We all love to spend time outdoors during the summer. But are we making it a priority to take care of our skin during those hot and sweaty months? Investing time and money on skincare isn't only a woman’s tradition. Men, it’s time to practice new skin care habits that will have you looking and feeling younger. To let you enjoy the Summer season without neglecting the importance of skincare, it's important to try several products, habits and lifestyle choices that will have your skin feeling fresh and clean at all times.

SUMMER SKINCARE PRODUCTS

• Cleansing Daily - It's no secret that men's skin is oilier. If you're the one who spends most of your day out in the sun your skin will build up more sweat and dirt than usual. By cleansing twice a day you will give your skin the necessary treatment for it to look fresh and clean. You don't want to be the one showing off unattractive acne or aging skin because you're not doing your daily cleansing. These are some of our hottest Daily Cleansers right now: 
  Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser
  Dermalogica Age Smart Resurfacing Cleanser
  Hydropeptide Exfoliating Cleanser

• Using A Toner - Between shaving and constant sun exposure, your skin demands a toner to complete the cleansing process. Using a toner will thoroughly remove excess oil, control breakouts and soothe after shaving. A toner provides antioxidants and hydrating agents that are beneficial to your skin during a tough summer season.

• Exfoliating Once or Twice A Week - Exfoliating means to shed substances from the surface. The body produces layers of skin constantly and it's important to remove those old layers by exfoliating to unclog the pores. Let your skin reproduce those new skin layers and breathe while you exfoliate. For better results, your toner and cleanser could use the extra help of nice exfoliant. These are some of our best exfoliators: 
  Glytone Exfoliating Lostion
  Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant
  Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10 Moisturizer

• Moisturizing Regularly - If you are not making it a habit of moisturizing daily, you're doing a disservice to your skin. It's important to moisturize your skin to prevent the long-term effects of dry, oily and aging skin. Moisturizing gives your skin the protective barrier it needs from shaving and harmful environment elements. Here are some of our best selling moisturizers: 
  Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
  iS Clinical Youth Complex
  Dermalogica Active Moist

• After-Shave - The after shave sensation may not be pleasant for many of us. Skin dryness, irritation, and acne caused by shaving are the reasons why you need to add after-shave to your skin care regime. Shaving takes away skin layers and opens the pores, allowing bacteria to get in resulting in acne. An after-shave will hydrate the skin and close the pores to eliminate acne. Some of our best selling after shaves:
  Dermalogica Post Shave Balm
  The Art of Shaving Shave Lotion
  Hydropeptide Solar Defense

• Sunscreen - How serious are you willing to get to prevent your chances of skin cancer? It's extremely important to use sunscreen in times of high sun exposure. Sunscreen not only protects you from sunburns but it also slows down the process of aging skin. It's recommended to use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. Have a look at some of the best selling Sunscreens:
  EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46
  Hydropeptide Solar Defense
  Neova DNA Damage Control Sheer 2.0 Broad Spectrum SPF 40

SUMMER SKINCARE ROUTINE

Now that I've gone through a list of recommended products to use. It's important to know the routine of using these products. Keep in mind that you don't need to apply these products every day.

• Step 1: Cleanse - You should cleanse your face first thing in the morning and before you go to bed. It helps to cleanse your face with warm water to clean the pores and making you feel refreshed. Make sure your hands are clean to prevent dirt from entering the pores.
  
  
• Step 2: Toner - Our skin naturally adjusts the pH balance of our skin after cleansing, so most men don't need to use a toner. But depending on your skin type, a toner helps with the pH balance readjustment. If you need to use a toner, apply the toner while your skin is still damp. Simply apply a good amount of toner to some cotton balls or pads and move in an upward position starting at the neck.
  
  
• Step 3: Exfoliating - Use your best judgment on when to exfoliate. But remember not to over exfoliate as it can irritate your skin. Again you only need to exfoliate once or twice a week. It's recommended to exfoliate after showering by rubbing a small amount of your favorite exfoliator into your hands. There's no need to scrub hard, just simply massage your face in circular motion for about 30 seconds. Rinse clean and make sure to apply moisturizer as the exfoliator may dry your skin.
  
  
• Step 4: Moisturizing - A moisturizer should be used every time you cleanse your face. For best results, you should apply your moisturizer when the skin is damp after cleansing. Don't over moisturize as your skin can get too oily or create blackheads. Use just enough to cover your face, especially the dryest spots like your cheeks. Use your fingertips and apply the moisturizer in small circular motions and be gentle to your skin.
  
  
• Step 5: After-Shave- Depending on your skin type, there's a variety of aftershaves you can use such as balms, oils, creams, and lotions. There's a process in applying an after-shave correctly. First, you need to make sure your face is free of shaving cream and loose hairs before you apply aftershave. For best results, simply rinse your face with cold water to help close the pores. Dry your face gently with a clean towel, it's ok if your face is damp just not wet.
  
  Shaving not only trims hairs but it also dries your skin because you're removing skin layers. Some aftershaves may have alcohol which will continue to dry your skin. To prevent more skin dryness, it's recommended to apply moisturizer before you apply aftershave.
  
  Once you apply moisturizer, put a small amount of after-shave in your palm and rub the lotion so it's warm. Using your fingers, massage the lotion onto your face using upward strokes so you don't wrinkle your face over time. It's important to buy an after-shave that is best suited for your skin so that you don't have to deal with the constant unpleasant feeling your skin may have after shaving. 

• Step 6: Sunscreen - All of the above products are important for your skin care during the summer, but using sunscreen is the most important during sun exposure. If you're not using sunscreen it's going to take away the purpose of using all the other products we have already mentioned. Sunscreen should be the last step of your routine. Make sure to apply a good amount of sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outside. Let your skin absorb the sunscreen before getting dressed, this way it doesn't rub off.
  
  It's recommended to use a sunscreen with at least 30 SPF or greater to give your skin a nice protecting layer from the UVA rays. The amount of sunscreen you put on depends on your body size, just make sure your body is protected with a nice coat of sunscreen. If you're going to be out in the sun for more than two hours, make sure you reapply more sunscreen as it can rub off with the sweat and water.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Summer shouldn't be the only time of the year when you should be proactive about your skin care. Making it a habit of going through the routine and applying the products mentioned above will benefit your skin complexion all year long and for a lifetime. 

The key to a successful Summer season is to protect your skin from the strong ultraviolet (UV) rays, however it's also very important to practice healthy lifestyle choices that will have your skin glowing all Summer long

Here's how you can help your skin stay healthy and fresh during the most sun scorching times:

• Stay Hydrated - Staying hydrated is very important to our health in general. Our skin is an organ that is made up of skin cells just like other cells in our body. Those skin cells only function properly when there's sufficient amount of water. Lack of water will result in dry skin and wrinkly skin over time. So make sure you are hydrating your skin by applying skin moisturizer before going out and most importantly, drink plenty of water throughout the day. It's recommended to drink 8 glasses of water a day to help your skin reduce skin toxins.

• Clean Diet - What you eat reflects how you feel and look. The same goes for your skin. If you're having skin problems it may be because your diet is off balance. Start off by including Omega-3 fatty acids that will help your skin look firmer. The number one source of Omega-3 fatty acids is fish. You should have at least 2 servings a week. You also need to eat fruits and vegetables that provide a high source of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your skin from free radicals and sun damage. Citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, spinach and sweet potatoes are the best antioxidant sources for your skin. Lastly, you'll want to cut back on sugar. Fruits have plenty of sugar, so be mindful of the types of fruits you eat and your portions. But most importantly, watch out for those sugary and processed foods. Eliminating those types of foods will have your skin glowing at all times.

• No Smoking - If you're a smoker you should already know that you need to quit. Constant smoking starts making you look old faster than you may think. It's known that smoking slows down the blood flow that keeps the skin tissue looking healthy. Carbon monoxide found in cigarette smoke leaves your skin dry and discolored. Ultimately leaving your skin wrinkly and ruining your complexion for good.

• Plenty of Sleep - Besides a good diet, quality of sleep is just as essential for your skin health. During deep sleep is when our bodies release growth hormones which trigger skin cell production. We are only able to go through this skin repair process if and only we sleep through the 7 to 8 hours of sleep that is recommended. Depriving ourselves of sleep won't allow our bodies to release the growth hormones necessary for a healthy complexion. As a result, we end up releasing stress hormones called cortisol. This stress hormone can increase inflammation in the skin causing wrinkles, acne and skin lines. So get regular sleep and let your body rest as it is necessary for skin reproduction and your overall health.