How Summer Impacts Your Skin

From long days outdoors to sweltering temps, summer is a love-it-or-hate-it departure from the rest of the year. But welcome or not, this seasonal shift — and the consequent changes to both your habits and environment — can lead to changes in your skin, too.

In fact, says NakedPoppy skin specialist Tara Parenti, one of the biggest mistakes people make in the summer is to “use the same skincare routine and the number of steps as during fall and winter seasons.” These summer-specific changes can make a big difference in your overall skin health, she explains, which is why it can be so helpful to adjust your routine to account for them.

With this in mind, here’s how to keep skin properly balanced for a healthy, radiant summer. (Psst: Going on vacay this summer? Don’t sleep on our guide to keeping skin happy when you’re on the go.)

How summer impacts your skin

Heat, humidity, sunlight — gang’s all here! Three common elements of the summer season can have some unexpected effects on skin. (Don’t worry; there are also some simple ways to solve them.)

Heat

Rising temps do more than just feel uncomfortable — or comfortable, depending on your personal preference. In fact, “a study that exposed subjects to outside environments in July found that exposure to hotter environments causes the production of more sweat, increased skin hydration levels, increased sebum secretion and greasiness, but also reduced skin pH,” says NakedPoppy research scientist Marisa Plescia. [1]

Not only do those higher levels of sebum lead to breakouts — since the combo of sebum and dead cells lead to clogged pores — but that reduction in skin’s pH is pretty notable, too. “Although the pH of the skin is slightly acidic, an even lower skin pH can cause increased redness and inflammation,” she says.

Sun exposure

If you spend your summer at the beach, we’ve got some news: “The number one external factor that affects skin in the summer is sun exposure,” says Plescia. “Increased sun exposure is not only dangerous to your health — as with skin cancer — it can be damaging to your skin, too.” In fact, UV radiation is responsible for about 80% of extrinsic skin aging, which is the kind caused by environmental factors; this includes wrinkles, sagging skin, and hyperpigmentation, such as dark spots.

Plus, Plescia says, “exposure to the sun and the occurrence of sunburns can lead to reduced skin hydration, inflammation, and reduced skin barrier function.” The end-result: Skin feels dry, itchy, or downright uncomfortable.

And even if you’re not a beach person — we see you, shade seekers! — the sun still hits different since the UV index is higher, says Plescia. So you can get more radiation even within your same routine; it’s just an incidental increase.

Humidity

If you’re in a dry climate (for example, Southern California) there’s low humidity year-round — and in the summer, it stays that way while temperature spikes. With an increase in this so-called dry heat, “people tend to experience an increase in dehydration, which can lead to compromised barrier function,” says Parenti.

Meanwhile, “in warmer, humid areas, skin tends to produce more oil and sweat secretion, which can result in a user pulling back on the heaviness of the moisturizer and the number of steps in general in their skincare routine,” says Parenti. While we’re big believers in creating the skincare routine that works for you, skipping certain steps could mean you’re not getting the active ingredients or moisture your skin needs.

How to take care of skin during summer

You don’t have to spend your summer being a shut-in. Instead, make the most of the season without compromising your skin with these simple tweaks…some of which you might already be doing.

Shift your skincare routine

For starters, you might want to skip anything that could potentially be irritating. “Pulling back on chemical resurfacing, particularly with hydroxy acids, and even potentially discontinuing retinol completely may be needed for sensitive skin, and particularly for individuals whose lifestyle calls for them to be outside in the elements on a regular basis,” says Parenti.

Then, find ways to lighten up your routine. You can swap your moisturizer for a two-in-one like Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer; or, merge together your hyaluronic acid serum and moisturizer with Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer. Going with a hybrid allows you to reap the benefits of two items in a single step — making for a lighter finish.

If you haven’t yet figured out your skincare routine, much less pared it back, no sweat! Take the easy, 3-minute beauty assessment to get the right recommendations for your skin’s needs and concerns.

Wear sun protection

SPF is important year-round, but it’s especially critical in the summer months. We recommend sticking with mineral UV filters, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide; these provide effective protection while being considered a cleaner alternative to chemical filters, several of which have questionable safety in large quantities.

Keep skin hydrated and calm

“An addition to SPF, keeping your skin hydrated — along with a functional and healthy skin barrier — is essential to summer skin,” says Plescia. She recommends using humectants like hyaluronic acids, moisturizing oils, and anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as aloe vera, in your routine if your skin gets dry or irritated.  Consider the NakedPoppy Revitalize Organic Facial Oil, which features a blend of argan and poppy seed oils to deeply nourish skin without feeling heavy or greasy.

Keep it cool

Lay off laying out. “Managing heat buildup in the skin is really important because it’s the heat exposure that leaves a person in a heightened and persistent inflammatory state,” says Parenti. “Keeping the skin cool and minimizing exposure to inflammatory triggers is important.” That means shade, hats, and fans on blast, especially if you’re dealing with a heatwave.

The bottom line? You can still have your poolside drink and sip it, too. While summer does have some unique challenges for skin, the solution is easier than you might think — and will keep skin healthy in the long run.

Want perfect-for-you clean beauty picks? Take the 3-min NakedPoppy assessment.

Shop the Story:

• Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer ☀️
• Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer 💧
• NakedPoppy Revitalize Organic Facial Oil 🌹