Summer Skincare Essentials
I turned 30 this year — welp.
Thanks to that milestone, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to treat my body well (inside and out) and preserve it as best I can. Why not take advantage of the technology, research, and tools at our disposal to help keep things tight and toned?
As the iconic Coco Chanel once said, “Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.”
I’ll be honest, though: over the years I’ve had my fair share of tanned skin and sunburns, and I’m worried it will catch up with me. Did you know that when you tan it’s actually a sign your skin has been damaged? The change in color is our body’s way of protecting against ultraviolet (UV) radiation and damage to our DNA. Society may tell us darker skin is more attractive, but now all I’m focused on is keeping myself pristinely pasty.
Too much sun also affects how our skin ages. Spending large amounts of time soaking up the sun can decrease elasticity and cause skin to become leathery, wrinkled, and tissue paper– like. Gross. Also: skin cancer! Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US, and more people are diagnosed with it every year than all other cancers combined.
So how do we protect ourselves from cancer and other conditions of aging skin? Experts recommend applying sunscreen every day to all exposed areas. You can also keep skin healthy and happy by using self- tanner instead of getting a tan, eating a well-balanced diet, minimizing your alcohol intake, exercising regularly, and applying moisturizer every day. And quit smoking cigarettes if you care about your skin’s future. (If you don’t care about looking prematurely old and leathery, then you do you.)
Now is the time to get serious about our epidermis while we still have supple skin and relatively low Botox bills.
Here are our picks for the top two products you need in your skincare arsenal: sunscreen and Vitamin C serum (which dermatologists say is one of the best picks for alleviating skincare concerns).
Summer Skincare Necessities
SPF Facial Sunscreen
Splurge:
EltaMD UV Clear $36 /1.7 oz.
The oil-free formula delivers lightweight protection while hyaluronic acid gives you an extra dose of moisture.
Budget:
Aveeeno Protect + Hydrate $9 /3 oz.
This quick-absorbing sunscreen contains colloidal oatmeal for nourishment and doesn’t leave icky residue behind.
Vitamin C Serum
Splurge
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic $166 /1 oz.
Users and dermatologists alike rave about the efficacy of this glow- inducing serum with vitamins and ferulic acid.
Budget
L’Oreal Revitalift 10% Vitamin C Serum $30 /1 oz.
This serum contains 10 percent ascorbic acid and is free of irritating ingredients like parabens and synthetic dyes.
