In summer schedules change, we spend more time outdoors, and it is not always easy to maintain the same beauty routine we follow during the rest of the year. Serums stay at home, some treatments are used less frequently, and multi-step rituals end up reduced to a few basic products.
Although this simplification may generate a certain feeling of guilt, it does not have to translate into skin that is more neglected. In fact, adapting facial care to the summer’s own conditions can be far more beneficial than trying at all costs to maintain an extensive routine loaded with actives.
Dr. Lara Victoria, specialist in Regenerative Aesthetic Medicine and Longevity, debunks the myth that during vacations it is necessary to continue with a complex cosmetic routine.
«Every year I see the same scene in the clinic upon returning from vacation: patients who arrive with a feeling of guilt because they believe they have neglected their skin for weeks. And I almost always tell them the same thing: that is not a failure, but a poorly understood opportunity,» she explains.
Why it is advisable to change the routine in summer
The skin does not behave the same way throughout the year. Higher temperatures, humidity, increased sweating, and greater sun exposure modify its needs and also its tolerance to certain cosmetics.
«Summer requires adapting skin care to the new environmental conditions. The heat, humidity, increased sweating and the rise in sun exposure modify the skin’s needs», notes the doctor.
For this reason, trying to reproduce an eight- or ten-step routine can be unnecessary and, in some cases, counterproductive. Dense textures, layering, or combining several intensive actives can promote a heavy feeling, irritation, or the appearance of imperfections.
The four pillars of a summer routine
The specialist recommends building the summer routine around four fundamental actions: a gentle cleanse, a lightweight antioxidant in the morning, hydration with light textures or gel, and broad-spectrum photoprotection.
Laneige Water Bank Soft Cleanser.
The cleansing should remove sweat, impurities, and residual sunscreen without altering the skin barrier. It is not necessary to use aggressive formulas or seek a tight, stripped feeling after washing the face.
Caudalíe Resveratrol-Lift Serum,
In the morning, you can incorporate a lightweight antioxidant to help reinforce the skin’s defense against oxidative stress. After that, a fluid cream, an emulsion, or a hydrating gel can provide comfort without overloading it.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ Sunscreen.
The essential step is sunscreen protection. It should be applied in an appropriate amount and renewed throughout the day, especially after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying.
The actives that can wait until September
Summer is not necessarily the best time to maintain all intensive treatments either. According to Dr. Lara Victoria, certain actives can increase irritation when paired with more frequent sun exposure.
“High-concentration retinoids or exfoliating acids can increase irritation when combined with greater sun exposure,” she warns.
This does not mean that everyone should obligatorily abandon these ingredients, as their use depends on concentration, on skin tolerance, and on professional recommendations. However, vacations can be a good time to reduce their frequency or pause if sensitivity, dryness or discomfort appears.
“Everything else —retinoids, intense depigmenting agents or potent exfoliants— can wait perfectly until September without losing the benefits achieved during the rest of the year,” says the specialist.
Temporarily reducing these products does not imply starting from zero or losing all the results obtained. For a few weeks, protecting the skin from the sun and preserving its barrier can be a higher priority than maintaining an intensive treatment routine.
“Reducing cosmetic demands during vacations does not mean abandoning skincare, but adapting to what it really needs at that moment,” explains Dr. Lara Victoria.
Moreover, this simplification can also have a positive effect on wellbeing. “Many times, that pause benefits both the skin and the peace of mind of the person who takes care of it,” she concludes.
Instead of filling the makeup bag with products, the goal should be to choose pleasant, light, and easy-to-use formulas. A respectful cleanse, an adapted moisturizer, and properly applied photoprotection can be more effective than a long sequence of steps performed irregularly.
Summer does not have to pose a threat to the skin nor interrupt all the care carried out during the year. It can also be the perfect time to reduce the superfluous, listen to its needs, and focus on what is essential. In September there will be time to resume more intensive protocols.
