As we start creeping into summer, how do we prepare our skin to stay glowy and clear all season long?
We are experiencing a drier-than-normal year in Colorado, and because of this, you may be noticing scaly, flaky skin or even congestion and breakouts. I want to break down the basics of a skincare routine and how weather can affect your skin.
Your bare-bones skincare routine should at least include a cleanser with an active ingredient, an exfoliant, and a moisturizer, preferably with SPF. For people who deal with acne, I love using a benzoyl peroxide cleanser. However, you want to pay attention to how your skin reacts to different brands. Your skin should not feel like it is screaming for moisture after cleansing. You should feel clean and fresh. This is where I personally notice a huge difference when using professional skincare brands. One of my personal favorites is PCA Skin BPO 5% Cleanser.
When building a simple skincare routine, I like to compare it to lifting weights in the gym. You typically don’t want to work out only one muscle group all the time. You either do full-body workouts or split different muscle groups into different days. Your skincare routine works the same way. You want different ingredients doing different jobs so everything is being taken care of.
So, with that being said, we started with benzoyl peroxide in the cleanser, and now we move to the exfoliant. When finding the right exfoliant for you, think about what you realistically need to stay consistent. For most people, that means using a product every day or at least every other day. If that sounds like you, I would recommend an exfoliant that has a physical scrub for texture along with another active ingredient such as enzymes or salicylic acid. One of my personal favorites is the PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant.
Having these together helps us target multiple concerns in one product. The scrub helps remove flakes and surface dead skin cells, while the active ingredients can help with bacteria, excess oil, fungus, or additional dead skin buildup. Removing those dead skin cells makes it easier for the other products in your routine to absorb into the skin cells that need them most.
The last basic product is your moisturizer, hopefully one with SPF. You want to make sure your skin stays hydrated. A good moisturizer should not make you feel worried that it is “too hydrating” and causing breakouts. If that happens, it usually has more to do with the ingredients in the product than the hydration itself. I personally love the Hydrator Plus Broad Spectrum SPF from PCA Skin.
Okay, so why is all of this important? When we have a good baseline skincare routine, it becomes much easier to adjust depending on the weather and what our skin is being exposed to.
One thing I have really been trying to educate my clients on is how to support their skin if we experience multiple bad fires and smoke fills the air. When smoke lingers for long periods of time, it can start clogging pores and damaging the skin barrier. One product I have already started adding into my routine in preparation for possible smoke exposure is the Pore Refining Treatment from PCA Skin. This treatment is designed to help remove not only dead skin cells, but also dirt, debris, ash, and smoke particles. In the process, it can also help reduce the appearance of pores by clearing out excess oil buildup.
Another great addition to your routine is a serum. I always recommend having a good hyaluronic acid serum on hand. Hyaluronic acid helps the skin stay hydrated, and the best part is that your skin naturally recognizes it and knows how to use it effectively when the serum is well formulated.
Lastly, I know there are a lot of controversial opinions surrounding SPF. What I always say is: learn about the ingredients for yourself and do what feels right for your skin and lifestyle. At the end of the day, you want to make sure you are not burning or spending hours in direct sun without protection. I personally use the Hydrator Plus Broad Spectrum SPF from PCA Skin every day, but I also stay mindful of how much time I spend in the sun. If I leave the house without SPF on, I make sure I am wearing a hat and sunglasses to help protect my face and eyes.
At the end of the day, skincare does not have to be overly complicated to be effective. Creating a consistent routine with a few supportive products can make a huge difference in how your skin handles the dry climate, summer heat, and possible smoke exposure that comes with living in Colorado. The goal is not perfect skin, but healthy skin that feels balanced, hydrated, and protected. By paying attention to what your skin needs and making small adjustments throughout the seasons, you can help support your skin barrier and keep your skin looking clear, calm, and glowing all summer long.
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