When the heat has your skin feeling sticky, and a day in the humidity leaves you feeling like you need a boost, it’s tempting to go straight for your favorite exfoliator. But according to Laura Cline, Youth To The People’s Director of Education, your skin doesn’t actually require extra exfoliation in the summer months.
“Your skin cycle—how often your body creates a new set of skin cells—doesn’t happen more rapidly at a different time of year or in different climates,” Cline says. In fact, adult bodiesexperience cell turnover every 28 days on average, so the frequency at which you exfoliate may not need to shift throughout the year.
The heat (and your sweat) interact differently with your skincare, sunscreen, and makeup during the summer months. Your skin might feel more congested, convincing you it needs more exfoliation, but Cline notes you should continue to exfoliate as you usually would. “Exfoliating too much will cause dehydration, could cause the skin to have unnecessary stress, and can lead to breakouts if you over-do it,” Cline says. “At all times of year, it really is a balance.”
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Balancing your skincare is all about being mindful of your environment and your lifestyle. It’s not a strict rule that you have to switch up your skin routine just because the calendar has changed, too.
“It depends on where you live, the weather, and the humidity,” Cline says. “For example, it’s really hot right now and it wasn’t before, so you want to take into account or keep in mind mind that you might be sweating more. You’d want products that feel more lightweight.”
If you’re spending more time in the sun this summer, be kind to your skin by cleansing and treating it without weighing it down, starting with the daily Superfood Cleanser. For a lightweight, hydrating chemical exfoliator, Cline recommends using Youth To The People’s alcohol-free Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner between three to five nights per week. But if you’re in a rush, only have a few minutes for your skincare routine, and prefer a dual-action microdermabrasion treatment, use the two-minute Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial between one and three times per week.
Protection against environmental stressors should always be a part of your regimen, especially when you exfoliate regularly, but it doesn’t need to be limited to SPF, the final step in your routine. Protect your skin earlier (and refresh congested skin later) with the Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist. Ashwagandha, rhodiola, and reishi, which back YTTP’s custom blend of adaptogens, help heal skin from external stressors like sun exposure or sunburn.
“When it’s really hot out, you want to add a lot of humectants, like hyaluronic acid, to your routine to seal, plump, and lock hydration into your skin and keep it from getting dehydrated,” Cline says. Her advice? Focus on lightweight hydration which is key when moisturizing your skin in the summertime, and the Protect the Planet Kit makes your routine easily customizable. “Mix in a few drops of the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil into your Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream at night only. And for a more cooling effect, store your Air-Whip Moisture Cream in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.”
