Summer is here and that means most of our activities will be taking place in the sun. Whether you’re splashing around in your backyard pool, or building sandcastles on the beach, it’s important to remember to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the hot summer sun.
A recent trip to our family dermatologist shed some new light on the proper ways to care for your skin during the summer months, and even year round. One thing I learned was that foundation makeup that comes with SPF, isn’t enough to protect your skin on it’s own! In order to fully protect your skin, you need to first apply a layer of sunscreen with at least SPF 15 (higher is better) before applying your makeup. Be sure to apply it to your neck and ears. You can blot off any excess sunscreen if you need to. Be sure to let the sunscreen soak in, and wash your hands thoroughly before applying your layer of foundation.
For your foundation, look for one also with an SPF of 15 or higher. Apply on top of the sunscreen just as you normally would and allow a few minutes to set in before applying your powder finish. Your powder finish should also be SPF of 15 or higher. I’ve personally never been much of a powder wearer, but since I found out that the powder helps to seal everything into place, and keep you from having to reapply several times throughout the day, I decided to try it out myself.
And did you know your lips can be affected by the sun too? I didn’t! Apparently an SPF 15 or higher lip balm, or even lipstick, is recommended to finish off this total skin protecting regimen.
If you’re not a make-up wearer, just be sure to apply that SPF 15 or higher sunscreen several times a day while you’re out in the sun!
I hope these little tips help you to keep your own skin looking fresh, and photo-ready! Enjoy your first few weeks of summer and don’t forget to keep checking back for more beauty and fashion tips!