8 Skin Care Tips for Great Summer Skin

Written by Guy Gustafson
June 08, 2020

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Summer’s right around the corner, and it’s time to show everyone how hard you’ve been working on your physique for the last several months.

You might be totally satisfied with how your body looks after lots of effort during your workouts. What about your skin, though? Is it looking a little lackluster?

Long gym sessions can be tough on the skin. Excessive sweating can trigger breakouts, for example, as can tight, sweaty gym clothes.

Luckily, though, there are lots of things you can do to get great summer skin and feel confident strutting your stuff at the pool or beach. Read on to learn some simple (yet effective) skincare tips you can try today.

Wash Your Face Often

At first, this basic step might seem like a no-brainer. A lot of people are guilty of skipping it, though.

At the very least, you should make an effort to wash your face in the morning and in the evening. It’s a good idea to wash it after working out, too, especially if your workout was an intense and sweaty one.

Use a gentle face wash that’s free from parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances, and other ingredients that could irritate your skin. Wash your face with cool or lukewarm water as well. If the water is too hot, it could dry out your skin. This, in turn, increases oil production and can make you more prone to breakouts.

In addition to washing your face, make sure you’re cleansing the rest of your skin regularly. Always take a quick shower with gentle soap after exercising. This will help to prevent breakouts on your back and chest.

Moisturize Regularly

After you’ve cleansed your skin, be sure to follow up with a moisturizer. Everyone should be doing this, even those who have oily skin.

If your skin is oily and you dry it out with soap and hot water, it’ll produce more oil to compensate, which can lead to more breakouts. If you’re very concerned about breakouts from your moisturizer, look for an oil-free option that is less likely to clog pores.

Moisturizer helps to nourish your skin and keep it hydrated. It also helps to seal in any other products that you might be using on your skin, such as serums or treatments for specific skin conditions.

Apply Products in the Proper Order

Speaking of other products, keep in mind that there is an ideal order for applying products to your skin. If you don’t follow this order, you’ll be less likely to experience their benefits.

This fact is especially important to keep in mind if your skincare products are on the expensive side. If you apply them incorrectly, you’re essentially wasting your hard-earned money. Nobody wants that, right?

When applying your products, start with the thinnest one first, then work your way up to the thickest.

Let’s say you have a cleanser, a toner, a serum, and a moisturizer. Start with the cleanser to get rid of dirt, oil, and leftover makeup. Then, use the next-thinnest product, the toner, to prep your skin and balance its pH. From here, the next-thinnest product would be the serum. Put it on next, followed by the moisturizer to seal everything in.

Try not to rush your way through your skincare routine, either. Give your skin a chance to soak in each product before you apply the next one. That way, they have an opportunity to do their job before you smear something else on top.

Exfoliate (But Not Too Often)

Exfoliation can be a very helpful addition to your skincare routine. It sloughs off the top layer of dead skin cells, which could be clogging your pores and causing breakouts. It also helps your skin to look fresher and more youthful.

Don’t exfoliate too often, though. Too much exfoliation can be irritating to your skin and can cause excessive dryness (which can cause more breakouts). Limit yourself to exfoliating just once or twice per week. That’s enough to keep your skin looking fresh without being too irritating.

Get Enough Sleep

You know that adequate sleep is essential if you want your muscles to recover and your performance in the gym to improve. Did you also know that sleep is important for your skin health?

When you’re sleeping, your body goes to work cleaning up all the damage that occurred throughout the day. In addition to repairing damage caused during your workouts, it also takes care of damage to your skin. Without sufficient sleep, you may be more prone to breakouts, discoloration, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Make an effort to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. Try to stick to a consistent sleep routine and avoid consuming caffeine or exposing yourself to blue light (from a cellphone, TV, or computer) too close to bedtime.

You may want to use a sleep supplement as well. Products like Crash Liquid Shots promote good sleep and recovery. They’re great for relieving stress and anxiety, too.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Your diet has a huge impact on the quality of your skin. Even if you think you’ve already got your nutrition dialed in, it doesn’t hurt to take a second look and consider the effects of the food you’re eating.

Are you consuming enough protein, for example? The amino acids found in protein play an important role in skin health. Remember, your skin is made up of several different proteins, including collagen, keratin, and elastin. The body needs a sufficient amount of amino acids to keep the skin healthy and strong.

Fats are important for skin health, too. Make sure you’re consuming plenty of foods that are rich in healthy fats, such as fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, etc.), avocado, and olive oil. They keep the skin moisturized and can help to reduce inflammation and breakouts.

Minimize your consumption of industrial oils like vegetable oil, though, as they can increase inflammation and trigger breakouts in some people. Some other foods to avoid for healthy skin include high-sugar foods and processed foods (which often contain vegetable oils).

Wash Everything Your Skin Touches

It’s important to wash your skin, but you also need to regularly wash the items that your skin touches. This includes things like your sheets, pillowcases, and cellphone.

Make sure you’re washing your workout clothes after every wear, too. Try not to hang out in them after you’re done exercise as well. If you’ve been sweating in a shirt or sports bra and then wear it for hours afterward, there’s ample opportunity for dirt and bacteria to work their way into your skin and cause breakouts.

Use Some Skin-Saving Supplements

There are several supplements on the market that you can use to support your skin. The following are some of the best options to consider:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to combat cellular damage and speeds up the healing process. The body also needs vitamin C to produce collagen, one of the primary proteins found in the skin.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

If you don’t get a lot of fatty fish in your diet, consider supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that must come from the diet or supplements (the body cannot make them on its own). They reduce inflammation and help to prevent dryness.

B Vitamins

B vitamins, especially vitamin B12 and vitamin B3, are very important for your skin health. B12 can promote healthy bacteria balance, which is especially helpful if you struggle with acne. There’s is research showing a link between vitamin B3 levels and skin cancer risk, too.

Turmeric

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin. Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory that acts as an antioxidant. Like vitamin C, it can help to protect the skin cells from oxidative damage and speed up the healing process.

Collagen

Your body makes collagen on its own, but you can still benefit from supplementing with it. Supplements that contain collagen help you to ensure you’re getting adequate amounts of the amino acids needed to rebuild your skin and keep it healthy. Collagen can be good for your skin, nail, and joint health, too.

Glutamine

Finally, don’t forget about Glutamine. Glutamine is often used as a recovery aid and for promoting joint health. It’s good for your skin, too, though.

Glutamine aids in collagen production and has antioxidant properties. It improves the integrity of the skin and provides much-needed protection against cellular damage from the inside out.

Get Ready for Great Summer Skin Today

If you need some help getting great summer skin in time for the hottest months of the year, these tips are for you. Give them a try today and you’ll be ready to soak up the sun in no time.

Be sure to stock up on supplements that are good for your skin, too. Whether you need help fitting in some extra protein or you want to use glutamine or a sleep aid to keep your skin healthy and smooth, we’ve got options for you. Use our store locator to find a seller near you, or place an order online today.

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