4 Consistently-Recommended Tips that will unlock your best skin this summer!

SPF. SPF. SPF.

Sun Protection Factor and broad-brim hats are the top skincare tips for the summer.

And for good reason!

Due to the thin ozone layer, UV radiation levels are about 40 percent more than in New Zealand than other countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand. Each year an estimated 80,000 Kiwis will get non-melanoma skin cancer!

But if you already have a solid SPF routine, how else can you treat your skin during the summer?

We found some of the most recommended skincare tips from dermatologists on how not just to protect your skin, but also heal and nourish it. So you can have your best-looking, healthiest skin this summer!

1. Limit your time in the shower.

Winter is the season of dry, flaky skin.

But between beach trips, lake swims, and pool days, you have to shower more than once a day in the summer. All of this time in the water over-dries your skin, leading to inflammation and eczema flare-ups.

Prevent this by limiting showers to 4-5 minutes, enough to rinse your skin from the chlorine and saltwater.

This saves your skin with the bonus of preserving water during the drought-prone months.

2. Exfoliate 1-2 times per week with natural exfoliants

Summer skincare begins in the winter.

Your skin needs time to adjust to new skincare routines.

As the weather changes, start exfoliating your skin once per week in the morning before moisturizing, SPF, and makeup.

The key to a solid exfoliation routine is to avoid over-exfoliating your skin. Don’t use exfoliates with rough pieces like microbeads that strip away natural oils, irritate your skin, and pollute our waterways.

Instead use natural exfoliates like sugars, salts, or natural enzymatic scrubs like acids from papaya, pineapple, and manuka honey to reveal bright, glowing skin.

3. Heal your skin with antioxidants

Free radicals are the enemy of your skin.

Caused by excessive exposure to daily pollution and UV rays, free radicals:

• damage skin cells
• escalate signs of premature aging
• cause hyperpigmentation
• reduce collagen production
• increase the risk of skin cancer.

To mitigate these risks, Dr. Debbie Palmer, a dermatologist of Dermatology Associates of New York, recommends adding antioxidants to your skincare routine.

Dr. Omer Ibrahim, a dermatologist at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, recommends applying an antioxidant serum after cleansing, before moisturizing, and applying sunscreen during the mornings.

Antioxidant serums such as Vitamin C serum:

• neutralize free radicals
• prevent hyperpigmentation
• help collagen production
• reduce aging effects

Most importantly, it soothes UV damage.

After a sunburn is no longer painful, use Vitamin C serum to repair the damage caused by over-exposure.

Incorporating antioxidants into your skincare should be a year-round routine, especially during the summer months as we spend more time outdoors.

4. #1 Tip is to Lighten Up your Moisturizer

The #1 tip in every dermatologist’s recommendation is to lighten up your moisturizer.

While some people slap on heavy-duty moisturizers in the winter, they neglect their moisturizer in the summer.

But despite the sweat, sunscreen, and humid weather, you still need to moisturize.

“Moisturizers reestablish the stratum corneum, your outermost layer of the skin, which protects from harmful pollutants and chemicals and prevents further irritation or dryness.”

-Ariel Ostad, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in New York City.

To keep your skin nourished with a light-weight, non-greasy, natural feel, try Wild Kiwihearts Camellia and Kawakawa Light Face Moisturizer!

Suitable for all skin types, it deeply hydrates your skin without clogging pores and leaving an oily residue behind.

Full of all-natural ingredients to soothe redness and inflammation and nourishing oils packed with antioxidants to boost skin growth for radiant, refreshed skin:

Wild Kiwihearts’ Camellia and Kawakawa Light Face Moisturizer is the perfect natural, non-greasy, highly-nutritious moisturizer to add to your summer skincare routine!