Your skincare needs change with the weather. Think about it: you wouldn’t wear a parka poolside, so why shouldn’t your routine also change with the seasons? The right summer skincare routine can help you avoid breakouts, prevent dark spots, and keep your skin hydrated and glowy all day long.
Our educators - who are also aestheticians - have created this five-step summer skincare guide to keep your skin healthy and luminous all season long.
1. Reef Safe Sunscreen. Every. Single. Day.
Sun exposure can cause scads of skincare challenges, from burns and breakouts to irritation and hyperpigmentation. But the old adage is true: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
That’s why Biossance Director of Global Education McKenzie Rose swears by our Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen, which uses non-nano zinc to provide broad-spectrum, Pa++++ SPF 30 protection without leaving a white cast.
“I also love that our sunscreen contains water lily, which can help reduce the look of redness if you’re prone to heat-related flushing,” says Rose.
Our reef safe sunscreen It also contains squalane, which works together with zinc oxide to help strengthen the skin's moisture barrier.
“Apply two finger lengths of SPF as the last step in your morning routine for maximum protection.”
Shop Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Hot weather and high humidity can leave oily skin feeling greasy, while dry or sensitive skin types can feel irritated and flushed.
Our Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer is the perfect solution for both oily and sensitive skin types.
“It’s like a big drink of water for my skin,” says Biossance Global Education Manager Alexis Udo-Udoma.
The secret sauce is in the combination of probiotics and sugarcane-derived squalane, which work together to help balance the complexion, reduce the appearance of pore size, and improve clarity while minimizing the look of redness and irritation.
Shop Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer
3. Add A Vitamin C Product (Or Two)
Longer days + stronger sunshine = more exposure to UV Rays, which can cause dark spots. Reduce the look of hyperpigmentation and fine lines while fighting free radicals with Vitamin C.
“Vitamin C is a vitamin and antioxidant which helps protect us from free radical damage that can cause signs of aging such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation,” says McKenzie Rose.
Our Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum uses Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a unique derivative of Vitamin C that we blend with white shiitake mushroom extract to brighten and provide powerful, long-lasting improvements in the look of hyperpigmentation.
“I also like to use our Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil on top of my moisturizer,” says Rose. “It has a different type of Vitamin C, called THD, which visibly firms and brightens while giving you a super-glowy, glazed donut look.”
Shop Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
Shop Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
4. Give Melanated Skin Some Extra TLC
“Melanated skin is also often sensitive skin,” says Alexis Udo-Udoma. “Skin of color tends to have a different type of melanin with a greater inflammatory response than fair skin complexions.”
She also warns that it can be harder to see signs of sensitivity or redness on deep skin tones, which can lead to injury to the skin’s surface.
“Introducing active treatments slowly into the skin and monitoring it for warmth or heat are great ways to check for sensitivity,” says Udo-Udoma.
A Summer Skincare Routine For Melanated Skin
Alexis recommends using this powerful - yet gentle - layered skincare routine to hydrate, soothe, and protect:
Squalane + Amino-Aloe Gentle Cleanser - Calms, soothes and hydrates while digging deep into pores to remove dirt, debris, and makeup.
Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel - Provides weightless hydration while plumping fine lines and improving the look of dark circles.
Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum - Our hero ingredient, squalane, teams up with clinically-proven hydrators and copper peptides to provide instant plumping and bounce alongside deep hydration.
Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer - The National Eczema Association recognizes this powerful, lightweight moisturizer as beneficial for people with sensitive skin and eczema, making it a great choice for people with sensitive melanated skin.
Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen (Day) - “There’s this misconception that melanated skin doesn’t need sunscreen, and that’s just not true,” says Udo-Udoma. “This is one of the first mineral sunscreens that I’ve been able to find as a deeper complected person that actually blends into my skin.”
100% Squalane Oil (Night) - Our vegan, sugarcane-derived squalane is bioidentical to the moisture naturally found in human skin, making it the ultimate hydrator for every skin type. Use it as the last step in your nighttime skincare routine to help the active ingredients in your routine penetrate more deeply while sealing in moisture and aiding in barrier repair.
Learn More About Squalane And Eczema
5. Exfoliate All Over
Exfoliation is a key step in any after-sun skincare routine, as UV rays can cause your skin to appear dry and dull. Uncover the healthier, more hydrated skin that’s hiding underneath by exfoliating your face and body.
Face
“Lactic Acid is a go-to ingredient if you want to resurface and smooth your skin and get a more even-looking texture,” says McKenzie Rose.
Our Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum utilizes 10% vegan lactic acid to gently dissolve dead surface cells, revealing softer, more radiant skin.
“With this serum, the results literally happen overnight, and your skin will continue to improve with nightly use,” says Rose.
Shop Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum
Body
There are two types of exfoliation: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation uses a surfactant to scrub away dead skin cells, while chemical exfoliation dissolves the bonds precent dead skin cells from shedding naturally.
Our Squalane + Enzyme Sugar Body Scrub is a multi-exfoliator, which means it does both.
Natural sugar crystals provide powerfully gentle, environmentally-friendly physical exfoliation, while pomegranate enzymes work to chemically dissolve dead skin.
“I love the pomegranate enzymes because they work faster than a lot of AHA’s, but they’re safe even for most sensitive skin,” says McKenzie Rose.
In clinical trials, 100% of participants reported improvements in the look of skin texture and hydration, which also makes it the perfect scrub to use before applying self-tanner.
“You can also customize the amount of exfoliation depending on how much water you use,” says Rose. “I recommend using it two to three times a week for the best results.”
Christine Tusher
Author
As a lifestyle writer and journalist, I’m excited to bring my passion for storytelling to Biossance as an Engagement Content Writer. Two things you should know about me: I have a deep love of the ocean (especially sharks) and I’m obsessed with clean beauty. My bathroom cabinet is literally overflowing with my many-layered sustainable skincare routine. This combo is what led me to buy my first bottle of Vitamin C Rose Oil. I was so impressed by the way it improved my skin that I wanted to shout this brand from the rooftops. Three years later, and here I am doing just that. I’m excited to be on this journey of clean beauty innovation with Biossance, and to share it with you here on the blog.