Glowing skin is always the trend of the summer, after all dewy, fresh, and radiant skin not only makes you feel confident but also makes your skin look healthy and hydrated. However, being in the sun all day can have a negative impact on your overall skin health, which is why we’d love to offer you Dove Dermatologist and beauty expert, Dr. Alicia Barba’s most coveted tips that will give your skin that TLC it needs all season.
Go Easy on the Exfoliating: First step to glowing, radiant skin is to gently exfoliate in the shower because without proper exfoliation, skin can develop a dull appearance. I recommend exfoliating once a week and using a polish that has built in moisturizers. Remember to not over-exfoliate as that can strip the skin of its essential oils which leads to breakouts. Many people think by over exfoliating they’re going to scrub away the dry skin cells and somehow that’s going to make it better, but it makes it worse because you’re also rubbing away the natural lipids and proteins from the skin.
Practice Proper Hair Removal Care: Part of many of our routines is hair removal, especially during Summer. The safest and most practical method for hair removal is shaving, especially for women of color. To safely shave, always start with a clean razor and shaving gel, while making sure to be gentle and not rub too hard against the skin as over exfoliation of the underarm area can lead to low grade inflammation, which in-turn can lead to staining of the underarm area.
• Pro tip: After shaving, I recommend using a moisturizing antiperspirant like the new Dove Nourishing Secrets Waterlily & Sakura Blossom Antiperspirant. Made with Dove’s signature ¼ moisturizers, it provides up to 48-hour of odor and sweat protection, which will give you that long-lasting protection and hydration needed to withstand a hot summer day.
Always keep Sunscreen Handy: I wear sunscreen every single day on my face but not on my body! I only wear it on my body when I am at the beach, or I’m exposed to the sun which in Miami is very often. In general sunscreen application all depends on what we do every day, if you’re truly indoors and there are no windows around you then you’re probably fine with not wearing sunscreen that day. But if you’re outdoors, suffer from pigment disorders and/or are at high risk for skin cancer, then I absolutely would be wearing sunscreen, especially on your face!
Take Your Vitamins: As a dermatologist, I make people inherently vitamin D deficient! This is because I tell you to stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen, so your natural vitamin D levels go down. Taking vitamin D helps to boost your immune system, fight inflammatory symptoms of acne, and strengthen elastin while maintaining overall skin health. Antioxidants for me are also non-negotiable. It’s one of the four things that I think are necessary. Antioxidants like vitamin C, E, and D are key to healthy skin.
