Ah, summer. So happy to see you! As someone who struggles with bouts of seasonal depression - the months from January until mid-April can be so hard in Ohio - as soon as the air begins to warm and the sun shine more days than not, it's as if a weight is lifted off my shoulders. Everything feels lighter, brighter, and more free.
With the return of warmer and longer days, not only does your closet transition as needed, but so should your skin care, make up, and personal products. The time to put away the scarves and coats is obvious, but how often do you take inventory of what your beauty and skin care routines look like, and how that may need to change depending on the season?
Skin Care
I know that in winter, my skin absolutely craves moisture. I literally can't get enough hydrating serums, face oils, and heavy mask-like moisturizers. With the dry, cool air outdoors, and the constant running of the furnace indoors, it should come as no surprise that our skin can look dry and sallow. For many of us, we need all the moisture we can get!
In the summer months, this changes with the heat and humidity. I know my skin produces more oils in the summer, so cutting back a bit on those heavy moisturizers is a key to keeping my skin happy, clear and balanced. Everyone's skin and its needs are so different, but overall, we could all use to adapt our products to the season. Let me clarify though that this absolutely does not mean we need to stop moisturizing! Just because your skin feels oily does not mean it no longer needs outside hydration. In fact, if you neglect your skin from too much moisture it can actually compensate by overproducing oils thus resulting in breakouts.
For instance, if you are currently using a heavy cleanser, moisturizer, and face oil, you may reduce use of your oil to every other night as opposed to every night. Or, perhaps you would switch to a lighter feeling cleanser. I know that in winter, many people's skin cannot handle applying many exfoliating or drying products often. Perhaps they put their charcoal products away until summer, or save it for using 2-3 times a week instead of every other day. At this point in the game with Beautycounter, I can literally sense what my skin needs in terms of more or less moisture and I adjust as needed. I know for everyone it's not that clear, so I often recommend sticking with a consistent Skin Care Regimen based on your skin type, and in the summer, introducing treatments like the Overnight Resurfacing Peel or the Balancing Charcoal Facial Mask when your skin is maybe less sensitive to exfoliation.
Like I mentioned above, your core skin care routine / regimen may look different from mine, but here is what I believe will be my skin care product staples for summer. It is worth noting that my skin is normal and not-sensitive:
- Morning: Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion
- Night without Makeup: Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser, Rejuvenating Night Cream, Rejuvenating Eye Cream
- Night with Makeup: One-Step Makeup Remover Wipes, Cleansing Balm, Rejuvenating Night Cream, Rejuvenating Eye Cream
- Additions to Night Routine:Overnight Resurfacing Peel twice a week, and Balancing Charcoal Facial Mask once a week
Cosmetics
Okay, now let's talk cosmetics and how to transition those products. My first recommendation is to decide whether you need a new foundation shade. I personally always have two foundation shades on hand because my skin tone obviously differs from the heart of winter to the heart of summer. Yes, foundation can feel like an investment, but it's worth every penny to have the right shade. So in the kindest way, I definitely encourage you to consider how your skin shade changes.
- For instance, in late fall to early spring I wear Tint Skin in Linen and Dew Skin in No. 2. In late spring through early fall I wear Tint Skin in Sand and Dew Skin in No. 3. And, since I already have the different shades on hand, I combine the colors to create the perfect custom tone for me. Also, if you don't already have a Mattifying Powder, I highly encourage you to add one to your beauty bag. It is extremely light, translucent, sets makeup, and absorbs excess oil.
Secondly, let's talk all the fun cosmetics colors that will bring out the sun kissed warmth of summer. Obviously lip colors and blushes are the easiest places to start. Here are my beauty favorites for summer:
- Color Intense Lipstick: Girls' Night, First Date
- Sheer Lipstick: Rose, Poppy
- Satin Powder Blush: Melon, Nectar
- Other favorite must-haves: I am obsessed with our Luminous Powder Highlighters! I like to use both Halo and Topaz for a light and natural contour effect. Halo looks beautiful along the cheekbones and on the apples of the cheeks, and Topaz I love down the hollows of my cheeks and gently along my hair line. Blend together and the effect is beautiful and provides the perfect sun kissed look without a lot of extra sun! And, if you want a subtle, simple, dewy look, just apply Dew Skin foundation and then use the Illuminating Cream Highlighters. The effect is effortless and natural. I find the Cream Highlighters work best in the summer when skin isn't dry.
Body Care
Finally, let's not forget about our entire body and the products that scrub, shine, and protect are skin to look its very best. Here are my body care recommendations for summer:
Obviously, all of our Countersun sun protection products! Our sunscreen is formulated with non-nano zinc oxide, and uses a mineral sun protection. This basically means that our sunscreen formula sits on the barrier of our skin and reflects the suns rays, as opposed to the formula absorbing into our skin and reflecting the sun in that manner.
Sugar Body Scrub in Lemongrass: It not only smells delicious, but does an incredible job at exfoliating our skin and leaving it soft and glowing. Finish with our Countermatch Body Moisturizer or Body Oil in Citrus Rosemary.
- Today, May 28th is the last day to take advantage of Beautycounter's Get Sun-Set promotion. Receive a free deluxe travel size of our Countersun Sunscreen Mist + Lotion ($35 value) with all orders of $125 or more.
