Short answer: Summer changes the conditions your skin lives in: more UV, more heat and sweat, outdoor air that may be very dry or very humid depending on where you live, and cool, drier air in air-conditioned rooms. Whether your routine needs small or larger changes depends on what your skin is doing. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, applied and reapplied as the label directs, a gentle, thorough evening cleanse and a moisturizer your skin finds comfortable in the heat are the core. Let the condition of your skin decide the rest.
Summer can pull skin in more than one direction at once.
What summer does to skin
More UV. In mid-latitudes, UV levels generally run highest during the summer months, particularly around the middle of the day. Summer clothing may also leave more skin exposed.
Heat and sweat. Some people find their skin feels oilier or shinier in hot weather, and sweat mixes with sunscreen and makeup.
Dry heat or humid heat. Summer air is not the same everywhere. In a hot, dry desert climate such as Scottsdale’s, where Esenté is based, the air can be very dry, and skin may feel tight rather than oily. In humid regions, skin may feel slick by midday.
Air-conditioning. Air-conditioning reduces the moisture in indoor air as it cools it. Skin can feel tight after an afternoon in a chilled office.
Sunscreen comes first
Daily sunscreen is a year-round habit, and summer tests it hardest. A Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. SPF 30 or higher is the usual recommendation. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? explains the label words.
Apply as the label directs. US sunscreen labels direct you to apply liberally or generously 15 minutes before sun exposure. Applying too little can reduce the protection you get, and a higher SPF number does not make up for applying too little.
Reapply as the label directs. The SPF number is not a measure of time: SPF 30 does not mean 30 minutes of protection. A sunscreen that is not water resistant directs you to reapply at least every 2 hours and to use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. A water resistant label states 40 or 80 minutes and tells you when to reapply after swimming, sweating and towel drying. Putting on more in the morning does not replace reapplying later. How Much Sunscreen to Use, and When to Reapply goes through it.
Cover the places people miss. Ears, the back of the neck, the backs of the hands, the tops of the feet.
Sunscreen works alongside other protection
The US sunscreen label pairs sunscreen with other sun protection measures: limit time in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats and sunglasses. Sun Protection Beyond Sunscreen goes further.
US sunscreen labels also tell you to protect the product from excessive heat and direct sun, so a car dashboard is a poor place to leave it. Why a Bathroom Is a Poor Place to Store Skincare covers heat and storage more broadly.
Cleansing when you sweat more
The evening cleanse earns its place in summer. By bedtime your face carries sunscreen designed to stay put, the day’s sweat and oil, and often makeup. Remove eye makeup first with a dedicated eye makeup remover, then cleanse your face gently, and go to bed with a completely clean face.
After exercise or a sweaty afternoon, a rinse or a gentle cleanse, whichever suits your skin, is reasonable. Let your skin’s response guide how often you wash.
Moisturizer and texture
Some people prefer a lighter-feeling moisturizer in humid heat, while skin in a dry climate or a cold, air-conditioned room may want more moisture in summer, not less. Others use one product all year. Whether a product suits you depends on the complete formulation and on your own skin, not on its texture.
Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following its directions. Winter Skin: What to Change When It Gets Cold covers the opposite season.
When skin has had too much sun
Sunburned skin is irritated skin. Protect it from further sun exposure and pause non-prescription retinol and exfoliating products until the skin settles. If you use a prescription retinoid or another prescribed topical treatment, follow the guidance of the healthcare professional who prescribed it. Large blisters, severe swelling, or feeling unwell after time in the sun, such as fever, chills, headache or nausea, are reasons to contact a healthcare provider.
Victoria’s approach
Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria emphasizes responding to the environment your skin is experiencing. Cold winter climates can increase dryness, but very dry climates may create similar concerns at other times of year, so seasonal adjustments should be guided by the condition of your skin rather than by the calendar. As her own preventive practice, not a requirement for everyone, Victoria applies daily broad-spectrum sunscreen to the backs of her hands, and when driving she wears lightweight white linen gloves to help reduce continued sun exposure.
For sun protection, the Esenté range includes Derma-Defense SPF 30 from the Legacy Skincare collection and Derma Defense Z-Cote SPF30 from the Elite Skincare collection, both labeled Broad Spectrum SPF 30. Follow the label directions for whichever you use, including how much to apply and when to reapply. Questions about your own summer routine can go to the Ask Victoria page.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessarily. Some people prefer a lighter feel in humid heat, while skin in a dry climate or air-conditioning may want more moisture. Suitability depends on the complete formulation and your own skin, so judge by how your skin feels.
Follow the label. Sunscreens that are not water resistant say at least every 2 hours, and water resistant products say when to reapply after swimming, sweating and towel drying. The SPF number is not a time limit.
Air-conditioning reduces the moisture in indoor air as it cools it, so a long day in a cold room can leave skin feeling tight. A moisturizer that suits you, used as directed, helps it stay comfortable.
In a hot, dry climate such as Scottsdale’s, skin may feel dry and tight rather than oily, so moisture can matter as much in summer as in winter. Sunscreen, applied as the label directs, matters everywhere.
No. How often suits you depends on your skin, the method and how your skin responds, and the season alone does not change that. Do not exfoliate skin that is sunburned, irritated or sore.
About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.
Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.
