How to protect your skin from unforgiving urban heat and sun glare
Brace yourself: “summer” is descending upon us, or in Singapore’s case, simply ‘hot and humid’. We may not experience the four seasons as our continental friends do, but we do experience sudden flashes of heat that can last for a couple of months.
In times like this, we need to be adaptable and make sure our skin is ready to take on the weather. Our physical environment and current pandemic conditions can also threaten our skin’s defences. Imagine what our skin goes through alternating from the hot-and-humid outdoors to the cold-and-dry air-conditioned homes and offices.
In this 2-part article, we will guide you into the skincare that is suitable for our hot and humid tropical weather.
Morning Routine
Before you begin your day, gear your skin up to take on stressors from the environment. A proper morning routine can go a long way to protect you from unforgiving heat and sun glare.
#1 Cleanse
Remove oil, sebum, and other impurities from your skin with a simple cleanse. Remember that the weather is hot, so opt for gentle, natural cleansers that are not too harsh on your skin. It is also prudent to not overly rub your skin as this can abrade the surface and lead to irritation. Some recommended facial cleanser options you can choose from are:
- Huxley Cleansing Foam ; Deep Clean, Deep Moist: The soft foam and naturally-derived ingredients is great for all skin types.
- Huxley Cleansing Gel ; Be Clean, Be Moist: This gel cleanser removes harmful substances and keeps the skin hydrated without feeling tight.
#2 Prep
Next is to prep your skin before applying any other product. Choose a toner that is hydrating and can help cool your skin down in this weather. Heat and humidity can easily cause our pores to enlarge and get irritated.
#3 Treat
Apply serums that are lightweight yet hydrating enough for your skin. Why we emphasise so much on moisture is because we lose plenty of moisture throughout the day because of the sun. Recommended product to use:
- Huxley Essence ; Grab Water: Moroccan Cactus provides plenty of moisture for you to last the day.
#4 Moisturise
Because the weather is humid, swap for a more lightweight moisturiser, preferably gel-based so that it can be absorbed quickly. Thick and creamy moisturisers may feel uncomfortable and sticky in this weather. Recommended moisturiser to use:
- Huxley Cream ; Fresh and More: The gel-like texture is smooth and light for the skin, while providing you with the right protection against the sun’s scorching UV rays.
#5 Protect
Many Singaporeans skip this step, yet dermatologists say it is extremely important to protect our skin with sunscreen in our weather. Whether indoors (sun streams in too) or outdoors, sunscreen helps to block out harmful UV rays that activate free radicals in our skin. Our recommendation is
- Huxley Sun Cream ; Stay Sun Safe SPF 50+++: The high SPF is sufficient for our intense urban heat and is hydrating to boot.
Bonus Perk-me-up
These steps will be sufficient for you to protect your skin from the unforgiving urban heat and sun glare. Yet if you want something to help refresh your skin in the hot weather, apply Essential Mist ; Sense of Balance as and when you need a perk-me-up. It is a refreshing pH-balanced hydrating mist that can help soothe irritated skin.
Masks: Protecting Your Skin During the Pandemic
In these unlikely times, we are forced to wear protective masks, and for good reasons too. It protects us from the highly infectious COVID-19. Yet, wearing the mask day-in-day-out puts stress on our skin. Heat and humidity get built up around the area where our face is being covered (nose, cheeks, mouth and chin).
Those with sensitive skin will notice increased irritation, itching and even flaking, whereas those with oily-prone skin may face clogged pores, pustules, and even painful breakouts.
As such, we recommend that you take extra care in your skin care routine. Stay off from wearing heavy make-up for the time being (perhaps it’s good to play up our eye make up skills now!) and opt for lighter coverage.
Our new Cover Cushion ; Own Attitude is lightweight yet has high coverage, giving you an even and smooth finish. It’s also packed with natural Moroccan Prickly Pear Seed Oil which leaves the skin refreshed and hydrated.
A small relief during these troubling times.
------
In our next article, we will be sharing with you a step-by-step guide to your night-time skin routine to help you replenish lost moisture.