As the High School Musical 2 cast once sang, “What time is it? Summertime!” But, it’s also time to switch up your skincare routine as temps start to rise. After all, with warm weather comes great responsibility to tend to your skin even more as it becomes super sensitive to the changing climate. Diving into the do’s and don’ts of caring for your epidermis, we asked experts from Fresha, the beauty and wellness marketplace, for the only summer skincare guide you’ll ever need.

Don’t Forget Your SPF   

As the months get warmer, it’s extremely important to use SPF products. Incorporating them into your skincare routine is a must to protect yourself from the sun and keep you feeling refreshed this summer. You should apply products containing SPF as the last step in your regime to allow your skin to receive maximum protection as you spend more time outdoors. It’s vital to use a high SPF of at least 30 and wait at least 20 minutes after application before going outside.  

Use a Vitamin C Serum 

Incorporating vitamin C into your skincare routine will have an abundance of benefits. When used alongside SPF, vitamin C serums enhance the performance of SPF products by giving your skin thorough protection against UV rays. The serum can also boost hydration and brightness, giving your skin that sought-after glow. Overcast weather can be an unexpected cause of sunburn in summer, but vitamin C serums can help soothe painful sunburns and protect against long-term sun damage, making it an essential product in this season’s skincare routine. However, it’s important to note that new products should be gradually introduced to your regime to test how your skin reacts to the change.  

Try a Niacinamide Serum  

Many people find themselves struggling with dry skin throughout winter and spring, which is why adding a niacinamide serum into your skincare routine is hugely rewarding. Niacinamide boosts the skin’s hydration and enhances moisture, making this product the perfect comeback from duller climates. As the warmer weather sets in, your face will naturally start to produce more oil, but niacinamide serums also help to regulate oil production, removing any excess oils from your skin. It’s recommended to use niacinamide in both your morning and evening skincare and to apply the product after cleansing and toning. Niacinamide should also be applied before using more acidic serums, such as vitamin C.  

Avoid Heavy Moisturizers   

While moisturizer is a fundamental part of every skincare routine, it’s essential to lighten the load over the next few months. As the weather becomes warmer, too much moisturizer can cause your pores to become clogged, resulting in an oily break-out. To avoid this, it’s better to apply a lighter layer of moisturizer throughout summer; doing so keeps your skin hydrated while reducing the risk of blemishes. 

Put Your Exfoliating Acids Away  

As the temperature heats up, it’s incredibly tempting to exfoliate daily to reduce the risk of clogged pores. However, limiting your use of exfoliating acids over the next few months is important. When overused, exfoliating acids, such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid, can reduce the skin’s natural protection against the sun and can dehydrate your skin, making you more susceptible to skin damage. Exfoliating acids should be used in moderation and applied around once a week at most to avoid some nasty sunburn this summer. Since SPF should be the last step in your morning skincare routine, make sure you get your exfoliating out of the way before applying SPF products. Similarly, face scrubs should also be avoided over the next few months. While these products are a great way to remove dead skin cells, they can also increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, heightening the risk of skin damage.   

Switch to a Gel Cleanser 

Cleansers are a great way to remove excess oils and dirt from your skin, which is why they’re the first step in every skincare routine. However, thick cleansing creams have the potential to clog up your pores during the warmer weather, which is why mild gel cleansers are a more trustworthy alternative. Gel cleansers are a light and refreshing way to cleanse your skin, reducing the risk of breakouts over the warmer months. These products can effectively deep clean your skin without stripping away your natural oils, giving you a healthy glow this summer.

Ditch the Cleansing Oils  

As the weather starts to heat up, your face will naturally begin to produce more oil. As a result, avoiding cleansing oils over the next few months is recommended. Applying cleansing oils in warm weather will result in an excessive amount of oil, increasing your risk of a breakout. Because of this, it’s best to dial down and stick to lighter products.