what your skin really needs this summer

Sunshine season is sure to be sticking around on a more permanent basis pretty soon, and with those long, warm summer nights, picnics in the park, lake days, and sunshine lounging, also comes some changes for our complexions. Here are 5 things your skin needs to minimize the effects of sun exposure and keep your skin feeling healthy and looking its best. 

SPF is your BFF

While this is (of course!) necessary year-round, since the UV index is higher in the summer months, protection becomes even more important. Did you know that up to 90% of skin aging is caused by UV radiation, and skin cancer rates can be reduced by 40% with regular sunscreen use? Find one you like, and slather up, baby!

Frida Fave

SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion is the perfect lightweight SPF that offers a slight tint to help blur out imperfections and the ZO Sunscreen + Powder is perfect for mid-day reapplication. 

Antioxidants

Think of your skin cell membrane as a zipper and free radicals come in and try to unzip it, and prematurely kill that cell. Here is where antioxidants come in - they essentially insert themselves in the membrane and prevent it from being unzipped. UV exposure is a massive source of oxidative stress and free radical damage, so load up on your antioxidants and keep things zipped up nice and tight! 

Frida Fave

CE Ferulic gets a lot of hype and for good reason. It’s a potent antioxidant serum proven to reduce combined oxidative damage by up to 41% and also helps improve fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, and helps brighten your skin’s complexion. 

Tyrosinase Inhibitors

Not to get too science-y on you, but tyrosinase is an enzyme that is responsible for the first step in melanin (aka pigment) production in the skin. Incorporating ingredients that inhibit or block this from happening will help keep your complexion nice and even.

Frida Fave

ZO Brightalive prevents creation of new pigment by 80%...yes, you read that correctly. It’s a functional hydrator in the sense that not only does it help increase hydration, it also helps increase luminosity, visibly improve skin clarity, and fade the appearance of dark spots for a brighter, more even complexion.

Barrier Repair

Unless you avoid the sun completely, there is nothing that offers 100% protection from UV… and sun abstinence is just a summer bummer. Instead, enjoy being outside, seek shade when you can, and be sure to incorporate products that focus on protecting and repairing your skin’s barrier (the acid mantle). 

Frida Fave

The ZO Daily Power Defense is clinically proven to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier while also defending against environmental stressors and premature signs of aging aka the best of both worlds. 

Some Relief

When the heat gets the best of you, reach for one of these products to help soothe and comfort the skin, and give you some relief when you’ve overdone it with the summertime activities. 

Frida Fave

The SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque helps drop the skin’s temperature by almost 3 degrees (pop it in the fridge for that extra cool feeling). Literally everyone can benefit from using DMK Beta Gel, but especially in the summer as it contains beta-glucan which initiates the immune and reparative functions of the skin, meaning your burn will heal a hell of a lot faster with this, than without.