How to Build a Simple Summer Skin Care Routine

With the arrival of bright sunny days and warmer weather, just like our wardrobe, our skincare needs adjustments. Maintaining healthy, moisturized, and radiant skin throughout summer may be achieved with a straightforward summer skincare regimen. Learn how to build a simple summer skin care routine with our skilled providers The Skin Center by CPS. 

If You Haven’t Implemented A Skin Care Routine Before…

For beginners, focusing on three key skincare products is crucial: a cleanser to remove impurities, a moisturizer to hydrate and protect the skin barrier, and SPF to shield against sun damage. These essentials form a solid foundation for a simple yet effective summer skincare routine.

How to Build a Simple Summer Skin Care Routine

Crafting a simple yet effective summer skincare routine can help you maintain healthy, glowing skin throughout the warmer months. Let’s dive into an 8-step routine for building a straightforward summer skincare regimen that will keep your skin refreshed and protected.

Why Following an Order?

The general guideline for skincare application is to start with lighter products and end with heavier ones. This is because thinner products are unable to penetrate through thicker ones. For instance, if you apply a serum (thin) on top of your moisturizer (thick), the serum may not be as effective because it cannot penetrate through the barrier created by the moisturizer.

STEP 1 – CLEANSER 

Perform this step in the morning and night.

Cleansing is the first step in a healthy skincare routine. It’s important to wash your face well and remove makeup before using any products. Oil and grease-free skin facilitates the efficient absorption of ingredients. In addition to removing makeup, an effective cleanser also dissolves impurities without stripping the skin, facilitating the best possible product absorption and skin care benefits.

Our preferred cleansers for each skin type:

FOR NORMAL, COMBO, & OILY SKIN 

• The SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser enhances skin texture, tone, and smoothness. It deeply cleanses and gently exfoliates using a blend of alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids, promoting a youthful appearance.

FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

• The Alastin Gentle Cleanser removes pollutants and makeup while soothing the skin with antioxidants.

FOR NORMAL TO DRY SKIN

• The ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish physically removes dead skin cells and debris, enhancing skin radiance. Its magnesium oxide crystals rinse away cleanly, leaving the skin instantly soft and smooth.

STEP 2 – TONER

If you are incorporating toner in your summer skincare, apply it in the mornings and evenings.

Modern toners have evolved from harsh, alcohol-based formulations to gentle, hydrating solutions for dry and sensitive skin. 

They serve as preparatory steps, optimizing the absorption of subsequent skincare products. It’s crucial to avoid toners that have a strong smell of alcohol or nail polish remover, as they can be harsh on the skin. When selecting a toner, consider your skin type and opt for formulations that align with your skincare needs.

The Skin Center By CPS top toner recommendations by skin types:

FOR DULL AND UNEVEN SKIN

• The SkinMedica Even & Correct Brightening Pads reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It exfoliates visibly bright skin. These pads can be used day and night.

FOR NORMAL, DRY AND SENSITIVE SKIN

• After cleansing, the ZO Skin Health Calming Toner supports the function of the skin barrier by lightly hydrating the skin.

FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

The ZO Skin Health Complexion Renewal Pads effectively remove excess surface oil and pore-clogging debris while soothing the skin.

STEP 3 – FACE SERUM 

Use serums in the morning and evening 

Face serums are extremely concentrated solutions containing nutrients, hydrators, and/or antioxidants. They greatly improve your skin’s health after application, making them an excellent addition to your skincare routine. While serums are optional, they are an excellent method to enhance your skincare routine and improve overall skin health.

Explore our face serum recommendations:

FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

• SkinMedica TNS® Advanced+ Serum is the gold standard of growth factors with its ability to refine visible fine lines and coarse wrinkles; it offers a clinically validated remedy for sagging skin.
• The Alastin Skincare C-Radical Defense Antioxidant Serum is a powerhouse product that brightens the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, photodamage, and signs of aging.

FOR DRY AND DULL SKIN

• The Alastin Skincare HA (Hyaluronic Acid) Immerse Serum™ provides immediate hydration to the skin’s surface, resulting in smoother and more radiant-looking skin. Its proprietary Octapeptide-45 enhances the skin’s natural ability to produce high-molecular hyaluronic acid deep within, leading to long-term benefits such as skin-plumping, anti-aging effects, and improved hydration.

STEP 4 – EYE CREAM

This step should also be included in your summer morning and evening routines.

To minimize puffiness rapidly in the morning, you can use a caffeine-containing eye serum . A steel-tip applicator can also aid in reducing fluid retention, particularly if the product  is kept in the fridge between applications.

At night, use a light and moisturizing eye cream to protect and heal your delicate under-eye area and skin barrier.

The Skin Center by CPS top 3 eye creams with long-lasting results:

FOR FINE LINES, DARK CIRCLES, AND PUFFINESS

• A more balanced skin tone is encouraged by the Alastin Skincare Restorative Eye Treatment with TriHex Technology®, which also helps to produce new, healthy collagen and elastin.

FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

• By reflecting light using optical light diffusers,  ZO Skin Growth Factor Eye Serum reduces flaws around the eyes and it has a cooling applicator.
• SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair® improves fine lines, wrinkles, tone, and texture with TNS® technology, peptides, and vitamins A, C, and E for eye area support.

STEP 5 – SPOT TREATMENT

Ideally applied at night, but can be applied in the morning as well.

Regardless of when you apply your spot treatment, keep in mind to tap it on before your moisturizer so it can effectively penetrate your skin without encountering additional barriers.

Here are some products that we love:

FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION AND SUN DAMAGE

• Alastin Skincare A-Luminate Brightening Serum™ reduces surface pigmentation, prevents recurrence, and protects against future damage with a clinically proven, non-irritating formula.

FOR ACNE, REDNESS, AND OILINESS

• The SkinMedica Even & Correct Advanced Brightening aims to improve the appearance of clear, healthy skin, and prevent visible hyperpigmentation.

FOR DARK SPOTS

• ZO Skin Health Brightalive® helps fade the appearance of dark spots and improves luminosity, clarity, and overall skin quality.

STEP 6 – MOISTURIZER 

Apply moisturizer in the morning and night in your summer skincare routine for all-day hydration and overnight skin replenishment.  

For a healthy skin barrier, hydration is key. Moisturizer not only keeps your skin hydrated but also enhances the effectiveness of underlying products. Allow 5 to 10 minutes for it to absorb before applying makeup to your morning summer routine.

The Skin Center by CPS moisturizer essentials:

FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

SkinMedica Sheer Moisturizer provides facial hydration and improves appearance of skin.. This results in a radiant, rejuvenated tone and texture.

FOR DRY SKIN
With ZO Skin Health Hydrating Crème, apparent irritation is temporarily reduced, natural moisture is restored for skin healing, and symptoms of extremely dry skin are temporarily relieved. 

FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

The Alastin Skincare Ultra Light Moisturizer with TriHex Technology® hydrates, nourishes, and soothes the skin. It contains ingredients such as Linoleic Acid, Oat Kernel, Silver Mushroom, and TriHex Technology® for optimal skin health and balance.

STEP 7 – RETINOL

Retinol is best applied in the evening as part of your summer skincare routine. This allows it to work effectively overnight without the risk of increased sensitivity to sunlight.

Retinoids, which encompass all vitamin-A derivatives, penetrate your skin to accelerate cell turnover. This process leads to fresher, smoother, and less wrinkled skin over time. It’s important to note that retinoids require consistent use for four to six months to see results, emphasizing the importance of consistency in your skincare routine.

These are our top three retinol recommendations:

FOR FINE LINES AND WRINKLES

• The Alastin Skincare Renewal Retinol smooths skin texture, improves skin tone, and features Oat Extract and Silver Mushroom to calm and soothe skin with anti-irritants and antioxidants.

FOR ANTI-AGING EFFECT SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

• ZO Skin Health Wrinkle + Texture Repair is a potent retinol treatment that replenishes natural hydration while visibly reducing wrinkles and refining skin texture.
•  The potent retinol therapy SkinMedica Retinol Complex 1.0 is packed in an antioxidant blend called PhytoShieldTM Complex. Smoother and healthier-looking skin is the outcome of this formulation’s improvement of skin texture and reduction of inflammation.

STEP 8 – SUNSCREEN

Apply sunscreen during the day to shield your skin from harmful UV rays.

Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is essential for the final step in your how to build a simple summer skin care routine process!  It is more than just a suggestion; it is a requirement. Sunscreen is necessary for lowering the risk of skin cancer and avoiding the creation of abnormal collagen and elastin, which can cause premature aging and skin damage. Consistently using sunscreen protects your skin from having a thick, mottled, and leathery texture, resulting in healthier and more youthful-looking skin in the long run.

With powerful yet gentle protection, this transparent sunscreen has an exclusive peptide blend that provides anti-aging benefits long after sunset.

Explore our sunscreen recommendations suitable for all skin types:

• The Alastin Skincare SilkSHIELD® All Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 with TriHex Technology® offers powerful and gentle protection. Its transparent formula, free of fragrance and oil, contains an exclusive peptide blend that delivers anti-aging benefits long after sunset.
• Water and perspiration-resistant, ZO Skin Health Daily Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a non-greasy sunscreen. It is made with the ZOX12® compound and has a sheer finish that dries rapidly. It protects the skin from UVA/UVB, IR-A, and HEV light.
• SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum SPF 34 / PA ++++ Sunscreen shields skin from harmful infrared rays (IR-A rays), diminishes the appearance of lines and wrinkles and enhances the look of sun-damaged skin.

Why You Should Trust The Skin Center by CPS

Our skin care specialists at The Skin Center by CPS have over 55 years of combined expertise, which enables us to address various skin-related concerns such as acne management, age-related issues, pigmentation problems, and provide general skincare advice. This deep understanding of individualized skincare needs helps us effectively assist clients in achieving their skincare goals. You can learn more here about our skin health specialists. 

Achieving your skincare goals can be as simple as building a simple summer skin care routine, you can schedule your consultation and start your journey towards healthier, radiant skin with us today.