How Can I Get Glowing Skin in Summer?

Summertime is in full swing and that means more time on the beach, in the pool, or playing at the park with the kids. Whether you're enjoying rooftop brunches with friends or backyard barbecues with your family, chances you want to look your best. What better way to do that than with an all-natural, sun-kissed glow? Of course, even an all-natural look takes a bit of work. Check out these tips to help you get glowing summer skin that turns heads and leaves everyone envious. 

Use Products With SPF in Them

There is a fine line between looking sun-kissed and turning into a lobster because you spent too much time in the sun without protecting your skin. From the moisturizer you use in the morning to the lotion you put on before you hit the waves, it's important to use SPF-rich products. Nearly all the fine lines and wrinkles a person gets is because of sun damage, so preventing them requires protection from UVA and UVB rays.

Exfoliate Often

Even those with elaborate skin care routines often forget to exfoliate, but it's a critical step for those who want a brighter complexion. Start with an all-body exfoliant in the shower to brighten skin, and then use a dry brush to increase elasticity. Begin at the tops of your feet and brush upward, spending extra time on the inner thighs, back of the arms, and other areas you're likely to forget about easily. It takes just days to see a difference in skin quality.

Drink Plenty of Water 

Dehydration leads to dry and dull skin. Maybe you feel like you need that mid-afternoon cup of coffee as a pick-me-up, or perhaps you simply can't skip your soda or wine in the evening. Unfortunately, your favorite drinks are often damaging your skin. While it's still ok to have coffee, wine, or soda in moderation, your biggest goal should be to drink at least 64 ounces of water per day. The added hydration will make your skin clearer, brighter, and younger looking.

Add Vitamin C to Your Skincare Regimen

One of the easiest ways to get glowing skin in summeris to use Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an excellent resource for the skin. The antioxidant defends against free
radicals that cause sun damage, minimizes the appearance of damage your skin already has, such as brown spots, and boosts the production of collagen to create a younger, brighter, and firmer looking complexion. Products such as Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum can be used in the morning and at night since they are non-greasy, dry fast, and don't contain fragrances or dyes.

Moisturize Daily 

No matter how much you wash your face, apply sunscreen, and use serums, you simply won't have the complexion you want without moisturizing daily. If your skin is prone to looking shiny, use an oil-free formula that includes hyaluronic acid. In fact, Timeless Hyaluronic Acid is a 100% pure serum that is perfect for hydration and moisturization. People who have normal or dry skin can use ceramide products that hold in moisture better. Linoleic acid or argan oil are excellent choices in these cases. 

Massage Your Face

Massaging your face improves your complexion immediately or over the long term, depending on how you do it. If you need a quick boost in brightness, use your fingertips to massage your face and get the blood moving. For the best results, do this every morning before applying makeup. You can double the benefits of facial massages by using an oil or cream at the same time. Squalane, for example, is a high-quality oil that you can use alone or combine with your other favorite skin care products.

Eat More Vegetables

Healthy skin requires a healthy diet that doesn't rely on fast food or microwave meals eaten over the kitchen sink. Take time at least once per day to prepare a nutritious, home-cooked meal for yourself and be sure to include plenty of fresh vegetables in it. Mushroom is particularly good for your skin. Although the best way to get nutrients from vegetables is to eat them, you can also try plant-based beauty products if you absolutely can't stomach the thought of eating your vegetables. Look for plant-derived antioxidants that can fight off free radicals and add hydration. 

Take a Daily Vitamin

People avoid taking their vitamins for a variety of reasons, but if you don't take them because you feel like you don't have time, you don't like the taste, or you just "forget," you are doing damage to your skin. Healthy skin, not to mention hair and nails, relies on the right combination of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It can be difficult to find the right combination via food since most people are too busy to track vitamin intake, which is why a daily supplement is essential. Look for items that are rich in zinc, manganese, and copper. Green tea or olive fruit extracts are also great antioxidants and may have anti-inflammatory benefits. 

Use an Anti-Aging Treatment

Even if you're still a "spring chicken," it is never too early to begin an anti-aging treatment that keeps wrinkles and fine lines from becoming too prominent over time. When starting your treatment, consider adding Matrixyl 3000 to it. The serum contains matrikines that reverse even the earliest signs of aging and reduces sun damage to the skin. The natural formula requires just a few drops in the morning and a few at night to make a difference.

Try a Highlighter

Ok, so makeup doesn't change your complexion, but it can temporarily improve it if you're going somewhere on short notice. If you have a promising first date or unexpected night out with co-workers and want to look your best, grab a highlighting stick or powder. Add a bit under your brows, across your cheeks, and down to your nose to create the illusion of a healthy, sun-kissed glow.

Cool Things Down

The summer heat and sunshine rays will automatically have most people looking a bit redder and sweatier, which is why it is important to cool things down from time to time. If you need a pick-me-up during the day, grab an ice cube or two and run them all over your face and neck until they melt. You'll cool down and your skin will see less redness and swelling due to the heat. You can also relax at the day with a cold compress, such as an eye mask or even a washcloth that you stick in the freezer for a bit.

Consider LED Light Therapy

If you feel that your skin needs some more extensive treatment, consider LED light therapy. This professional therapy session involves 20-minute treatments that bathe your skin in LED lights. These near-infrared lights work in the opposite way of UV rays, so they hydrate your skin and boost your collagen production all at once. 

Hydrate With an All-Natural Mask

Serums and oils are excellent for your daily use needs, but what if you want to pamper yourself? Consider creating an all-natural mask. Combine half an avocado with some hot water and honey and mix evenly to create a mask. Apply it to your face, leave it for 10 minutes, and rinse it off to automatically feel more refreshed. Other masks could include grapeseed oil, ground almonds, or rose oil, all of which can rejuvenate and have anti-aging properties. An afternoon in your at-home spa is just what you need after a long summer workweek, so don't be afraid to try it! 

Take the Perfect Bath

You can add even more relaxation to an at-home spa day while further improving your skin's glow by taking a long bath in Epsom salts or other purifying bath salts. Grab a book, light some candles, and simply lay back and relax while the salts do their jobs to create softer, purer, and smoother skin all over your body.

Practice the Right Order for Your Skincare Products 

Even if you use all the right products, they might not be as effective as they could be. This is because many people use their skincare products in the wrong order. In fact, some experts believe the order in which you use your products is even more important than choosing the products themselves. Always start with the thinnest serum or oil you have, such as anything water soluble. From there, work your way up to your thicker serums, and finally, to your creams. This way, your skin can absorb the best ingredients from all products without the thicker ones blocking the thinner ones from working.

The summer sun can leave you feeling as amazing as you look but only if you know how to make it work for you. Now that you know all the best tips and tricks for how to glow up over the summer, the hardest part is choosing the right products for your skin tone. Regardless of whether you have oily skin, dry skin, or a combination of the two, your favorite beauty store has all the products you need, including a wide variety of facial mists, to help you look as good as you feel this summer. Check them out now!