The warm weather is finally here, and summer is within our grasp! You’ve probably been stocking up on your summer essentials of swimsuits, shorts, dresses, and sandals, but have you thought about changing your skincare routine to fit the new season?
Just as we switch clothes as the temperature starts to rise, making a few swaps to your skincare routine is an essential way to get that beautiful summer skin.
Exfoliate Your Body
Regular exfoliation is an essential part of a healthy skincare regime no matter the season; this will help you achieve smooth, healthy-looking skin with a glow. It’s important to exfoliate with care; you’re aiming to lift off the outer layers of dead skin cells that are ready to come off. Harshly scrubbing at your skin will cause more harm than good.
Our favourite way to exfoliate away a few months of dead skin is through physical exfoliation. The two best ways to exfoliate physically is by using a body scrub or with a dry brush.
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Using a body scrub - Make sure your body is thoroughly wet and softened with warm water to avoid damaging your skin, and then cover your skin with an appropriate amount of product, moving in circular motions to massage it into your skin. It is best to avoid scrubbing daily, instead opting for twice or thrice weekly use.
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Using a dry brush - Dry brushing involves a daily body massage with a dry, stiff-bristled brush; it helps to gently buff away flaky skin, unclog your pores and promote lymph drainage. Start at your feet/ankles and work your way up using long, fluid strokes on the limbs and circular motions on the torso and back. You only need a few strokes per area; too many can break the skin.
If you’re curious about the difference between chemical and physical exfoliation, you can read our deep dive blog here.
Switch Up Your Products
Whether you’re working in an air-conditioned room or soaking up as many sun rays as possible, these environments reduce moisture levels in the skin which means it’s crucial to moisturise.
Due to the hot weather, you may not want to layer on the same thick, creamier products you used during the winter months, so instead, opt for a lighter formula that won’t clog up the pores or leave you prone to grease.
Body oil is a great way to add an extra dose of moisture to your skin without layering it on thick. Our Daily Treatment Oil is an antioxidant-rich blend of plant-based oils to soothe, nourish and hydrate your skin. This oil absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue. It's suitable for all skin types and can be used on the face and body.
The night time is a perfect chance to top up your moisture levels and boost your hydration when you sleep. Choose a lightweight, water-based formula not only to moisturise but soothe and smooth irritated skin and wake up with radiant, glowing skin.
Stock Up On Protection
Sun damage is the number one cause of wrinkles, age spots and other forms of discolouration, so stocking up on a high SPF is the most important thing to remember this summer.
Whilst slapping on SPF is essential all year round, the sun’s UV rays are much more intense in the summer months, meaning the skin is more at risk of damage. So make sure you’re using a high SPF every morning and re-applying regularly, when you’re spending a prolonged period in the sun.
Thankfully, sun cream is no longer the thick, white cream many of us are used to being slathered in as a child; you can even buy sunscreens specifically formulated for your face. But, if you know you’ll forget to apply sun protection, then grab a moisturiser with a high level of SPF to always ensure sun protection.
Fight The Fuzz
The majority of us spend the colder months hiding our hairs, but getting our legs out or going sleeveless means it’s time to fight the fuzz for many of us.
Grab yourself a sharp razor; we suggest single-bladed safety razors for the smoothest shaves, lather up your shaving soap, and always shave against the grain. You can check out our full guide on shaving to ensure a smooth shave every time.
Remember to take your time when shaving certain areas of the body because of curves and hard to see places. Always shave in the light with long, steady strokes, and take extra care around the bonier areas.
Apply a moisturiser or oil to prevent post-shave skin irritation and keep your body beautifully moisturised and soft.
Banish Ingrown Hairs
An ingrown hair can hurt your confidence and ruin your soft, smooth skin after a shave, but you can quickly treat this annoyance for perfect summer skin.
Hair removal is primarily responsible for causing ingrown hair, with shaving being the most well known, but there are also other reasons we get ingrown hairs. They can occur due to a build-up of dead skin on the surface, preventing the hair from breaking through the surface. Tight clothing can also be a culprit for these ingrown nasties.
It is said ingrown hairs will typically go away on their own, but if you have a sunny day ahead of you, then you might want to speed up the process. First, very carefully use a sterile pin or tweezer and, without piercing the skin, try to lift the hair so that it can grow freely. If this isn’t possible without breaking the surface, hold a warm flannel to the area to help open the pores.
If you can’t get the hair out, leave it alone, it’s not time for it to come out, and if you rush it, you may cause further damage such as dark spots and scarring. Our Emergency Fix may come in handy if this is the case; these are two powerful products to soothe and eradicate spots and ingrown hairs.
Following these tips is sure to give you your best summer skin and, even better, protect your precious skin long into the future!
MEET FOLLI OIL
Folli Oil is a natural, cruelty-free, Vegan skincare range that actually works. Using the finest, ethically sourced and sustainable plant-based and natural ingredients. Our products are handcrafted in small batches at our studio in the beautiful Cotswolds. We test on willing humans, not animals, and our packaging is recyclable. Shop now.