Your Summer Skin Care Checklist

You’ve probably heard us bang on about it before, but the seasonal skin care switch up is real. Summer brings the need for gentler, less reactive products and of course the need to apply, reapply and heck apply again copious amounts of sunscreen.

Just like the must-haves in your beach bag, there are certain staples that are a no-brainer if you’re looking to (safely) glow in the summertime. After all, when you have sweat, sun and salt to contend with, you’re going to need some heavy hitters.

And of course, we have some seriously staple swaps that we make when the weather starts to heat up. But we wanted to get some summer-friendly advice from the best of the best so, we asked Samantha Appel owner of The Skin Bar for her best summer skin care advice.

So what’s on the summer skin care checklist? We thought you’d never ask…

The Ultimate Summer Skin Care Checklist

A lightweight face sunscreen

We get it, when it comes to smearing your face in sunscreen you want one that’s not going to feel like an oil slick that clogs your pores. Luckily, lightweight (and hydrating) options do exists. So, before you chuck on your sunnies and slap on a hat, be sure to liberally smear on either the Cancer Council Face Day Wear Hydrating Serum ($24.95 at Chemist Warehouse) or the CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50 ($26.99 at Chemist Warehouse).

An easy-to-apply, body sunscreen

No one likes doing the awkward sunscreen dance trying to reach all of your back, but it’s just seriously necessary (even when keeping covered up and in the shade). So, make life easier for yourself with an easy to spritz sunscreen like Banana Boat Dry Balance Aerosol ($22 at Chemist Warehouse) and the Bondi Sands Sport SPF 50+ Sunscreen Trigger Spray ($19.99 at Chemist Warehouse). And because summer sweat is real, we suggest picking up the ‘sport’ versions of your fave sunscreen for a little extra sweat resistance, check out the Hawaiian Tropic® Island Sport Sunscreen Lotion ($19.49 at Chemist Warehouse).

Brightening, nourishing serums

Who doesn’t want seriously glowy, bright and radiant skin? For summer, Samantha loves using ingredients like vitamin C (try: Innisfree Vitamin C Brightening Serum, $55 at Adore Beauty), niacinamide (try: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, $17 at The Ordinary) and hyaluronic acid (try: Synergie Skin HyalaVive, $139 at Synergie Skin) to get that glorious luminosity we’re forever searching for.

A gentle cleanser

With all the sunscreen we’re lathering on, we need to make sure we’re doing a good job of cleansing our face at the end of the day. But stripping harsh formulas so aren’t it. So, when picking out a cleanser for the warmer months opt for a gentle, hydrating option like the Skinstitut Gentle Cleanser ($52 at Adore Beauty), Paula’s Choice Ultra-Gentle Cleanser ($34 at Paula’s Choice) or the lightweight Habitual Beauty Balancing Cleanser ($70 at Sephora).

Ultra-hydrating ingredients

Make your summer moisturiser work smarter, not harder. Find one that absorbs well and layers brilliantly with your skin care and sun protection. We know it’s a big ask, but we promise, the Bioderma Hydrabio Gel Creme Hydrating Moisturiser ($43 at Sephora) and Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Moisture Cream ($60 at Sephora) are up for the task.

Skin-supporting body care

When it comes to your body, we’re looking to switch out anything too heavy that’s going to take forever to sink into your skin (nobody has time for that). But we still need the major moisture hit. Start your body care routine by giving your skin a good exfoliating scrub with the Sontse. Clean Slate Exfoliating Mitt ($15 at The Iconic). Get those legs dolphin-smooth with a razor that promises hydration and silky results, like the Schick Silk Hydro Sensitive Care Disposables ($12 at Woolworths). And follow it up with a serious hit of hydration. With it be the lightweight masterpiece that is Vaseline’s Gluta-Hya Serum Burst Dewy Radiance Lotion ($11 at Woolworths) or a luxurious oil like the GAIA Skin Naturals Skin Oil ($22.99 at Big W).

A trusty tinted formula

We’re fond of skin care and makeup hybrids all year round, but there’s no denying they’re an MVP in summer. The seriously lightweight, barely there feeling tinted formulas are exactly what we’re after with the warmer weather. Add in the fact that most contain extra hydrating ingredients and we’re sold. With its skin-loving ingredients the Embryolisse Secret de Maquilleur BB Crème ($49 at Priceline) is a must try.

Is it summer without a touch of sun? No, we’re not talking full on burns here people (we are way more sun-safe than that and will be slathering SPF on accordingly!). We just know that summer’s day, warm (dried out) skin kind of feeling. So, pop a bottle of Plunkett’s Aloe Vera ($11.99 at Healthy Life) in the fridge and spritz this liberally over your fresh skin for a refreshing, soothing hit of hydration (but again, only to cool down, we know you know better than to get burnt!). 

A visit to the salon

Yep, what better way to escape the soaring temps then to hit the salon? Okay, we might have AC at home too, but there’s good reason you should be booking in. Samantha suggesting having a treatment like their Deluxe Anti Ageing Facial, helping to slough away dead skin (gently) and leave your skin looking seriously luminous.

Main Image Credit: @alexachung

What are your summer skin care essentials? Do you use any of the above?