Climatic conditions change throughout the year. We cannot use the same skincare regimen for all seasons. Dressing, food habits, lifestyle, and beauty products need to match the ‘beat the heat’ mantra of the summer season. Some of the essential beauty products usually present in summer skin regimens due to some specific reasons.
Summer skin regimen and its importance
Sunscreen is an essential summer beauty product to avoid sunburn and other harmful effects of strong ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sometimes, we cannot avoid going out during the daytime in the summer season. But the application of sunscreen is one of the primary measures to protect ourselves from UV rays. According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to UV rays is one of the primary causes of skin cancer. Apart from skin cancer, excessive sun exposure can cause sunburn, eye damage, and early wrinkles development. [1]
Sunburn is often associated with redness and skin swelling, pain, drying, itching, peeling. Worsening of the condition causes blister formations. Children are often affected by sunburn during their outdoor activities. [2] However, too much sun exposure can affect adults also. SPF 30 or higher sunscreen application on sun-exposed skin area, covering with a protective cloth, look for shading are general instructions to avoid sunburn. [2]
The incidence of mosquito, tick and flea bites causing diseases had three times increased during the summer season. [3] Malaria and dengue fever are common mosquito bites causing diseases during the summer season due to the increasing predominance of mosquitoes and other insects. Bug repellent must be present in our skincare cabinet to get protection from their bites. The insect repellant is not sufficient to give protection against these diseases. But it can stop these insects’ bites and provides the best defense. [4]
During the summer season occurrence of skin, the wound is quite common due to dry and itchy skin. In addition, these wounds refuse to heal quickly during the summer season because of walking barefoot, wearing sandals, and wading in water. High-temperature during the summer season also support germ attacks due to profuse perspiration. We often ignore such infections at an early stage due to our busy schedules, commitments for social activities that ultimately create complications. [5] It is always better to take care of your skin wound at the initial stage. Apply some skin wound spray on the site of the wound for faster healing.
Why we need a moisturizer in summer – a common question of consumers. You may notice that patchy hot skin, redness, and roughness on the skin usually occur after sun exposure during the summer season. We also prefer to stay in artificially cooling rooms, which also dry our natural skin moisture. A good moisturizer is a solution to such a problem. The application of moisturizer provides a protective layer by preventing moisture loss from deeper skin tissue. It also repairs skin damaged by maintaining hydration and antioxidant effect. [6]
Natural ingredients to beat the heat
Natural sunscreens
Synthetic chemicals like oxybenzone or octinoxate and Avobenzone are common ingredients in sunscreen products. But recent research findings suspected these chemical compounds disrupt hormone signaling and increase cancer risk. Natural ingredients are a better alternative to avoid such harmful effects of chemicals. Sunscreen containing shinorine extracted from a specific type of red algae (Porphyra umbilicalis) absorbs high-energy UV radiation and protects against sun damage. Gadusol is another natural sunscreen ingredient obtained from zebrafish. This natural ingredient can reduce the sensitivity of skin cells to UV-B light and also protects against UV-B. [7] Some cosmetic company already formulates sunscreen products with these natural ingredients. You can opt for HELIONORI® to keep yourself naturally glow. [8]
Natural sunburn healer
Aloe vera has sunburn healing properties. American Academy of Dermatology Association also recommended Aloe vera containing moisturizer to heal sunburn. Soy containing product is also a good alternative to treat sunburn. [9] Cucumber is another summer fruit that has multiple skin benefits. Like toxin removal and soothing effect against skin irritations and reduces swelling and also provides relaxing and alleviating the sunburn’s pain. [10] Apart from these, cold yogurt also has anti-inflammatory properties and effective to smoothen sunburn symptoms. [11]
Bug repellant
A combination of vanillin and citronella oil has good bug repellant properties. Research findings also supported that Vanillin bean extract has mosquito repellant activity. [12] Experts recommended that you can prepare your bug repellant spray by mixing vanilia extract with water. You can soak a cotton ball in this mixture and apply it to your skin. [3]
Tea tree oil is another choice of natural insect replant. It has antiseptic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. [3] The efficacy of this natural ingredient against mosquitoes and flies is well-established in the scientific research journal. [13] The expert also provides the instruction on how to apply bug repellent spray effectively. First, apply natural moisture on the skin, then spray a small quantity of bug repellent. Do not directly spray bug repellent on facial skin. [14]
Wound spray
Certain essential oils obtained from different herbal sources have antiseptic properties that effectively treat wounds during hot and humid climates. Essential oils obtained from Mimosa, Yarrow, Balsam, rosewood, Myrrh have wound healing properties. Extracted essential oils from these plants are used to prepare different dermatology products. These essential oils have multiple medicinal benefits. Like some of them have antiseptic properties; some have an antimicrobial property to heal the wound naturally. [15]
Natural moisturizer
Passion Seed Oil is also known as Maracuja oil extracted from seeds of the Passion Flower. This oil has an emollient property. The light and non-greasy properties of this oil make it easily apply. It is an excellent skin moisturizer, which keeps skin hydrated. [16] Another natural ingredient is chia seed oil. The topical application of this oil can improve skin hydration and prevents water loss from skin tissue. [17] Peanut oil and sunflower oil also have skin moisturizing properties by restoring skin barrier function. Thus they prevent from escaping natural skin moisture on exposure to hot environmental conditions. Moreover, the topical application of peanut oil also provides sun protection. Olive oil also has a similar effect on sunflower oil. [18]
The above-mentioned natural ingredients have evidentially proven skin benefits, which you can introduce in your summer skin regimen practice.
References
- https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/stay-sun-safe-this-summer.html
- https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=sunburn-and-children-90-P01929
- https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/natural-bug-repellents/
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140602204559.htm
- https://advancedtissue.com/2015/06/the-5-challenges-of-wound-healing-during-the-summer/
- https://keyaseth.in/blogs/blog/moisturizer-in-this-sweltering-summer-yes-you-need-it
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6062824/
- http://www.gelyma.com/helionori.html
- https://www.aad.org/public/kids/skin/skin-cancer/treating-sunburn
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23098877
- https://www.consumerreports.org/sun-protection/best-ways-to-treat-a-sunburn/
- http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/mosquitosite/preventing-mosquito-bites/repellents-for-application-to-skin/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2009.00736.x
- https://www.consumerreports.org/insect-repellent/how-to-apply-bug-spray/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5435909/
- https://www.researchgate.net/post/what_are_the_prospects_of_Passion_fruit_seed_oil
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4926888/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/