Your Summer Skin Concerns, Sorted

What we love about summer: endless beach days, cute floral dresses, light nights, natural highlights from the sun. What we don’t like so much: the burns, breakouts, and other summer skin concerns that commonly accompany this season.

Luckily, there are ways to alleviate these summer skin issues. From layering on a broad-spectrum sunscreen to cleansing twice a day, here are your summer skincare concerns sorted.

Breakouts

Since you sweat more in the summer months, you’re far more likely to end up with a face full of pimples. It’s not actually sweat itself that causes acne, but sweat mixed with dirt, germs, and makeup which clogs your pores and leads to the formation of zits. You’ve probably noticed that breakouts always seem to pop up after a workout sesh or day in the sun. This is why!

The Solution: Clear up your complexion with a clarifying cleanser formulated with either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide — the two best acne fighters available. These ingredients will unclog your pores and also attack acne-producing bacteria, keeping your skin clear and preventing new breakouts from forming. Include it in your daily skincare routine, and wash twice a day — once in the morning, once at night.

When using makeup or moisturiser, always choose non-comedogenic formulas. This means they won’t clog your pores and trigger further breakouts.

Body Odor

Sweat mixed with bacteria on the skin leads to unpleasant body odor — usually from your underarm area. Body odor is a common summer skin concern, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. While we definitely suggest investing in a natural deodorant, you can also prevent body odors from occurring by levelling up your skincare regimen.

The Solution: Start by showering 1-2 times a day using an antibacterial body wash to rid the skin of odor-causing bacteria. Include a gentle exfoliator 2-3 times a week to buff away dead skin cells and bad odors — and allow your lotions and deodorants to penetrate deeper. You can either use a body scrub or a chemical exfoliant. Either way, it’s a quick fix for freshening up your pits. The derms also suggest removing body hair to prevent odors, as hair can trap odors.

Sunburn

Spent too long in the sun? It’s an easy mistake to make, but one that’ll leave you red, flaky, and sore for the next few days. Ouch! If you’re not doing it already, make sure you apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on a daily basis to protect skin from harmful UV rays which cause skin to burn. You should actually be wearing SPF year round to protect yourself from sun damage.

"SPF should be applied every day to areas that are exposed — which often includes the face, neck, chest, ears, and hands,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "And it is especially important to reapply every two hours, or sooner if swimming or sweating, as people spend more time outdoors in the summer months."

The Solution: If it’s too late and you’re already burnt, soak in a cool bath and apply a cooling body mask like Rainbow’s Hydrate Mask. It’s made with hyaluronic acid + vitamin B5 to deeply moisturize, repair, and soothe skin for quick relief while preventing peeling. This nourishing formula is gentle enough for all skin types.

In the meantime, avoid sun exposure, and allow your skin to heal. You should also avoid potentially harsh active ingredients like retinol and exfoliating acids to stop your skin from becoming even more irritated.

Hyperpigmentation

Unprotected sun exposure can result in pigmentation and uneven skin tone. If you’re seeing dark spots or discoloration on your skin, it may be the result of UV exposure — a common skin concern. Fortunately, it’s not impossible to treat.

The Solution: For starters, start applying SPF daily to avoid any further pigmentation issues. Next, invest in Rainbow’s Smooth Bundle, which features a mask + serum formulated with vitamin C and vegan collagen to fade discoloration, brighten skin, and protect against free radicals. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that’s effective at treating hyperpigmentation. Plus, it adds an extra layer of defence to your daily sunscreen.

Body Acne

Body acne typically affects the chest, back, and butt. Like facial acne, it occurs due to clogged pores, which is often the result of a buildup of sweat, dirt, and dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. While not a lot of people discuss it, body acne is way more common than you’d think. On the plus side, there are ways to alleviate body breakouts to clear up your skin for all those uber cute summer shirts and dresses.

The Solution: Cleanse twice a day (am and pm), using a salicylic acid-based cleanser. Let it sit on the skin for a minute before rinsing to let the active ingredient absorb and work its acne-killing magic. Follow up with an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer. Alongside this, try wearing loose, breathable clothing and exfoliate twice a week to slough away the buildup of dead skin.

Tan Lines

Whether they’re natural tan lines or self-tan lines, you don’t have to put up with this pesky summer skin concern for too long. With a few easy hacks, you can enjoy a flawless, even tan all over.

The Solution: Begin with exfoliation. "You can scrub your skin and carefully exfoliate the parts where the tan lines are most visible," says Sheel Desai Solomon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in North Carolina. "It'll also speed up the process of lightening tanned areas of your skin."

If that doesn’t work, try fixing tan line with a self-tanning product to even out any streaks and lines. Alternatively, go for a professional spray tan and let the pros fix it for you.

Whether you have dry skin, oily skin, or sensitive skin, every skin type deals with summer skin concerns. We hope you’ve found these summer skincare tips helpful for alleviating common issues like breakouts and discoloration. Summer should be a season you enjoy without any issues. Sort out your summer skin concerns, prevent them from occurring, and don’t forget your SPF!