9 Solutions for all our messy summer skin struggles
Brighten spots, even skin tone and refresh tired skin with a swipe of these saviours.
You're having the best summer. You feel more relaxed than usual, you've got a bit of a tan despite wearing sunblock every day and you just feel great. Then you catch a glimpse of your skin in a certain light or a magnifying mirror and you think "what has happened to me?!" Don't worry. It happens to the best of us.
Despite the wonderful weather and glow summer seems to give you, it can also wreak havoc on your skin. UV rays, SPF and sweat can lead to pigmentation, uneven complexion, dull skin and breakouts. Where to turn next? We have a solution for every skin woe.
Freckles, dark spots and pigmentation
As hard as you try to avoid the sun and slather on sunscreen, if you spend time outside, you're bound to get a bit of UV exposure. That can mean more freckles, dark spots and weird pigmentation that leaves your skin looking less than fresh. Brighten up with vitamin C-rich products.
Rosehip oil is rich in pigment-fading vitamin C. It's also great for healing skin, improving scars and has overall anti-aging benefits with omega fatty acids and antioxidants.
Pure and Simple Organic Rosehip Face Oil, 110 ml, $69.95, pureandsimple.ca
The Ordinary's line of clinical formulations at a ridiculously reasonable price includes this l-ascorbic acid (a pure form of vitamin C) mixed with skin plumping hyaluronic acid to both brighten and reduce the look of fine lines.
The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension, $5.80, well.ca
Uneven skin tone
While we're talking about pigmentation, you might notice that you haphazardly applied SPF and now you're dealing with the leftover signs of sunburn or just a bit of tan here, not so much tan there. How do you even out your complexion quickly?
Juice Beauty's CC cream instantly evens skin tone with light coverage while reducing the look of wrinkles, protecting skin from free radicals and it has an SPF 30 so you don't add any more damage!
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream, $49, sephora.com
Uneven skin texture
You may find that you're dry in some places and oily in others when your skin was all one easy-to-manage texture in spring. Bring a little balance with these exfoliating, soothing treatments.
This post-cleansing toner is great for all skin types and it exfoliates, smoothes skin texture and makes pores appear smaller.
Roger & Gallet Aura Mirabilis Beauty Vinegar, $25, sephora.com
Do you ever ask yourself, "what would Cleopatra do?" We'll tell you: she'd use exfoliating, hydrating honey to calm her complexion. This mask uses raw honey, bee pollen, aloe vera leaf and almond oil to help soothe skin and give it a radiant glow.
Artifact Skin Co. Egyptian Honey Rose Face Masque,$52, skintoskingoods.com
Pimples, blackheads and breakouts
No matter how natural and anti-comedogenic, you might find that adding an SPF to your skincare routine messes with your skin (although, keep in mind that you really should wear sunblock all day every day, 365!). Sweat can also cause breakouts by giving the bacteria we all have on our skin something to snack on. No one expects you to wash your face every five minutes all summer long —here's all you need.
You needn't invest in an acne treatment for teens nor add an extra step to your routine. Swap out your usual serum for this acne + anti-aging one til the pimples stop popping up.
Clinique Acne Solutions Acne + Line Correcting Serum, $53, beautyboutique.ca
The top product for clearing blackheads, and this mask doesn't peel off in a ridiculously painful way! Use as a spot treatment or an all-over mask. Plus it's available in 5 single-use treatments so you can try it out before splurging on the big tub!
Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment, $24 for 5 single-use treatments, sephora.com
Tired-looking skin
Summer is fun but after all that excitement—late nights, too many cocktails, too many barbecues—your skin might look as exhausted as you feel. Need a pick-me-up? These hydrating must-haves will come to the rescue.
Sometimes all your skin needs is a little extra moisture. Like an oxygen facial at home, this mask uses a hydrating oxygen complex to plump and moisturize dry, tired-looking skin.
Lierac Hydragenist Moisturizing Rescue Mask, $47, lierac.ca
This Pure + Simple serum has the brand's highest concentration of collagen. It features 10 per cent marine collagen to plump fine lines, actually rebuild your skin's collagen, and the formula's algae and aloe vera reduce redness. Plus, more hydration and increased circulation mean your skin has a new glow!
Pure + Simple Collagen Elastin Plus 100ml, $123.21, pureandsimple.ca