohol-based skincare products, such as toners and astringents, can dry out your skin and increase sun sensitivity.

Key Takeaways

  • Use a foaming cleanser made with salicylic acid for oily skin and a non-soapy face wash for dry skin.
  • Apply a sunscreen with SPF level 30 or higher on your body to prevent skin damage.
  • A body scrub prepared with coffee grounds, brown sugar, sesame and olive oils, and eucalyptus essential oil may help remove a tan.
  • Spray a face mist made with cucumber juice, rosewater, mint leaves, and lemon juice on your face.
how to get glowing skin in summer

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. UV Radiation and the Skin, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709783/
  2. Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage, Dermatologic Surgery, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11896774
  3. Diet and Dermatology: The Role of Dietary Intervention in Skin Disease, The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4106357/
  4. Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics, Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529263/
  5. Benefits of Exercise, MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
    https://medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html
  6. Does poor sleep quality affect skin ageing? Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25266053
  7. Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/
  8. Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acid
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8784274/
  9. Yogurt Production
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30506248/#
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