Hey While you’ve slipped in and out of warm weather outfits, Summer is almost upon us on June 21st!  Astronomically, the first day of summer is said to be when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, which occurs on the summer solstice (June 20–22). Therefore, the summer solstice is considered to be the first day of summer. ARE YOU READY???!

1.  CLEANSE MORNING AND NIGHT 🧖‍♀️

All that sticky humidity can leave your face looking a bit, well, greasy. Help sweep away dirt, oils, and impurities from the surface of your skin morning and night with a gel facial cleanser or micellar water. If you have enough time to work a traditional lather and rinse cleanse into your routine, try using the Artistry’s Hydra V Gel Cleanser If you’re on the go, pick a micellar water that’s mattifying, like the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin. Just pour some out onto a cotton pad and wipe the pad across your face—no rinsing required! Store a bottle near your nightstand so you can easily cleanse if you’re pressed for time. You can also toss a travel size one in your tote if you think you’ll need to cleanse on the go.

2.  TRY A WATER-BASED MOISTURIZER 💧

In the colder winter and spring months, you may find yourself finding you need to use a richer cream to help keep your skin hydrated. But when it’s warmer outside, you may find that a lightweight face lotion is all you need. Consider using a water-based moisturizer with a matte finish, like the Artistry’s Hydra V Refreshing Gel  It’s Natural Marine Ingredients helps normalize, absorb, and control excess surface oils. It’s also Lightweight and provides long-lasting hydration and an instant cooling sensation. Smooth it gently over your face after cleansing.

3.     SMOOTH ROUGHNESS 🌵

Dr. Aanand Geria of Geria Dermatology in Rutherford NJ says Generally, treatment varies depending on what is causing the rough skin texture. If the cause is due to dead, dull dry winter skin, a low strength glycolic peels would work great to exfoliate the top layers. Glycolic acid peels also help decrease oil production allowing pores to breathe and remain open. There’s minimal downtime usually consisting of mild redness and flaking for a few days. However, if we’re looking for a treatment with no downtime then the HydraFacial is of course a no brainer. The HydraFacial is a quick lunchtime facial that exfoliates, extracts and hydrates all in one treatment. Great for maintaining healthy skin all year long! If we are considering deeper textural issues such as acne scarring, then procedures like microneedling with PRP and laser resurfacing may be needed depending on the severity and results desired. Usually several treatments are needed to see decent results and best if these procedures are done in the winter as sun exposure may result in additional scarring if sunscreen is not worn.  It’s best to have the skin assessed by a dermatologist prior to treating.

4.  TAKE SUN PROTECTION MEASURES 🌞

It’s important to take sun protection measures year-round, but if this hasn’t been on your radar, now’s a good time to start since you may be spending more time outdoors these days. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher regularly as directed. But that’s not all. In addition to wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen, make sure to reapply every two hours (and immediately after swimming or sweating), limit your time in the sun, especially during peak hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wear a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. If you’re pressed for time, look for a moisturizer with SPF, like the Artistry Youth Extend Daytime Protect Cream or Lotion with SPF 15, it protects UVA/UVB Rays.

5.     HEAL DRY WINTER SKIN 🌬

As the humidity in the air increases, the skin loses less water, so dry, wintry skin will usually recover by summer with the use of emollients. “I like to use acid-containing lotions, like AmLactin Alpha Hydroxy Therapy Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion + Ceramides ($15) or Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion ($43), to smooth out dry skin and have silky smooth legs by summer,”

6.     CLEAR UP ACNE FROM WITHIN 🐠

As temperatures rise, oil glands become more active and acne may worsen. One way to address this is through your diet. Avoiding foods like dairy, which worsen inflammation, and increasing foods like salmon, which is naturally anti-inflammatory, will help to curb breakouts. Don’t eat fish? Try heading to a fish oil supplement like Nutrilite’s Balanced Health Omega which supports nerves and helps keep blood flowing and joints moving with EPA2 omega 3s