Ah, sweet summertime! The summer is a great time to make lasting memories, play in the salt water, spend time with loved ones, and soak up the sun. But all the sweating, salt, and sunscreen can sometimes send your skin up in flames — even before you get your first sunburn of the season.
That’s why I’ve pulled together this non-toxic summer skincare essentials guide to help you keep your skin radiant and glowing this season. Let’s dive right into it.
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What’s On Deck
- Non-Toxic Summer Skincare Essentials
- Reach for lightweight moisturizers
- Find your favorite sunscreen and use it religiously
- Go easy on the exfoliation
- Pair down your routine if you’re experiencing a sunburn
- Be mindful of summer skincare products with high acidity levels
- Stay hydrated as best you can
- Keep your skin fresh with mists and sprays
- Embrace Your Summer Goddess Skin
Non-Toxic Summer Skincare Essentials
For those with sensitive skin and a tendency to want to turn into a lizard basking in the sun every chance they get, summertime activities can immediately lead to irritated, sunburnt, and rash-covered skin. By choosing non-toxic or more natural summer skincare products, you can help reduce the potential for irritation right off the bat.
To support your non-toxic skincare routine, here are a couple of suggestions to extend your sun-kissed glow and keep your skin protected all season long:
Reach for lightweight moisturizers
With more moisture readily available — from humidity in the air to the sweat on your skin — it’s important to switch to a lightweight moisturizer. I prefer moisturizers that fight free radicals, go on smoothly, and don’t leave a thick residue that will make me look oily in a couple of hours. By reducing the thickness of your daily moisturizer, you’re allowing your skin to get the hit of hydration it needs without overdoing it.
OSEA Atmospheric Protection Cream
PAI The Anthemis Soothing Moisturizer
One Love Organics Skin Dew Coconut Water Cream
Find your favorite sunscreen and use it religiously
I used to think that wearing sunscreen on my face every single day, regardless of the weather, sounded insane. After committing to this practice, it’s been one of the steps in my routine that makes the biggest impact on my complexion. Now, I absolutely notice the days that I forget to do my full routine because my skin looks dull.
Wearing sunscreen on your face and body every time you step outside will go a long way in keeping you protected — even if you’re simply sitting on the patio at lunch with your friends. I’ve recently fallen in love with Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow, making it my personal go-to summer skincare essential. Below, I’ve also included two additional SPF products that will support you on your next adventure or patio gathering with friends and family:
Kinship Self Reflect SPF 32 Probiotic Moisturizing Sunscreen
Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow
Kosas DreamBeam Comfy Smooth Sunscreen SPF 40
Go easy on the exfoliation
During the summer, it’s beneficial to go easy on exfoliation in your skincare routine to protect your skin from potential damage. Exfoliating too frequently can strip the skin of its natural oils, making it more vulnerable to the harsh effects of the sun, such as increased sensitivity and sunburn. By reducing the frequency of exfoliation, you allow your skin to maintain its protective barrier, which is crucial for retaining moisture and preventing irritation.
Additionally, gentler exfoliation helps avoid over-exfoliation, which can lead to redness, dryness, and inflammation — conditions that are exacerbated by summer heat and UV exposure. Emphasizing hydration and sun protection instead ensures your skin stays healthy and resilient throughout the season. Below are a couple of non-toxic, gentle cleansers that will help cleanse your skin without relying heavily on deep exfoliation, making each of them a worthy summer skincare essential product:
Ilia The Cleanse Soft Foaming Cleanser
Josh Rosebrook Complete Moisture Cleanse
Evolve Organic Beauty Gentle Cleansing Melt
Pair down your routine if you’re experiencing a sunburn
Sometimes a mild sunburn is inevitable, especially if you’re spending a lot of time on a boat. The white fiberglass reflects sun in a way that’s similar to white snow on the top of a mountain in the winter, making it harder to avoid.
Regardless of how you got sunburnt, here are a couple of steps to keep in mind to help heal your sunburnt skin while reducing inflammation and discomfort:
- Take a Cool Bath or Shower: Take a cool (not cold) bath or shower. Avoid using harsh soaps and instead opt for a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
- Drink Plenty of Water: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water to help your skin recover from the dehydration caused by sun exposure.
- Apply Aloe Vera Gel: Apply pure aloe vera gel directly to the sunburnt skin. Aloe vera is known for its soothing and healing properties. I prefer to apply aloe that I harvest directly from a plant versus any aloe vera gel blend you can find in the store. It’s more potent, natural, and cooling.
- Avoid Further Sun Exposure: Stay out of the sun until your skin has healed. If you must go outside, wear protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Avoid Harsh Products: Steer clear of products containing alcohol, retinoids, and AHAs/BHAs, as they can further irritate sunburnt skin.
- Use Hydrating Masks: Use gentle, hydrating sheet masks or gel masks that contain soothing ingredients like cucumber or chamomile.
PAI Resurrection Girl Blue Tansy Hydrating Mask
Bloomeffects Royal Tulip Nectar + Echinacea
Follain
Hydrating Mask
Be mindful of summer skincare products with high acidity levels
If you know you’re going to spend the entire next day at the beach, skip the AHA or BHA application the night before. Products containing high concentrations of AHAs or BHAs, while effective for exfoliation and acne treatment, can make your skin more prone to irritation and sun damage.
The summer sun can exacerbate these effects, resulting in redness, peeling, and a heightened risk of sunburn. Opting for milder formulations or reducing the frequency of acidic treatments can help maintain your skin’s health and resilience, ensuring it remains protected and hydrated during the warmer months.
Stay hydrated as best you can
Staying hydrated during the summer is crucial for maintaining healthy skin and overall well-being. Adequate hydration helps regulate body temperature, flush out toxins, and keep your skin supple and glowing. Dehydration can lead to dryness, flakiness, and an increased risk of sunburn, making it essential to drink plenty of water and replenish lost electrolytes.
Enjoying an adrenal cocktail is a delicious way to stay hydrated and support your adrenal health. This refreshing drink combines the juice of one fresh orange, 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar (a source of potassium), and a pinch of sea salt (for sodium). Simply mix these ingredients with a glass of coconut water for an invigorating and nutrient-rich beverage. Incorporating this adrenal cocktail into your daily routine can help you stay hydrated, balanced, and radiant all summer long.
Prepping for an upcoming camping trip? Check out my clean skincare recommendations to keep your skin supple and protected on any camping adventure.
Keep your skin fresh with mists and sprays
Skin sprays and mists are summer skincare must-haves to keep your skin refreshed and revitalized throughout the day. These lightweight, hydrating sprays provide an instant cooling effect, soothing sun-exposed skin and replenishing lost moisture. Packed with beneficial ingredients like aloe vera, rose water, and hyaluronic acid, they help to calm irritation, reduce redness, and boost hydration levels without leaving a greasy residue.
Perfect for on-the-go use, skin mists can be spritzed over makeup or bare skin, making them a versatile addition to your summer skincare routine. By incorporating these refreshing mists, you can maintain a dewy, radiant complexion even in the hottest, most humid conditions.
OSEA
Sea Minerals Mist
CV Skinlabs Rescue & Relief Spray
Kinfield Sunday Spray Cooling Aloe Mist
BONUS: If you’re prone to dry skin on your entire body, not just your face or neck, check out this Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum from One Love Organics. It’s designed to provide your skin with a hit of hydration, defending against environmental stressors and elemental dryness.
Embrace Your Summer Goddess Skin
Having your summer skincare essentials within reach ensures that you can fully enjoy the summer sun without compromising the health and beauty of your skin. By staying hydrated with refreshing drinks like adrenal cocktails and regularly using skin sprays and mists, you can keep your skin nourished, balanced, and protected from the harsh effects of heat and UV rays. These simple yet effective steps help maintain your skin’s moisture levels, reduce the risk of sunburn, and promote a glowing complexion.
Being prepared with the right skincare products allows you to embrace all the joys of summer confidently. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, hiking in the mountains, or exploring new destinations, having your hydration and skin-refreshing tools at hand means you can focus on making memories rather than worrying about skin damage.
By prioritizing these essentials, you safeguard your skin’s health, ensuring it remains resilient, radiant, and ready for all your summer adventures.
[…] If you’re looking for some all-natural facial mist recommendations, check out my summer skincare guide here. […]