Skincare Swaps: Winter to Summer Skincare

Written by #FlirtBabe Taylor Marie

The days have been getting longer, the snow has started melting, and your skin isn't quite so dry anymore in our Alberta weather. Winter is almost over and summer is quickly approaching. While we might not be putting away our winter coats quite yet our skin is ready to transition into summer care with less dryness, and higher UV levels, your skincare routine is calling for an update. Let us give you 10 steps to decode your summer vs winter skincare routines.

Tips for transitioning your skincare routine from winter to summer:

1. Change your Cleanser

While winter calls for a more hydrating cleanser to beat the dryness when summer comes around it is important to swap your super hydrating cleanser with a lighter gel formula that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and clean without the heaviness of moisturization you don't need in the summer months. Check out Flirt Babe's favorite Simply Clean gel cleanser by Skinceuticals, a pore-refining gel cleanser that exfoliates and soothes all skin types. 

2. Tone up your Toner

With summer months ahead it's time to sluff off all that dry skin from the winter by upping your toner game. Toners are also great for refining your complexion. Try out Alumiers Bright & Clear Solution, A refreshing skin conditioning solution that exfoliates cellular debris and refines skin complexion.

3. Switch your Serums

More sunlight during the day means more exposure to harmful UV. Strengthen your sunscreen protection by complementing it with an antioxidant serum. Antioxidant serums not only help protect your skin but also have added benefits. One of our favourites is Viviers GrenzCine Serum, a revolutionary multi-functional growth factor serum designed to target thin skin, deep wrinkles, and other advanced signs of aging. Formulated with a proprietary combination of Polyamine Growth Factors and 10% Vitamin C to thicken, firm, repair, and moisturize the skin. Wrinkles look diminished, and the skin is visibly fuller and more radiant looking.

4. Modify your Moisturizer

With the Alberta dryness easing up and summer sweat kicking in your moisturizer benefits from changing to a more lightweight consistency. Gel or lightweight cream formulas are great as they absorb into the skin quickly while still providing all the hydration benefits as your winter moisturizer. One of our medical esthetician's favorites is Alumiers HydraLight Moisturizer, A light hydrating lotion loaded with powerful peptides, antioxidants and soothing ingredients.

5. Exchange your Eye Cream

Swapping out your eye cream is essential to transition your winter skincare routine into summer. Try using a lightweight cream with actives like Vitamin C to reduce the look of dark circles and give you that glowy skin look! My personal favorite is Viviers Radiant Eye Contour Cream, A lightweight, soothing eye cream that hydrates, firms and nourishes the delicate eye area. Vitamin C and Pro-Vitamin B5 moisturize and reduce signs of aging leaving the eye area bright, radiant and youthful.

6. Soak up the Sunscreen 

Sunscreen is always an important staple in a skincare routine however with summer fast approaching and more time spent in the sun, soaking up all the sunscreen you can get as often as possible is important in protecting your skincare investment and seeing progress in your results. Sunscreen is arguably one of the most powerful and effective treatments in antiaging making it an important staple in transitioning your skincare. Alumier has an amazing range of mineral sunscreens for every skin type, check out our collection of them from Clear Shield, to HydraLight Alumier has a sunscreen for everyone.

7. Exercise that Exfoliation

Coming out of the winter months means we have lots of dead skin and buildup to get rid of to reveal our glowy summer skin. Chemical or physical exfoliation 1-2x per week can do wonders for your skin. My personal favorite is Viviers Illuminating Enzymatic Peel™, A gentle, glow-boosting enzymatic peel for at-home use that exfoliates dead skin cells, enhances skin cell turnover and hydrates to reveal visibly brighter, smoother, fresher, and clearer skin. Formulated with 6 key ingredients - Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tropical Enzymes, Retinol, Vitamin C, and Peptides - that work together in synergy to refine the skin’s surface and lift away unwanted discoloration while hydrating ingredients calm and comfort the skin for beautiful results without redness or sensitization. I use it at night 2-3x per week and go to sleep with it on! This product has no need to rinse it off, making it super easy and effective.

8. Make the Most of Mist 

For that glowy dewy look sometimes our skin needs a midday pick-me-up after being outside. This means that skincare mists during the summer are your new best friend. They offer a great boost of hydration that is so refreshing in the summer. I love Jane Iredale's Hydration Face Sprays and they are great because they come in different scents! A spritz of Jane Iredale Hydration face sprays mists uplifts your spirits, provides refreshing hydration, and sets your face makeup with natural and organic botanicals.

9. Mask up 

Any time of year is a great time for masking but summer masking is a great addition to your skincare routine with added benefits your usual skincare doesn't have. My favorite face masks at Flirt are the Esthemax hydro jelly masks in individual packages you can do at home (these are also the hydro jelly masks we offer during our facials). My favorite is the Brightening Complex, a mask that Lightens pigmentation and promotes an overall more even complexion. Illuminates the skin and promotes deep hydration and balance.

10. Love your Lips

With dry cracked lips from the winter recovering in the summer is essential. Lip care is often neglected in skincare routines however I'm here to remind you that your lips matter too! When transitioning to summer skincare the Skinceuticals Antioxidant repair is a game changer. Fight dry lips with this potent treatment, while smoothing and rehydrating the lip surface. All types of lips reap the benefits of this lip repair.