5 cool, practical summer skin care tips

Hey, there! The summers are here - and PlumBlogs is here to pack you up with some cool, practical tips that go beyond the usual "wear SPF" advice that you're likely to hear at this time of the year. From mangoes to sunglasses, it's time to get smart about summer skin care! 

1) Get smart about sun protection

If you're a half-regular reader of our blog posts, you probably realize by now that you need sunscreen/sunblock. Sun damage is one of the leading causes of skin problems like premature ageing, dark spots and dullness. But when you apply sunscreen is as important as how much SPF you use.

1. Apply your SPF at least 10 minutes before stepping out into the sun, so that the actives are absorbed into your skin, and are ready to protect you.
2. Avoid entering the kitchen immediately after you apply SPF - the heat won't let the SPF get absorbed properly.
3. Re-apply your SPF after every 4-6 hours so that the sun protection continues!

2) Load up on antioxidants

Free radicals sound radical, and they are. Suffice it to say that in combination with UV, free radicals are downright dangerous. The only known protection against free radical damage are antioxidants. The human body naturally produces antioxidants to counteract the damaging effects of free radicals. However, in most cases, free radicals far outnumber the naturally occurring antioxidants. So it's important for us to help things by consuming, and applying onto our skin, some antioxidant-rich stuff. Here's a list of summer delights that are also rich in antioxidants:

1. Mangoes (yes!)
2. Watermelon
3. Carrots
4. Kiwi and other fruits rich in Vit C.
5. Oils rich in Vit E, such as almond oil, grape seed oil and kiwi seed oil

3) Consider using a toner

Toners are great for depositing antioxidants and other important nutrients onto the skin. They are also great for restoring the skin's pH balance after the sometimes harsh cleansing process. Since you are probably going to wash your face more in the summers than in winters (we recommend twice a day), a toner might be a good addition to your routine. Follow up the toner with a small amount of moisturizer. Read more on toners 

4) Water is better than juice!

The best way to keep hydrated in summer is to just drink water. Drink plenty of water for hydrated, healthy skin. Also, watch your intake of sugars (through juice or sweetened cold drinks), caffeine and alcohol. All these feel like they're doing us good, but they can dehydrate our body and our skin and make skin feel very dull. 

5) Sunglasses - 100% or nothing!

Sunglasses should do more than just cut the glare. They should be rated 100% - that is, they should be able to cut down 100% of UVA and UVB radiation. Any pair that doesn't carry this rating is probably not worth buying. And make sure you go for bigger or wraparound ones, so that your eye area is protected from the sides, too!

So go out there, have lots of fun in the sun. After all, with some efforts, your skin and eyes will be well-protected and well-prepared and you will have earned it! Feel free to reach us in the comments below with any skincare-related queries you may have. Happy Summers!

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