over. With the skies clearing up and temperatures rising slowly but surely, your skin is also waking up from a few long months spent under wraps. Here are a few tips to stay fresh-faced and all-round fabulous all summer long, or even longer.
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No shine on me
We’re not talking about the sun here, which we’d actually gladly welcome in our back garden at the moment. However, with the temperatures rising the skin’s sebaceous glands start producing more sebum, which can make your skin shiny, or a little greasy-looking. And that’s the last thing you want for not all those holiday Instagram snaps.
Thankfully though, the remedies are quite straight-forward. Just start by washing your face regularly with a skin care product that’s right for your own skin type (normal, dry, oily or a combination) to clear the pores and prevent breakouts.
Don’t hesitate to splurge a little more than you normally would on quality skincare products: applying a little Proactiv cleanser twice a day can really go a long way towards keeping your skin healthy.
You can also use a mattifying serum right after to make the effects last a little longer and/or mattifying blotting sheets that will discreetly fit inside any purse and can be used for small touch-ups during the day.
Eat and drink well
Of course, such precious advice would be all for naught if you’re not eating and drinking the right stuff in the first place. But there’s still no need to suddenly turn into a health freak! You might just need to be reminded of a few simple tips after having indulged a bit too much over the last few months.
So you’d better cut back on cheese, cured meats and chocolate (sadly!), and make sure you reach your five-a-day as often as possible. Combined with the recommended daily intake of 9 cups a day of water, a balanced diet will guarantee all the vitamins your skin needs to get sun-ready.
Protection and other hot weather tips
If your skin is prone to breakouts and pimples, don’t get too excited when they all seem to disappear after a few days under the sun. It’s an illusion that won’t last very long: UV rays tend to thicken the skin’s surface and trap in all the sebum in the process, which can eventually lead to a skin disaster once your tan starts wearing out.
Whether you’re lucky enough to jet off somewhere hot in the next few weeks or you’re opting for a more convenient staycation, UV protection is a must. We all know it is quite common for Britons to get a little overenthusiastic under the sun and forgo all kind of sun protection: to avoid sunburns and melanomas you should never hit the beach without applying some high factor sun cream first.
