Summer can be such a joyful season - longer days, warmer weather, and more time outdoors. But for your skin? It can also bring a unique set of challenges: dehydration, irritation, sun sensitivity, and breakouts. Whether you’re dealing with dry patches, post-sun tightness, or just a general feeling of “off,” your skin is simply asking for a bit of extra love.
The good news? You don’t need a complicated routine or harsh products to care for your skin. With a gentle, seasonal approach and a few nourishing ingredients, your skin can stay soft, calm, and radiant all summer long.
Here are some of our favourite natural ways to support your skin through the warmer months.
Hydrate From the Inside Out
Your skin is your largest organ, and in summer it loses moisture faster — especially if you're in the sun, sweating more, or travelling. The first place to start is simple: drink more water. But beyond just sipping, you can also eat your hydration.
Try adding more of these water-rich foods to your meals:
- 🥒 Cucumber
- 🍉 Watermelon
- 🍋 Lemons (in water or salads)
- 🍓 Berries
- 🥬 Leafy greens
- 🌿 Mint
Bonus tip: Infuse your water with slices of cucumber, citrus, or herbs for extra minerals and flavour.
Simplify Your Skincare Routine
Heat, sweat, and sunscreen can lead to congestion, especially if you’re layering lots of products. Summer is a great time to strip things back.
A minimal routine might look like:
- Morning: Gentle cleanse (or just water), hydrosol or toner mist, light moisturiser, SPF
- Evening: Double cleanse (especially if wearing SPF or makeup), nourishing oil or balm, maybe a cooling mist or aloe-based serum
If your skin feels irritated or inflamed, try avoiding active ingredients (like retinols or strong acids) for a while. Instead, lean into cooling, calming ingredients like chamomile, aloe vera, calendula, or green tea.
Castor oil can be a beautiful option for night-time use — it’s deeply hydrating and soothing, especially if your skin feels dry or overexposed to the sun. Just a few drops pressed into damp skin can go a long way.
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Try a Weekly Oil Massage or Compress
Instead of a clay mask or exfoliant, consider a cooling oil treatment once a week — especially if your skin is feeling puffy or tight.
You can apply oil to clean skin, place a cool damp cloth over your face, and rest for 10–15 minutes. This simple ritual:
- Encourages lymphatic flow
- Softens fine lines
- Helps your skin absorb nourishment more deeply
Castor oil is perfect for this, thanks to its naturally anti-inflammatory properties — but you can also try jojoba, sweet almond, or rosehip.
Avoid Over-Washing or Harsh Exfoliation
It’s tempting to scrub more in summer, with all the sweat and sunscreen, but over-washing can strip your skin barrier, leading to more dryness or sensitivity.
- Avoid foaming cleansers with SLS or alcohols
- Stick to exfoliating 1–2 times per week, max (and not if you’re sunburnt!)
- Swap harsh scrubs for gentle exfoliation using fruit enzymes (like papaya or pineapple)
Less really is more.
Soothe Sun-Stressed Skin Naturally
If you do get a bit too much sun, reach for ingredients that cool, calm, and repair:
- Aloe Vera gel (pure and fragrance-free)
- Cucumber slices or cold green tea bags on the eyes
- Cold chamomile tea compresses on inflamed skin
- A few drops of castor oil on dry or peeling areas at night
Always skip exfoliating and retinols after sun exposure, and give your skin time to recover with plenty of hydration and rest.
Support Skin Holistically
Summer skin health is about more than just what we put on our bodies — it’s also about what’s happening inside.
Some simple holistic practices:
- Eat lots of colourful, antioxidant-rich foods (berries, leafy greens, herbs, beetroot, turmeric)
- Get enough sleep — that’s when your skin repairs!
- Use light breathable fabrics to reduce heat rashes or body breakouts
- Support digestion and lymphatic flow, both of which impact skin health
Some people also find that using castor oil packs on the abdomen (to support digestion) and over the liver (for liver function), can result in clearer, more balanced skin.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a shelf full of products or a 12-step routine to have healthy, glowing summer skin. Often, the most powerful changes come from the gentlest steps: staying hydrated, listening to your skin, and choosing ingredients that truly support it.
Whether you’re beach-bound or just trying to feel good in your own skin this month, we hope you’ll find a few rituals that make you feel nourished and glowing — inside and out.
