Fashion
6 Ways to Get Your Best Summer Skin Ever
Forget New Years — month-to-month resolutions are much easier to keep. In honor of August, the last official heyday of summer and a month designed for squeezing in as much vitamin D-fueled happiness as possible, revamp your skincare routine like a sun-soaked hippie would. The goal? To greet the fall with a face that has locked in summer's glow for good.
Image: Ashley Batz/Bustle
Wear sunscreen every day
If you’re not already protecting your delicate facial skin on a day to day basis, make this the month you start. Do you want to screech into the fall with an adorable smattering of freckles or a fire engine-red nose? Here are 5 sneaky ways to trick yourself into getting more SPF than you think.
Wash your face at night, splash it clean in the morning
With summer’s often-grueling heat and extreme variables (sun! ocean! lake! AC! sweat! BBQ smoke!), it’s important to keep your skin as calm and regulated as ever. Stripping it of natural oils twice a day is not the way to do this. Cleanse your face well at night, making sure to remove all your makeup, and splash yourself awake in the morning (or use a spritz of thermal water, as French women like to do).
Image: Ashley Batz/Bustle
Give yourself twice-a-week facial masks
The goal here is twofold: To soothe your face and to de-stress your mind. Lots. Twice a week (that’s eight times this month, you can handle it), set aside a solid half hour to give yourself a relaxing facial mask. On Wednesdays, slather your face in raw honey (anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, heals breakouts, attracts moisture to your skin), and on Sundays, coat your face in Greek yogurt (probiotic, gently exfoliates due to lactic acid, soothes, reduces redness). Don’t forget to breathe deeply during the process and concentrate fully on the experience.
Image: Ashley Batz/Bustle
Moisturize from the kitchen
We’re not the first ones to tell you this, but no, oils are not gross, no, they won’t make you break out, and yes, they’re amazing for your skin. Make this the month you swap out your chemical-ladden nightly moisturizer for pure olive oil. Not feeling the Italian vibe? Try jojoba, grapeseed, coconut, argan, or marula oil. For what it’s worth, the last two are especially trendy right now.
Image: Fotolia
Start daily facial massages
French women do it all the time, and nobody’s complaining about the way their skin looks. Add an extra minute to your morning moisturizing routine with a facial massage, and report back at the end of the month to see how your skin has been transformed.
Image: Ashley Batz/Bustle
Hop on the dry brushing bandwagon
We tend to focus most on the face, but let’s not forget the rest of your body. Dry brushing is the practice of using a loofah or natural bristle brush to exfoliate your skin before the shower. You brush in small, circular motions over your entire body, always working towards the heart. Dry brushing gets rid of dead skin cells, encourages new cell production, and increases circulation. Your skin will feel incredibly soft after you’re done. You can read more detailed explanation of the strokes here.
