With the hot weather about to make a resurgence we thought it best you be prepared for a scorcher so keep your eyes peeled, but stop your skin from, by reading out summer skin tips all week.

You’ve finally packed away the last of those bulky winter sweaters and found your favorite T-shirt from last year. As you throw it on and take a look in the mirror, you notice your skin isn’t exactly in tip-top summer shape. Your legs are dry and flaky, your arms have a less-than-glowing tone, and a blemish is beginning to form in an oily spot near your nose. But don’t worry — with the right care, your skin can go from sorry to showstopping just in time for summer.

Before you run to the medicine cabinet and grab the closest bottle of lotion in the hopes of magically rubbing up some healthy skin, it’s important to know what summer means for you and your skin. Sure, summer brings the added benefit of soaking up some extra sunshine, but for your skin this means exposure to UVA and UVB radiation. When the ultraviolet, or UV, index is high, your skin can burn in as little as 10 to 15 minutes [source: Sun Safety Alliance].

Summer’s warm rays also pose another obstacle to good skin care: Whether you’re exercising or just relaxing by the pool, you’re bound to sweat a bit more. For your skin, extra sweat means that dirt, oils and other environmental chemicals are trapped close to the skin and your pores. Finally, those hot days — perfect for enjoying a cool drink with family and friends — turn up the heat on your skin, too. When the skin is warm, blood vessels send extra blood to the skin’s surface to cool it off. Extra blood can turn your face red, making the skin swell and retain water while kicking oil production into high gear.

So, although summertime might try to throw you and your skin a curveball, with a few simple solutions you can hit a skin care home run and have everyone applauding your summertime glow. Check back tomorrow to learn your new daily regimen.

You’ve finally packed away the last of those bulky winter sweaters and found your favorite T-shirt from last year. As you throw it on and take a look in the mirror, you notice your skin isn’t exactly in tip-top summer shape. Your legs are dry and flaky, your arms have a less-than-glowing tone, and a blemish is beginning to form in an oily spot near your nose. But don’t worry — with the right care, your skin can go from sorry to showstopping just in time for summer.

Before you run to the medicine cabinet and grab the closest bottle of lotion in the hopes of magically rubbing up some healthy skin, it’s important to know what summer means for you and your skin. Sure, summer brings the added benefit of soaking up some extra sunshine, but for your skin this means exposure to UVA and UVB radiation. When the ultraviolet, or UV, index is high, your skin can burn in as little as 10 to 15 minutes [source: Sun Safety Alliance].

Summer’s warm rays also pose another obstacle to good skin care: Whether you’re exercising or just relaxing by the pool, you’re bound to sweat a bit more. For your skin, extra sweat means that dirt, oils and other environmental chemicals are trapped close to the skin and your pores. Finally, those hot days — perfect for enjoying a cool drink with family and friends — turn up the heat on your skin, too. When the skin is warm, blood vessels send extra blood to the skin’s surface to cool it off. Extra blood can turn your face red, making the skin swell and retain water while kicking oil production into high gear.

So, although summertime might try to throw you and your skin a curveball, with a few simple solutions you can hit a skin care home run and have everyone applauding your summertime glow. Read on to learn your new daily regimen.

Daily Summer Sun Protection

Summer is a great time to get outside and rejuvenate your mind and body. But for your skin, summer means extra exposure to the sun, heat and sweat. This summer, give your skin a little TLC with these tips for healthy, refreshed skin.

It’s never too early in the year to think about applying sunscreen. The sun’s UV rays can damage your skin all year long. Even on a cloudy day, your skin can be exposed to up to 40 percent of the sun’s UV rays [source: Skin Cancer Foundation]. Be sure to take the necessary precautions to keep your skin safe.

Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 15 [source: Mann]. For those with lighter, fair skin, try a sunscreen with a rating of SPF 30. Apply your sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going outside. To be the most effective, sunscreen needs time to absorb into your skin.

Don’t be frugal — apply sunscreen liberally and reapply sunscreen every two hours or after getting out of the water, since towel drying strips away sunscreen [source: Mayo Clinic]. You’ll also want to reapply lotion after exercising, as sweat can water down sunscreen, making it less effective.

Whether you have dry skin, oily skin or normal skin, don’t forget to moisturize it. Simple daily activities such as perspiring, shaving or washing your face can disrupt the skin’s natural oil and moisture level. To counteract any skin stress your daily routine causes, apply a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type to keep things soft and supple.

Now that you have added sunscreen and moisturizer to your shopping list, read on to discover how to deal with those oily patches of skin that leave you feeling greasy.

Treating Oily Skin in Summer

Take a close look at your skin. Any oily patches near your nose or on your chin? What about your forehead, hands or the bottoms of your feet? Skin naturally produces oil, and it can be difficult to keep this oil from clogging pores and causing breakouts — especially when summertime heat exacerbates sticky skin situations.

Try these strategies to keep oily skin behaving beautifully:

• Don’t scrub too hard. Your skin produces oil to help seal in moisture and keep the skin hydrated. Your skin also produces oils to compensate for minor skin irritations. When you scrub oily patches with too much gusto and use alcohol-based cleansers, you actually stimulate the oil glands [source: Bouchez]. Gentle skin cleansers that don’t irritate or over dry skin will keep oil production low. Less oil production to start with means less oil on the skin.
• Don’t wash too frequently. Washing your face twice a day is enough to remove dirt and oil buildup. Washing more frequently could stimulate extra oil production. During the summer months, you also might consider using a cleanser with salicylic acid at night. These cleaners gently remove dead skin cells that may clog pores [source: Bouchez]. If you notice your skin drying out from the use of a cleanser, cut back use to once a week.
• Remove temptations. Your hands, feet and face are some of the oiliest places on your body. Every time you touch your face with your hands, you are transferring oil and dirt to places already prone to oil buildup. Keeping hands away from your face will help reduce oil transfer. Hair is oily too, so pull it back to keep it from making your skin greasy.

With oily patches of skin under control, you’re no doubt wondering about those dry patches that come with combination skin, or skin types with both oily and dry areas. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to help those, too. Let’s find out how.

Treating Dry Skin in Summer

To treat it properly, it’s important to know what’s causing dry skin. Our skin contains a natural layer of oils. Without these moisturizing oils, skin is prone to cracking, itching and flaking.

Treating dry summer skin starts with knowing how to retain the oils on your skin. Whether you have dry skin in a few spots or excessive scaling, relief from the effects of the warm summer air is within reach:

• Start the day out right. A hot shower might feel like heaven, but it can wreak havoc on your skin. Long steamy showers tend to dry out skin by washing off the skin’s natural oils. Without these oils, our skin loses more moisture than necessary during the day. If you find your skin feels itchy, tight or stingy after a shower, then it’s time to rethink your morning routine. Consider taking cooler, shorter showers to amp up skin’s natural oil attributes.
• Use the right soaps. How does your soap smell? Heavily scented soaps might be harshly stripping away skin’s oils, aiding and abetting the drying-out process. The more we scrub, the more damage we might be doing. Try trading in rich, foamy soaps for milder, fragrance-free ones.
• Take it easy with the towel. Sure, your towels might be soft and extra absorbent, but where does that leave you? Dry, dry, dry. When you dry your hands after washing them or towel off after a shower, use a gentle touch. Lightly pat your skin dry. Leave skin slightly damp, and when you apply moisturizer, you will help seal in the extra moisture left on your skin.

With just a few simple changes to your daily routine, you can have healthy summer skin sure to attract attention. Clear, hydrated skin can be yours by using sunscreen, moisturizer, and a light touch to help skin look and feel its best. For more information on caring for your skin, check out the links on the following page.

by Sarah Siddons

Better Man in brief …

• Your main goal in winter months is to retain moisture.
• Aside from facial skin, you need to focus on things like hands and lips.
• Avoid temptations like long, hot showers, as they will dry your skin out.

“Moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 is something you should be doing all year long. “

Cracked lips. Bleeding knuckles. Irritated arms. They’re all signs that point toward one thing: winter is well on its way. And with the change in season, men would be wise to switch up their normal skin care routine. Don’t have one? Well, the holidays are right around the corner. So, treat yourself to flake-free skin that will give your bed buddy a reason to keep close on even the coldest, most itch-prone nights. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Do – Stick to moisturizers with sunscreen

No real changes here. Moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 is something you should be doing all year long. Just because the sun might disappear from November to March and its rays are considerably weaker doesn’t mean you can skip out on protecting yourself from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB. Anyone who has hit the slopes on a sunny day knows the reflective power of pure white snow. It’s brutal. So slather on extra helpings of a moisturizer that isn’t oil-free. Contrary to what you’ve been told about supposed pore-clogging, oil-based brands, the alternative leaves behind a film that prevents the skin from breathing properly. And the result leaves you at serious risk for pimples.

Don’t  – Take long, hot showers

Fighting the urge to seek refuge in a soothing shower on a cruelly cold winter’s day is a tough battle. But the hot steam causes pores to open and release much-needed moisture. The bottom line: spending any more than 10 to 15 minutes washing, shaving or whatever it is that you do in there is less than desirable. Keep your showers short and, if possible, moderate the water temperature to something below scalding.

Do – Apply hand cream frequently

Oh, the wisdom of a woman. She’s always known the benefit of regularly rubbing cream on the hands. And this couldn’t be more true than during the dry days of winter. Lack of moisture on the knuckles — naturally, where it’s needed most in order to stretch with the movements of each finger — can lead to skin breakage and bleeding. And that isn’t just unsightly. The blood-filled cracks are like a red carpet welcome for infection. Gross.

Don’t – Lick your lips

You’d think that in the grand scheme of evolution humans would have developed the ability to self-moisturize their lips. A little saliva seems like the obvious answer, but in fact, it only serves to exacerbate chapping. Invest in lip balm — either a stick or small tub — for use throughout the day. Fruity flavors in cute colors need not apply.

• Better Man in brief …
• Your main goal in winter months is to retain moisture.
• Aside from facial skin, you need to focus on things like hands and lips.
• Avoid temptations like long, hot showers, as they will dry your skin out.

“A humidifier or even a simple bowl of water next to your bed will restore some semblance of moisture to the air.”

Do – Break out the humidifier

Die-hard winter-weather dwellers know this rule well. A humidifier or even a simple bowl of water next to your bed will restore some semblance of moisture to the air. It’s the quickest cure for scratchy skin. And the best part is that it doesn’t require basting yourself in half a bottle of body cream.

Don’t – Exfoliate too often

Skin is at its most delicate in winter. And though most skin types still call for a good slough and scrub on a regular basis, it’s best to keep exfoliation to a minimum as temperatures dive downward. Two to three times a week is all anyone should need. Then, during your off days, use a basic facial cleanser product to wash away daily dirt and debris.

Do – Use moisturizer at night

Even the best moisturizers require reapplication at night. And that’s particularly necessary if you take a shower in the evening. But before you climb into bed in an oil slick of body butter, remember that it doesn’t take much moisturizer to get the job done. Rub in a light layer, let it fully absorb into the skin, and wipe away the excess with a towel. You and your sheets will never know the difference, but your skin certainly will.

Don’t – Use any soap

Not all soaps are created equal. Somewhere between super-strong deodorizing disinfectants that dry the skin and all-natural, non-scented bars that don’t leave you feeling fresh is a whole world of perfectly suitable shower gels. They’re both gentle and effective. The right one should cleanse and moisturize without an overpowering smell. And don’t be afraid to rinse and repeat until you find the right brand for your body and your wallet.

seasonal skin care

Winter-proofing your sensitive skin by layering up with these dos and don’ts will keep you soft and smooth all season long — not to mention, totally touchable.

What is SPF?  How to Choose a Good Sunscreen

With millions of people suffering with skin cancer or sun related skin damage every year, the use of sunscreen is more important than ever before. The good news is more people are becoming aware of the risks associated with sun overexposure and are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves in the future. The even better news is there are a multitude of products on the market which make it very easy to take care of your skin and protect it from the sun’s damaging rays. However, many people are quite confused over which sunscreen they should purchase and use. There are many confusing terms often used on sunscreen packaging which make it difficult to know what can protect in the most effective way.

What Is SPF?

SPF is an acronym which stands for Sun Protection Factor. Bottles with higher SPF numbers will protect better against harmful UVB rays from the sun. Basically, the SPF number is an indicator of how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For instance, if a person usually gets burned in 15 minutes, a lotion with SPF 15 protection would allow them to stay in the sun 15 times longer (or for 225 minutes) without burning.  It’s recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology that everyone wear a product with at least SPF 15. Of course, some people wonder if this means an SPF of 50 will protect loads more than lotions with SPF of 30. However, this is not necessarily the case. A lotion with SPF 50 only protects about 2% more than a lotion with SPF 30.

UVA and UVB

When you’re looking at lotions and sunblock products, be sure to check out the protection they offer from UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are those which result in the aging of the skin and they may cause skin cancer. Without UVA protection from Coppertone lotions or any other sunscreen lotion, you’ll get more wrinkles. Thus, one factor to think about when choosing your daily makeup or moisturizer is whether or not it offers included UVA protection. Neutrogena offers high rating products to help you combine both makeup coverage and skin protection in one. UVB rays are those which can also give sunburn and are related to the cause of skin cancer.

Waterproof Sunscreen

While years ago white zinc oxide was required for beach goers, today there are many options when it comes to skin protection. You no longer are forced to look like a clown to get ultraviolet protection. Instead, you can now find waterproof sunscreen to help you be able to frolic in the ocean or at the pool without worrying about sun damage. Be sure to look for a type that is both noncomodegenic and hypoallergenic. Also be sure to remember most “waterproof” lotion provides up to 80 minutes or protection but “water resistant” lotion might only give up to 40 minutes of protection.

With so many great products on the market for every day skin protection, there is no excuse to not protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Skin damage from the sun not only causes cancer but it can also cause things like early aging of the skin and wrinkles. While cancer is much more terrifying to consider, most women aren’t motivated to protect themselves due to it because they think it will never happen to them. However, all women are concerned about wrinkles so take action today and protect yourself from both!