Whether you're wearing a new pair of shorts or baring all in a bikini, summer is the perfect time to show some skin. But as freeing as it can be to shed those wooly winter layers for lighter, more revealing outfits, your skin may not be quite as ready for the seasonal wardrobe shift as you are.
With skin cancer comprising nearly half of the cancer cases in the US, laying in the sun or a tanning bed to get sun-kissed skin are definitely not options these days. The Food and Drug Administration is even stepping up their sunscreen standards to shield us from excessive exposure. As of June, all SPF products must pass a broad-spectrum test, and companies will be required to display their levels of both UVA and UVB protection on labels.
So, the question becomes: How do you get a healthy summer glow to complement a closet full of skirts and sundresses? We went straight to celebrity dermatologist and author of "Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist," Debra Jaliman, MD, and celebrity makeup artist Marissa Nemes for answers.
Covering everything from self-tanners to sunscreens, Jaliman and Nemes gave us their expert tips and tricks for beautiful and healthy summer skin. Follow their advice and your skin will be refreshed and ready for sunshine in no time.
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Scrub away your dead skin
If you don't want your skin to look dull or flaky, exfoliating properly is a must. Jaliman says getting rid of the dead skin that sits on the surface is very important, and there are plenty of ways to do it, from bath puffs to scrubs, or even pumice stones.
Make sure to scrub the joint areas, too. Nemes suggests tending to your face, hands, heels, knees, elbows, and wrists in particular. If you'll be using self-tanning lotion, you don't want to skip this step since it'll help your skin soak up the product more evenly.
Do you have plans to remove any unwanted hair? Post-exfoliation is a good time to go for it. Should you decide to remove body hair beforehand, Jaliman recommends holding off on exfoliating for a day or two or you will irritate the skin.
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Hydrate dry skin
There's no way around it: Dry skin just does not feel or look very attractive. But after battling the elements all winter long, it's not surprising your skin is not as hydrated as you would like it to be. Luckily, fixing the problem is as simple as applying your favorite lotion after exfoliating and then after every shower (preferably while skin is still damp so it can trap that moisture as well).
A light layer of lotion is also the key to getting even, immaculate color out of a self-tanner. Plus, moisturizing your driest areas -- usually the ankles, feet, knees, elbows, hands, and wrists -- will also prevent your skin from absorbing too much of the self-tanner.
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Try a self-tanner
Just because sunbathing is a no-go doesn't mean you can't have the perfect tan. It has never been easier to get glowing skin without soaking in the sun's harmful rays -- which are known to contribute to both early aging and skin cancer. While the sunless route is a healthy one, navigating it all by yourself can be tricky.
For an easy and flawless application, Nemes recommends getting your hands on a self-tanning mitt. "It allows for a complete streak-free application, and it makes the whole process so much simpler," she says. Nemes also suggests rubbing the self-tanner into your skin quickly (they dry fast) and using less product on your joint areas (thicker skin absorbs more product). Also, if you don't use a mitt it's very important to wash your hands as soon as you're done applying. Bronzed palms are a dead giveaway for your faux tan.
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Hide your mistakes
After putting in all that hard work toward a gorgeous, sunless tan, there is nothing more frustrating than finding streaks. But it's not the end of the world. In fact, it's a problem you can easily solve with a little help from Nemes.
Depending on your situation, she has a couple of different ways to go about it ...
• If you only have a slight streak or need a quick fix, Nemes suggests using a bronzer or body foundation to blend the skin tones together.
• If you're not pressed for time, she says to exfoliate again and wait for a couple of days to see if the streaks get lighter.
• If you've waited it out and the color is still not to your liking, Nemes says to reapply your self-tanner.
Whether you're wearing a new pair of shorts or baring all in a bikini, summer is the perfect time to show some skin. But as freeing as it can be to shed those wooly winter layers for lighter, more revealing outfits, your skin may not be quite as ready for the seasonal wardrobe shift as you are.
With skin cancer comprising nearly half of the cancer cases in the US, laying in the sun or a tanning bed to get sun-kissed skin are definitely not options these days. The Food and Drug Administration is even stepping up their sunscreen standards to shield us from excessive exposure. As of June, all SPF products must pass a broad-spectrum test, and companies will be required to display their levels of both UVA and UVB protection on labels.
So, the question becomes: How do you get a healthy summer glow to complement a closet full of skirts and sundresses? We went straight to celebrity dermatologist and author of "Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist," Debra Jaliman, MD, and celebrity makeup artist Marissa Nemes for answers.
Covering everything from self-tanners to sunscreens, Jaliman and Nemes gave us their expert tips and tricks for beautiful and healthy summer skin. Follow their advice and your skin will be refreshed and ready for sunshine in no time.
