Hot sun, fun at the beach, hearty braais and of course a cocktail or two…

But, alas, not this summer.

With COVID-19 scaring the population senseless and rampant lockdowns keeping everyone confined and sober, we can not enjoy these summertime activities as much as we want to.

But it doesn’t mean that our skin is safe from all the negative effects of summer! One can still get a sunburn, self-isolating in his own garden next to the pool, for example.

We all know that the sun is very strong in South Africa, but not all of us take the necessary precautions. Overexposure to sun’s rays dries out skin by depleting its levels of sebum (skin’s protective barrier) and moisture. Even walking to your car and back daily is enough to do some damage to your skin.

But it’s not just the sun that is to blame for summer skin problems.

Chlorine in pools, as well as air-conditioning, can also strip your skin of sebum.

And when your skin isn’t producing enough natural oils, it could become red, itchy, and flaky.

And there is another extreme: some people`s skin becomes oilier in summer, as their sebum production goes to overdrive. Their pores become clogged, which results in various nasties : blackheads, whiteheads and acne. 

Not a good look for summer either way, don’t you agree? And you can’t hide it all under a mask too!

Speaking of masks: the fact that we have to wear them all the time now doesn’t add to our skin`s health. More and more people complain of the frequent skin breakouts. Irritations, rashes and acne are commonplace. There’s even a special term coined for all the skin conditions aggravated by the regular use of the mask: ” Maskne.” These conditions include Contact dermatitis, Acne, Folliculitis and Rosacea.

So how do we do it: Enjoy what’s left of the summer and keep our skin healthy and beautiful in these challenging times?  Let’s talk products!

Cleansing: 

Normally, in winter a nourishing face wash does the trick, while in summer you usually need a product that can draw out the excess oil from your skin.

But with all the “Maskne” irritations and breakouts plaguing our skin lately, you`ll need something especially gentle and light.

Essel has a wonderful cleanser available, that would be a great choice for all the skin types:

Dermaplex Triple Action Cleanser  

Formulated to gently cleanse, tone and exfoliate with natural wax beads, it is light enough for the whole family to use. Dermaplex Cleanser is also an ideal product for the people who frequently get chest and back breakouts. As an added bonus, it can even be used as shaving medium and body wash.

To round off the cleansing procedure properly, we recommend  DNA Epinew Spritzer -Toner 

It contains natural rose-cucumber extract, that gives your skin that thoroughly clean feeling without destroying its acid mantle. This product can assist in alleviating the” Maskne” conditions and is ideal for acne sufferers.

Hydration: 

This summer, we should approach moisturising with caution as well: sufficiently hydrate and nurture our skin without irritating it.

Essel has a great product which is highly recommended : Hyaluronic Flash Filler Serum.

It is a very hardworking serum: it hydrates, plumps and moisturizes at the same time!

And what makes it ideal for summer, is the fact that it is very lightweight. Even suitable for oily skin. This serum can be used twice a day together with your day cream.

Protection:

And lastly, what is a super important skincare step in summer?

Protection from harmful UV Rays of course!

We all know that sunscreen reduces your overall UV exposure and lowers you risk of skin cancer and sun damage.

The sun is really harsh here in sunny South Africa, as there is less ozone to block the UV rays. So it would be prudent to top up your daily moisturiser with some specially formulated sunscreen as well.

Essel specialists recommend  DNA Epinew Sun Protection SPF30 . It goes longer way then the one that is built into your day cream and is still light enough not to make your skin oily. 

This product also contains Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that prevents premature ageing. 

So here it is, the key for summer skin care: Cleanse properly, hydrate lightly and don’t forget the sunscreen. Oh, and wash your mask more often!

We hope that this article has shed some light on the issues of summer skin care and offered some easy tips and solutions for the problems and challenges that it poses.

If you would like to know more about these products or interested to know what else our products can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Enjoy your summer and stay safe,

Essel`s got your back!