From shorter hemlines to barely-there swimwear, summer is the season for showing more skin. But thanks to more time spent outdoors (and festivities now in full swing), this time of year can also lead to skin concerns on your body, like uneven skin tone, breakouts, and dryness. Read on for Skinstitut®-approved summer bodycare solutions to help your skin look its best for all your warm-weather plans.
Body freckles, sunspots, and hyperpigmentation
The sun’s harmful rays can contribute to skin concerns like freckles, sunspots, and hyperpigmentation on your body. It’s common to see these skin concerns appear on hands, arms, and shoulders as they’re most often exposed to the sun. But anyone who’s experienced sunburn or bad tan lines knows they can appear anywhere on your body if you haven’t been sun safe enough.
As well as using as many sun protection methods as possible (i.e. wearing protective clothing, sunglasses, and a hat, and seeking shade), regularly applying and reapplying sunscreen can help protect your skin’s health and appearance. It’s not always practical to carry a big bottle of body sunscreen with you; instead, pop our Face The Day SPF 50+ or Age Defence SPF 50+ in your everyday bag so you always have sunscreen with you. Both formulas can be applied to your face and body, offering very high broad-spectrum protection that feels light and non-sticky.
Dull skin and uneven skin tone
Like freckles, sunspots, and hyperpigmentation, sun exposure can be a cause of lacklustre-looking skin. Pollutants and other environmental stressors may also be a reason why the skin on your body looks like it’s lacking its usual luminosity.
Vitamin C is one of the best ingredients to help bring back your skin’s glow. It’s high in antioxidants, which help to brighten the look of your skin while protecting it from the effects of free radicals. Apply our high-potency 10% Vitamin C Super Serum or Even Blend Serum (enhanced with Glycolic Acid) to your skin before layering with a body lotion. Alternatively, shake a small amount of our Vitamin C 100% powder into your palms, mix with your body lotion, and massage onto your skin.
Body breakouts and bumpy skin
Sweat, sebum, and sunscreen are necessary for optimal body and skin function: sweat helps cool you down, sebum contributes to your skin’s moisture balance, and sunscreen assists with protecting your skin from the sun. However, this trifecta is often the culprit for an increase in body breakouts or body acne during summer. You might also see and feel clogged or bumpy skin, especially if you shave or wax.
To help counter this, regular body exfoliation helps shed dead skin cells and assists with unclogging pores and hair follicles. It can also contribute to smoother-feeling skin with less noticeable surface oil. Combining AHA chemical exfoliation with manual exfoliation from Jojoba Beads, our Glycolic Scrub 14% or Limited Edition Glycolic Scrub 14% (boosted with Australian native Davidson Plum Extract) are ideal for gently buffing and polishing your body. For lighter exfoliation, try our Enzymatic Micro Peel. It’s powered by Papaya Enzymes and cushioned with Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide.
Dry skin and rough skin
It’s possible for your skin to feel dry or rough, even when the humidity makes everything else feel balmier. Dry skin or rough skin on your body in summer usually indicates a lack of moisturisation, rather than hydration. A mix of environmental factors may contribute to this. Sun exposure, swimming in salty or chlorinated water, intense air conditioning, and hot winds may make your skin feel drier. On top of this, it also mightn’t be receiving enough topical moisture from your skincare (if, like many people, bodycare is something of an afterthought).
Instead of using a thick, rich body lotion that can feel too heavy in summer, add a lightweight layer to your bodycare routine. Spritz our moisturising Multi-Active Mist or pat our smoothing 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum onto your skin before applying a gel-textured body lotion.
