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Summer is here!!! And so is COVID, but yet the sun still shines, and that continues to give me hope for better days. I know we aren’t out and about like we usually are….unless you’re in Florida…but I digress.
Most likely, you’re still making grocery store trips often, maybe going for a walk, taking the kids to the park, or just riding with the top down. Either way, we are finding small ways to still enjoy the sun a little and continue to practice social distancing…the correct way. That means we still need to be sure to stay on top of our skincare routines to protect and preserve our beautiful melanin.
So the question is, what is your summer skincare routine? With winter skincare routines, the goal usually is to keep the skin moisturized. Between the cold, bitter winter air and hot air from the heating systems to keep us warm, most people notice their skin and hair feeling more dry and brittle and for that, using thicker moisturizers and body creams really helps. However, in summer, we sweat more and don’t tend to feel as dry, but it’s still necessary to moisturize daily and/or wear sunscreen.
I know some black people still have this assumption that we don’t need sunscreen (my husband smh), but BLACK PEOPLE GET SUNBURNED TOO YA’LL. Trust me. It happens to me every summer. Yes, I’m on the lighter end of the melanin spectrum, my more melanated readers looking like “duh, your yellow bone tail need sunscreen” LOL, but even our darker skin sistas and brothas, you’ll still need to protect that beautiful black and brown skin from the sun too. Because the truth is, the sun rays CAN cause damage. So here are some of my favorite products to include in your Summer skincare routine:
- Loreal Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care: This moisturizer is lightweight but still hydrating. The bottle reads
this product is for normal to dry skin types, but I have oily skin in the summer, and it works well for me. I’ve used it for the past two summers. - Black Girl Sunscreen: Yes, that name is it all hunny unapologetically! I recently learned of this sunscreen, and I really do like it. This sunscreen does not leave a white cast on the skin. The ingredients include avocado, jojoba, cacao, carrot juice, and sunflower oil. It not only protects your skin from sun damage but also helps to treat sunburn and hydrate the skin.
- Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel: I’ve been using this cleanser on and off for about four years now. Some cleansers are so harsh they take every inch of oil your skin ever produced. Then your face is
feeling super dry, and now you have to go in extra hard with moisturizer. That’s not a good thing, yall. I like this cleanser because it is effective and still gentle. Its infused with papaya and grapefruit, and Its for all skin types. - Iwi Fresh 14-Carrot-Glow moisturizer & Lettuce-face-it toner: I learned of IwiFresh while watching Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta (guilty pleasure shoulder shrug). The carrot moisturizer and lettuce toner are my favorite two products from Iwi Fresh. Carrots are packed with Vitamin C and Beta-carotene, which helps to speed up skin recovery and inflammation. The lettuce toner helps balance ph levels of the skin, improves circulation, and helps to hydrate the skin. Their products are made fresh, so they must stay refrigerated, which is a plus because when you apply, it feels cool and refreshing. Also, I have a full article of them posted, so go check that out as well before making your purchase.
A good summer skincare routine can be simple or intricate. It all depends on your skin needs and what works for you individually. For example, my skincare routine could be as simple as cleanser and moisturizer or sunscreen. I don’t have problematic skin in the summer, so I can keep it simple.
However, since I enjoy skincare, I often include serums, toners, masks, and/or scrubs. Try not to think of it as a task but something that can be added to your self-care time, and hopefully, you are getting a lot of much-needed self-care time. You deserve it, Queen!
