10 Essential Steps to Keep Your Skin Hydrated This Summer

As temperatures rise, dry winter skin now has to deal with intense heat and humidity. Between the relentless sun, the drying effects of the heat and the moisture-sapping air conditioning, summer is a marathon for your skin’s moisture barrier. It's important to know how to hydrate your skin well.

Hydration isn't just about drinking gallons of water, though, of course, that helps. It's about a comprehensive strategy to keep that water inside your cells. Sounds crazy and dramatic, but really it's simple for your skin to be bouncy, dewy and silent all season long.

1. Start with a Hydrating Face Wash

The biggest rookie mistake people make in the summer is switching to those “squeaky-clean” cleansers, thinking they would combat sweat. Over-cleansing strips your skin of its natural oils, prompting it to produce more oil. 

Instead, opt for hydrating face washes, such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, and Episoft Cleansing Lotion. All these products include sulfate-free formulas containing glycerin or ceramides. These ingredients cleanse away the day’s grime without compromising your skin.

2. Master the "Damp Skin" Rule

Timing is everything. One of the simplest ways to boost hydration is to apply your products while your skin is still damp. When you step out of the shower or finish cleansing, don't rub your face bone dry with a towel. 
Gently pat it dry so it’s still moist, then immediately apply your serums. This traps that extra surface moisture into the skin layers.

3. Switch to a Lightweight Hydrating Moisturiser

Heavy creams feel like a warm hug in the cold month of January, but feel like a heavy mask on your skin in July. Not every product works for all seasons on your skin. 
To lock in moisture, use a hydrating gel or water-based moisturiser, such as Bioderma, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, and Plum 2% Niacinamide, which can give your skin the hydration it needs in the summer. These formulas provide the necessary lipids without clogging your pores or feeling greasy under the midday sun.

4. Don’t Skip the Hydrating Sunscreen

Many people think sunscreen makes their skin dry, but this assumption is wrong. Not only does sunscreen protect your skin from UV rays, but it also hydrates your skin when you use the right one. Hydrating sunscreens like Deconstruct Gel Sunscreen, Dr Sheth’s Ceramide & Vitamin C Sunscreen, and Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Sunscreen Aqua Gel will not make your face dry while giving your skin the care it deserves.

The formulations also include skin-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, allowing you to protect your skin from DNA damage from UV radiation while quenching its thirst.

5. Mist Throughout the Day

Think of a facial mist as a MUST for your skin’s hydration tank. Keeping a cooling mist, ideally one with rosewater or cucumber, in your bag can help hydrate your skin when it desperately needs it. Using mists like Aqualogica Glow+ Dewy Face Mist, Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water, or Plum Green Tea Revitalising Face Mist can instantly revive dull skin. 

Just remember to follow it up with a quick pat of moisturiser if you are in a dry environment, so the mist doesn't evaporate and take your skin’s natural moisture with it.

6. Exfoliation

Dead skin cells act like a barrier that prevents products from truly seeping into your skin. If you don't exfoliate, your hydrating moisturiser will just sit on your skin. Use a gentle chemical exfoliant, such as lactic acid, once or twice a week. This helps clear the way for hydration to penetrate more deeply, giving you that lit-from-within look.

7. Eat Your Water

It all starts from the gut. While drinking water is vital, eating your water is even better because moisture is structured within fibre, allowing for slower absorption. Slower absorption rates allow water to stay in your body longer, offering a multitude of benefits beyond basic hydration. Load up on summer staples such as watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, and celery. These provide essential electrolytes and vitamins that help your cells retain the water you’re drinking.

8. Shorten Your Showers

This might sound like a crime to commit, but those relaxing steamy showers after a long day might actually be why your skin is dry. Hot water is a notorious moisture thief. It dissolves the fatty substances in your skin that keep it supple. Keep your shower lukewarm and try to keep it under ten minutes.

9. Be Mindful of Alcohol and Caffeine Intake

Another crime to commit: we all hate restrictions, but some come with good intentions. Alcohol and Caffeine flush water out of your system, which causes dehydration. For every cup of coffee or cocktail, try to pair it with a full glass of water to maintain balance.

10. Invest in a Humidifier

Humidifier in the summer? Sounds like a bizarre idea, but it's a great investment. If you spend your days or nights in an air-conditioned room, the air is likely incredibly dry. Air conditioners work by removing moisture from the environment. Running a humidifier while you sleep helps you to have soft, hydrated skin rather than a tight, itchy face.

Mixing winter and summer skincare routines often leads to less-than-ideal outcomes for your skin. It’s important to adapt your skincare to the changing environmental conditions to ensure your skin stays hydrated and protected. Transitioning to a hydrating face wash, using a nourishing moisturiser, and applying a hydrating sunscreen before heading out can help you maintain a beautiful, radiant glow year-round.

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