Summer Skin Care

A Self-Service Guide to Summer Beauty

What to do, what not to do when heading out of hibernation and into the sun.  Here are some great time-reducing tips to help you fix your dry skin, protect your face and brighten up your smile for the summer season.

Summer has finally arrived, which means you'll be spending more time outside and less time at home.  It also means that you'll be privy to more exposure from the sun (the leading cause of environmental skin damage).  An important part of any anti-aging program is prevention, and your face, of course, is the most important place to start.

So, let me preface this article by telling you why you should care about sun damage and follow it up with some great facial skin care tips on how to look great when heading to the beach. 

How is the sun damaging my skin?

While we often attribute healthy skin to a healthy tan, you're actually accelerating your skin's aging process rapidly when you consider the long-term effects. Sun damage is cumulative, which means the longer you're exposed over time, the greater the harm to your skin.

Here are some medical conditions that may arise from prolonged exposure to UV rays:

Solar Elastosis or "Photoaging"

is a condition that occurs when the skin thickens due to a degradation of collagen and elastin.

The Effect: Wrinkles and Cracked Skin

Solar Lentigo

is a condition that arises from pigment mutation caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight.

The Effect: Freckles, Spots

Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, & Squamous Cell Carinoma 

are all types of skin cancer.  The more time spent in the sun, the greater the risk of skin cancer. 

The Effect: Skin Cancer

Great Facial Care Tips for the Summer.

While the risks of sun damage should not be ignored, this post isn't meant to deter you from heading out to the beach or indulging in a little afternoon sunshine. But, as in everything in life, we should moderate our intake and use precautions where necessary.

That's why our first summer facial care tip is that you should load up on sunscreen.

Apply Sunscreen to Achieve a Safe Summer Glow

 The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone uses a sunscreen that offers

• A Broad-Spectrum of Protection from UVA and UVB rays
• SPF Sunscreen of (30)+
• Water Resistance

That being said, you should still be able to purchase a sunscreen product that compliments your skin type.  TotalBeauty.com recently published a health concientious breakdown of the best sunscreens of 2013 that will help you choose the right product.

Stay Hydrated, Naturally Protect Your Skin

Are you feeling thirsty from the heat?  Your skin is probably thirsty too.  The sun's sapping moisture directly from your body which can lead to dryness, redness and flaky skin.

Try purchasing a lotion or paraban-free moisturizer for your face that will help you retain the moisture in your skin and keep its natural balance.  Weleda, a natural skin care company based in Switzerland, offers natural and organic solutions to facial skin care for the summer.  Most of their products are enriched with vitamin-based formulas that will help keep your skin healthy and detoxified.

Whiten Those Teeth

How important are white teeth on a first impression?  Very important.  According to a survey performed by USA Today, the two 'Must-Have' items Singles want and find essential in a relationship are... teeth and grammar. 

There are without a doubt hundreds if not thousands of teeth whitening products available for purchase, but whitening your teeth is something that you can do at home with a few natural ingredients.  The Beauty Bean has "5 All-Natural Ways To Brighten Your Smile", so no need to pick up an expensive whitener.