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If you leave aside mangoes and beachy vacations, summers are more remembered for the different skin problems it brings along. 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 summer moisturizer 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 moisturizers listed by Plum for summers, including gel-based moisturizers.
Summer moisturizer benefits:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 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.
4. 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 for the summer season, look for ingredients like green tea, rice water, etc., that calm your skin and help it heal.
5. 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 that will benefit 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 moisturizer for the summer season. For normal to dry skin, you can opt for nourishing and hydrating moisturizers. However, choosing a moisturizer for oily skin in the summer can be challenging. While buying summer moisturizer for oily skin, look for an oil free moisturizer or a gel-based one.
- Texture: Avoid heavier creams in summer. Creams with runny or thin consistency will not weigh the skin down while nourishing your skin. Also, ensure that for the summer season you use a lightweight moisturizer and do not clog pores or leave your skin greasy.
- Ingredients: Carefully read the product labels while buying a moisturizer for the summer season. For instance, a niacinamide and rice water moisturizer enriched with active ingredients like niacinamide not only hydrates your skin but also provides brightening effects. Avoid opting for products containing harsh ingredients that can adversely affect your skin. Similarly, for sensitive skin, choose fragrance-free moisturizers.
- SPF: Though sunscreens are indispensable, choosing an SPF moisturizer can provide added sun protection.
Looking for the best moisturizers for the summer season? Here are a few you can consider:
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 are undeniable. Look for a suitable moisturizer for your skin and let your skin shine bright, just like the sun!
FAQs
Q1. Why is moisturizer important in summer?
Moisturizer is essential in summer to keep your skin hydrated, balanced, and protected from dryness, excess oil, and environmental stressors.
Q2. What are the benefits of summer moisturizer?
Summer moisturizers help hydrate your skin, control excess oil, soothe irritation, protect the skin barrier, and provide added defense against sun damage.
Q3. Is it good to use moisturizer in summer?
To ensure that your skin stays well-hydrated and protected from harsh summer winds, it is crucial to use a moisturizer during the summer.
Q4. Can I skip moisturizer in summer?
No, you should never skip moisturizers in summer. They hydrate, calm, and soothe your skin. They also preserve your skin barrier function and control excess oil. If moisturizers make your skin feel greasy, opt for gel-based ones.
Q5. 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 produces more sebum, leading to excessive greasiness and oiliness. Applying moisturizer consistently helps balance sebum production while keeping your skin hydrated.
Q6. Which type of moisturizer is best for summer?
A gel-based, non-greasy, and lightweight moisturizer is ideal for summer. If you have dry skin, consider a hydrating moisturizer with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
Here are some of the best moisturizers for summer:
