When the seasons change, our skin and its needs change along with it. So how do we properly take care of our skin in the summer months? Charlotte Fairburn, owner of Aesthetics 360, tells us how to protect our skin, how to find products and ingredients that work, and more.
Sunscreen
When the sun comes out, Wisconsinites flock outside to soak up the warmth, but while outside, Fairburn encourages everyone to continue to apply sunscreen to receive the sun’s benefits without the harmful side effects.
“There are absolute benefits to being in the sun. We don't want to take that away,” she says. “You can safely be in the sun and get your vitamin D, which is so great for your immune system. There are a lot of mood benefits being in the sun. We just have to be smart and safe about it.”
Though people often think of chalky, white paste on noses, Fairburn notes that sunscreens have come a long way with options that make it easy to reapply, including things like tinted sunscreens, twist-up sticks and even compacts with puffs. “There's a lot of really easy ways to apply sunscreen and then continue to apply throughout the day. That's the key,” she says.
And while some might link summer sun to glowing tanned skin, Fairburn encourages everyone to be safe.
“We have to remember that our sun exposure is cumulative throughout our whole life,” she says. “That’s why skin care is so important when you’re a teen. If you're a parent of little kids, you have to be diligent about sunscreen. The damage is done in those years up to leading up to age 18, and that's cumulative and stays with us. At some point your future skin will thank you.”
Ingredients
Changing of the seasons often means a changing of skin care routines and ingredients. Fairburn explains that the increased heat and humidity often find people swapping their heavy moisturizers for lighter products.
“The key is maintaining a consistent regimen, and you want to keep your skin looking healthy all summer or long, but you're going to want to swap out those heavy creams for a more lightweight lotion so your skin's not feeling heavy or greasy,” Fairburn explains.
“In the summer, that natural humidity will assist our skin to retaining hydration. Even a lightweight hyaluronic acid serum can provide optimal hydration without being too rich. Or in the wintertime it might not even be enough for you.”
She adds that with the increased sweat from the heat and increased activity, it’s important to be cleansing your skin to remove bacteria and utilizing an exfoliator with a retinol, glycolic acid or salicylic acid,” Fairburn says. “Those should all be used judiciously and should be recommended through a licensed skin care professional.”
“You might want to lighten up on your products and use a tinted moisturizer instead of heavier makeup and letting your skin breathe,” she continues. “That's the goal of our skincare clients — they say, ‘I want to feel confident going to the store or to the gym with no makeup on.’ And the more you keep covering up something on your skin —blemishes or pigment or poor texture — it’s exacerbated with all the makeup. So less is more.”
Skin Care Trends
While Fairburn sees people coming in for Coolsculpting and Botox all year, she does see an increase in summer clients seeking a salt facial. This favorite skin renewing service gets an uptick in summer months as it doesn’t cause photosensitivity from the sun.
“It works in every single skin tone in every single skin type,” Fairburn says. “Nobody's excluded. It works great for acne, for congestion, for fine lines, for pigment. It’s easily our most popular treatment.
“It's great because people still want to maybe get something done in the summer. We can't do the broadband photofacial, so we do the [salt] facial all year round. It's also a great option for patients who really want to pursue medical-grade skincare treatments without any downtime, and without risking any further damage due to the sun.”
Many clients get it every four weeks like clockwork, she says, which helps keep their skin in shape, even throughout the sunny summer months.
Though Fairburn notes that trends often come and go, she says that she has seen a rise in people being more open about cosmetic procedures.
“There's no shunning anymore,” she says. “There's no shame if you're doing Botox or fillers or cool sculpting or skincare.” And, she notes, clients are taking preventative sun measures at a younger age.
“Our average demographic is 20 to 40,” she says. “We see many women and men in their 20s taking care of their skin, doing prevention instead of waiting till they're 40 or 45. It’s exciting.”
Personalized Approach
While some may find product recommendations on social media or from friends and family, Fairburn explains that while she’s excited people are exploring a great skin care routine, everyone’s skin needs are different.
“Somebody sees something that their friend uses and they think it's good for them, but your skin could be entirely different,” she says. “Just because it's working for your friend or a family member doesn’t mean it's going to work for your skin. There are so many variables and nuances when it comes to skincare.”
To find what works best for you, Fairburn encourages people to consult a licensed medical aesthetician to find the products and ingredients that are most beneficial to your skin type.
“Medical-grade products have higher levels of effective ingredients,” she says. “Because of that, you need the expertise of a licensed medical aesthetician to walk you through it — retinol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide peptides, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid.
“There are gradients to look for, but what type and how much and which type of product you're getting. That's when you should have a consultation with a professional.”
Advice
And while social media is great at encouraging skin care, Fairburn wants people to be careful of what they see online.
“There's a lot of incorrect information on [social media],” she notes. “People of all ages are being influenced by celebrities or influencers using filters. Clients will come in and show us a picture, and we have to explain it’s not a ‘real’ person — every feature has been erased off of their face. But people come in and want to look like that. You see a lot of stuff that's just not real.” MKE