If you leave aside mangoes and beachy vacations, summers are infamous for many different skin problems. From flaky skin, acne breakouts, irritation, and sunburn, the summer season can wreak havoc on your skin, thanks to the subsequent rise in temperature and humidity.
However, the situation can worsen if you skip an essential step of your skincare routine - moisturization.
Contrary to popular belief, experts recommend using a moisturizer for summer to achieve healthy, radiant & balanced skin.
Therefore, if you have ever thought about skipping face creams in summer, here are reasons you should think twice.
Here are five benefits of moisturizer for summer. Also, find our suggestions for the best moisturizer for summer, including gel-based moisturizers.
Benefits of moisturizers for summer
It helps beat summer dryness:
The scorching heat and increased humidity levels during summer can disturb the moisture balance in your skin, leading to dryness and dullness. Staying indoors in air-conditioners further aggravates the dryness, making your skin dehydrated and flaky.
Using a lightweight, hydrating face cream helps replenish lost moisture, keeping your skin soft, supple, and radiant throughout the day. For summers, gel-based moisturizers are best as they are lightweight on your skin while being nourishing. You can look for formulas infused with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin, which attract and retain moisture, ensuring your skin stays hydrated without feeling greasy or heavy.
Combating excess oil production:
Summer heat is often coupled with humidity and heavy sweating, which can increase sebum production, leading to oily skin and breakouts. However, skipping moisturizers in such weather can aggravate your symptoms. It is because, though your skin might look greasy due to sweat, it is actually dehydration that produces more oil to overcompensate for moisture loss.
Instead, a moisturizer will help maintain hydration and balance sebum production in your skin, leaving an oil-free and non-greasy feel. The best moisturizers for oily skin are the ones that do not make your skin greasy and yet hydrate it deeply. You can opt for a gel cream-based moisturizer that absorbs easily into your skin.
Preserving skin barrier function:
The summer season exposes your skin to various environmental stressors, like UV radiation, and free radicals, which can compromise your skin's natural barrier function. Using a face cream for summer enriched with antioxidants, vitamins and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides will help strengthen your skin's defenses against environmental aggressors. It will also prevent moisture loss, inflammation, and premature aging in your skin.
It soothes and calms your skin:
Sun exposure, hot and dry winds, and outdoor activities during the summer can increase your skin sensitivity and lead to issues like inflammation, redness, sunburn, flakiness, and irritation. In such weather, a moisturizer helps soothe and calm your skin. Using a moisturizer for the summer season helps reduce discomfort and redness while restoring moisturizing balance to your skin. While looking for the best moisturizers in the summer, look for ingredients like green tea, rice water, etc., that calm your skin and help it heal.
It provides added protection against sun damage:
While sunscreen is undoubtedly a non-negotiable step in your summer skincare routine, a moisturizer further protects against sun damage. While hydrating, a moisturizer with SPF can provide double protection against harmful UV rays, preventing sunburn, premature aging, and potential skin cancers. A face cream with SPF under your regular sunscreen can create an additional barrier against sun damage, ensuring comprehensive protection for your skin.
How to choose a summer moisturizer for you?
Though all moisturizers help hydrate and nourish your skin, choosing a suitable summer moisturizer for your skin and concerns is crucial. Here are certain factors you should consider while using a moisturizer for the summer season.
- Skin type: Considering your skin type is the most important factor in choosing a face cream for the summer season. For normal to dry skin, you can opt for nourishing and hydrating face creams. However, choosing a moisturizer for oily skin in the summer can be challenging. While buying summer moisturizer for oily skin, look for oil-free or gel-based moisturization.
- Texture: Avoid heavier creams in summer. Face creams with runny or thin consistency will not weigh the skin down while nourishing your skin. Also, ensure that your face cream for the summer season is lightweight and does not clog pores or leave your skin greasy.
- Ingredients: Carefully read the product labels while buying a face cream for the summer season. For instance, a moisturizer containing active ingredients like niacinamide and rice water hydrates your skin while providing brightening effects. Avoid opting for any product containing harsh products that can adversely affect your skin. Similarly, for sensitive skin, opt for fragrance-free moisturizers.
- SPF: Though sunscreens are indispensable, choosing a moisturizer with SPF can provide added sun protection.
Moisturizers for oily skin in the summer season
If you are seeking a moisturizer for oily skin in summer, look for ‘gel-based / gel cream based’ or oil-free on their labels. Moreover, ensure that the moisturizers are non-comedogenic and provide non-greasy hydration. For best results, use formulations made specifically for oily or combination skin types.
Or you can just look for a gel or water-based moisturizer that helps control excess oil production, mattify the skin, and minimize the appearance of pores, leaving your complexion smooth and glowing. Niacinamide, rice water, green tea, cica, etc., are best for oily skin. Look for these ingredients in your summer moisturizers.
Best summer moisturizers from Plum
Looking for the best moisturizers for summer? Here are a few you can consider:
2% Niacinamide & Rice Water Gel Cream
Salicylic & Lactic Acid Skin-Smoothing Gel Moisturizer
Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer
As temperatures soar, don't overlook moisturization as a summer essential. From hydration and sun protection to oil control and soothing properties, the benefits of moisturizer for summer months are undeniable. Look for a suitable moisturizer for your skin and let your skin shine bright, just like the sun!
FAQs
Q 1. Is it okay to use moisturizer in summer?
To ensure that your skin is well hydrated and protected from the harsh summer winds, it is crucial to use a moisturizer in the summer.
Q 2. What moisturizer is good in summer?
You can use a gel-based moisturizer for summers that is non-greasy and lightweight. If you have dry skin, you can also opt for a hydrating moisturizer containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Some of the best moisturizers for summer are as follows-
2% Niacinamide & Rice Water Gel Cream
Salicylic & Lactic Acid Skin-Smoothing Gel Moisturizer
Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer
Q 3. Can I skip moisturizer in summer?
No, you should never skip moisturizers in summer. Moisturizers help hydrate, calm, and soothe your skin. It also preserves your skin barrier function and controls excess oil. If moisturizers make your skin greasy, opt for gel-based moisturizers.
Q 4. Can I skip moisturizer if I have oily skin?
No, you must not skip moisturizer even if you have oily skin. When your skin is dehydrated, it tends to produce more sebum leading to excessive gerasiness and oil on your skin. Applying moisturizer consistently balances sebum production while hydrating your skin.
