Summer Skin Care in the Age of Protective Masks

Summer is right around the corner, and while the change in seasons means bringing back your beloved summer wardrobe, it’s also the perfect time to reevaluate your skin care routine and make sure it’s still serving your needs. Seasonal changes in weather can have dramatic effects on our skin, meaning products that work well for us in cooler and more humid months may need to be swapped out during the hotter and dryer times of year. Add in the fact that many of us are now spending time in hot and sweaty protective masks, and things get even trickier.

First Things First: Sunscreen

Masks or no masks, no summer skin care guide would be complete without the cardinal rule of anti-aging: proper sunscreen. We’re big fans of SkinMedica’s Essential Defense Clear Broad Spectrum 47 because it goes on sheer and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes — aka, perfect for summer. Another fantastic option is the SkinBetter Science SunBetter Sunscreen Stick, which is super portable for outdoor adventuring and makes reapplication easy (and remember: regular sunscreen reapplication is crucial! Especially if you’re sweating, spending a lot of the day outdoors, or were wearing a mask that realistically rubbed some of your products off). Both SkinMedica and SkinBetter brands also protect you against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) light.

Dealing with Mask-Related Breakouts

Many of us are currently coping with increased breakouts — especially around our chins — due to mask-related sweat and irritation. Because of this, a proper cleansing routine is more important than ever. Be sure to cleanse your face in the morning and each night before bed, and even consider doing so after getting home if you’ve spent some time with fabric on your face. I personally use VMV Red Better Deeply Soothing Cleansing Cream because my skin is on the dryer side even in summer, but I’m also a big fan of our SkinMedica cleansing line, which includes an exfoliating cleanser that will definitely up your cleansing game and works well for many clients in warmer months.

If you’re currently struggling with scattered red spots and pimples, I also highly recommend keeping VMV Red Better Spot Corrector on hand, which is a non-drying spot corrector.

The bottom line: If you’re noticing unwanted changes to your skin, it could be that the products you’ve been using in cooler months aren’t what you currently need. Feel free to reach out to us for a summer skin consultation to ensure that you’re using the best products for you!

Authored by: Toria Sheffield