Our skin is the body’s largest organ and the first line of defense against damaging external aggressors, which is why we need to protect it. Maintaining an optimum level of hydration in the summer months is key to helping safeguard the skin’s barrier function which can often be compromised in the face of environmental stressors, particularly in our harsh Australian climate.
Effects from exposure to humidity, UV rays, air conditioning, chlorine, saltwater from the beach, pollutants and lifestyle are likely to be exacerbated by dry skin. Dehydrated skin often means an impaired skin barrier, transepidermal water loss and susceptibility to environmental damage, which can lead to an increase in the appearance of visible lines and wrinkles, flaking skin and reduced appearance of skin elasticity and firmness.
A simple solution of course is to ensure you drink plenty of water. Beneficial for the entire body, inside and out, adequate water intake is not only vital for overall health but also to help protect against dry skin.
However, it is also important to supplement skin hydration topically with high-quality skincare. Well-hydrated skin is healthy-looking skin. To ensure optimal hydration, look for products that provide deep moisturising benefits to keep skin looking and feeling visibly supple and smooth, radiant and glowing.
Our top 3 summer skin care tips:
- Swap out your moisturiser
During the summer season, swap a highly-occlusive moisturiser for a lighter formulation. This is particularly beneficial for blemish-prone skin as the combination of heat, sweat and oil with an occlusive moisturiser may lead to breakouts.
Our experts recommend Eclipse: an all-day, antioxidant-rich moisturiser that incorporates Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, to help protect against environmental stressors. Eclipse has an ultra-sheer, lightweight formula with a non-greasy matte finish and is available in 2 shades, translucent and PerfecTint® Beige. - Source a serum
Harness happy, healthy-looking skin on the face and body with a deeply hydrating serum featuring hyaluronic acid. A naturally occurring humectant, hyaluronic acid attracts and retains moisture more than 1000 times its own weight, leaving the complexion looking hydrated, nourished and supple. When hyaluronic acid is combined with niacinamide (vitamin B3) they work in synergy to enhance one another’s moisturising properties and prevent transepidermal water loss.
Our experts recommend Poly-Vitamin Serum: an intensive, revitalising formula that delivers a powerful combination of essential vitamins, bio-nutrients and age-defying antioxidants, including hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. It provides deep hydration and helps improve the overall integrity of the skin, for a vibrant, healthier-looking complexion.
Our experts recommend Youth Body Serum: a refreshing lightweight serum mist that provides powerful hydration plus antioxidant protection against damaging environmental aggressors. Designed specifically for the body, Youth Body Serum features the purest form of Hyaluronic Acid, potent extracts of Watermelon, Blue Microalgae, Liquorice Root and Holy Herb, combined with essential Vitamin B5 and iS Clinical’s proprietary Extremozymes® to deliver a nourishing body treatment that leaves skin feeling fresh, soft and deeply hydrated. - When the sun goes down
We are all aware of the detrimental effects the sun’s UV rays can have on the skin, from sunburn and premature skin ageing to increased risk of skin cancer, which is why applying sunscreen is non-negotiable. However, what you put on your skin post-exposure to the sun is also important. While it may not reverse skin damage, a high-quality hydrating and soothing skincare product will address the after-effects of dryness, redness and sensitivity experienced from sun exposure.
Our experts recommend Hydra-Cool Serum: a refreshing, powerful, penetrating serum that cools, calms and soothes the look and feel of dry, irritated skin. Hydra-Cool Serum combines superior antioxidants with essential botanicals and bio-nutrients to rejuvenate, hydrate, and visibly soothe the skin while providing antioxidant protection. Perfect for sun-exposed skin, Hydra-Cool Serum is designed for all skin types and all ages, and is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, including blemish-prone.
Our experts recommend Hydra Intensive Cooling Mask: a rich, luxurious cooling treatment that reinvigorates, refreshes and provides soothing hydration to the skin. This professional strength formula (available for home use) features powerful botanical antioxidants which are perfectly balanced with botanically sourced hyaluronic acid to deeply quench the complexion. Skin is left looking visibly luminous, refreshed and hydrated making it ideal for dry, dehydrated, sensitive-feeling sun-exposed skin.