5 Summer Skin Care Tips for Sensitive Skin

Everyone looks forward to summer for the warm weather it brings, beach trips, picnics and backyard barbeques. What nobody looks forward to, however, is the potential harm it can cause our skin from sunburns to frequent breakouts. For sensitive skin types especially, summer can be notorious for less-than-ideal-looking skin. Below, we’re sharing some helpful tips for sensitive skin types to tackle summer head-on.    

1. SIMPLIFY YOUR SKIN CARE ROUTINE

If your skin regimen is super in-depth, consider toning it down during the summer months. For a shorter routine, dermatologists recommend sticking to a few good cleansers and moisturizers to keep skin clean and hydrated. The fewer products you use, the less chance of your skin having a reaction. Speaking of a reaction, sensitive skin types should steer clear of common irritants found in some products—alcohol, fragrance, and parabens, to name a few. If you’re ever in doubt of whether a new product will work for your sensitive skin, do a patch test for compatibility. Apply a small amount of product to your skin—the inner wrist works well—wait 24 hours and check for any signs of a bad reaction.

2. SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN

It’s important to wear sunscreen every day, regardless of the season. Sensitive skin types may suffer more than others with even a quick trip under the beating sun. Apply (and reapply) broad-spectrum sunscreen—SPF 15 or higher—on your face and body—no exceptions. We like Vichy Idéal Capital Soleil SPF 50. It’s lightweight and delivers an ultra-sheer, matte finish. It’s also non-comedogenic and free of fragrance, oil, and PABA. Don’t forget to give your lips some love too with a lip balm or lipstick with SPF.

3. INVEST IN A WIDE-BRIMMED HAT

SPF will help protect skin from harmful UV rays that can come in contact with the skin. But for days that are largely spent outdoors, it might be worth supplementing a sunscreen application with a trusty wide-brimmed hat to take sun protection one step further. It’s an excellent way to protect skin that’s uber-sensitive to sunlight. 

4. AVOID PEAK SUN HOURS

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen—and by kitchen, we mean sun. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the sun is most intense between 10 am and 4 pm. If you can’t avoid it, seek shade—umbrellas work well at the beach—and cover up with hats and protective clothing. 

5. OPT FOR LIGHTER COSMETIC FORMULAS

Many people use considerably less makeup during the summer months to highlight their sun-kissed glows. But if you plan on applying makeup, swap your foundation for a lighter formula, like a BB cream or tinted moisturizer suited for sensitive skin. Kiehl’s BB Cream - Actively Correcting and Beautifying with SPF 50 PA+++ comes in four shades to suit a wide range of skin tones and the lightweight formula is paraben-, fragrance-, silicone-, and mineral oil-free. It also delivers broad-spectrum SPF 50 to protect against sun damage. Music to our ears!