Summer is on the way and, just like that, your skin knows before you do.
Maybe it’s the first day you’re unpacking your spring clothes and you catch your cheeks looking a little lacklustre. Or your regular moisturiser is feeling more like a weighted blanket when you step into the morning sunlight, or your make-up’s melting off by lunchtime. We’ve all been there.
But summer-ready skin doesn’t have to mean some elaborate, high-intensity, scary overhaul. Think of it more like your skin’s spring cleaning: swapping out winter creams for lighter formulas, rehydrating, and dotting in a few gentle but effective treatments that make a real difference. If you take five minutes to massage your face as you sip your morning coffee and give your circulation a boost, that’s a start.
In this simple guide, we’ll share six gentle ways to get your skin summer-ready: from revamping your daily routine and making sure you’re hydrated, to sun protection and giving your skin some lymphatic love.
No intense regimens, no harsh ingredients – just real-world ways to support your skin so it can feel its happiest, healthiest, and most radiant (with SPF of course). Let’s get into it.
Step 1. Sun protection and preventing premature ageing
Let’s start with the easy one and put in a little extra love when it comes to fine lines. Treatments for fine lines (paired with your ever-important SPF) is a no-brainer when it comes to anti-ageing skincare. After all, wrinkles are (usually) one of the first signs of ageing to show up on your skin, so this is about stopping them in their tracks early on.
Things like moisturising, gentle treatments, and retinoids can help to reduce the appearance of lines, while also doing the all-important job of protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Find an SPF you love and look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Apply it properly and regularly – not just a little swipe on your face in the morning. Wear it all day, and top up if you’re outside for a long period. Make sure you protect your neck, ears and hands, too, which are often forgotten.
Pair your SPF with hydrating creams and gentle treatments that will help to smooth and support the skin’s natural repair process. Retinoids are great for fine lines, but if you’re not used to them, start slow and always, always use SPF during the day if you’re using retinoids as they can make your skin sensitive.
Step 2. Assess and refresh your skincare
Consider this stage as a wardrobe swap for your bathroom shelf. You wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a chunky knit jumper to the beach and in the same way, your skin doesn’t need heavy winter creams weighing it down in the warmer months.
Assess what you’re currently using – if your products feel heavy by lunchtime or make your skin look oily rather than dewy, it’s time to lighten up.
Summer is the ideal time to switch to gel moisturisers, weightless serums or hydrating mists that pack a punch without the heaviness. However, it’s also important to think long-term: incorporating gentle treatments for fine lines now will help maintain a smoother, more youthful complexion. Plus, the daily SPF will work hard to prevent premature ageing.
Step 3. Hydration and nourishment
Did you end up with dry, flaky or dull-looking skin this winter? If so, it’s time to focus on hydration.
We don’t mean just by drinking more water (although you should do that, too), but also by hydrating your skin. Cooling aloe gels, hydrating serums and plumping masks all provide your skin with extra moisture to help it recover from winter.
This is also a good time to start using products that pack a punch of nutrients and antioxidants. Vitamins C and E are go-tos for summer since they brighten, fight environmental damage, and keep your skin looking fresh and clear.
Another favourite is niacinamide, which does a lot of work under the surface to calm, strengthen, and balance. If you have dry skin, a few drops of a lightweight oil such as jojoba or rosehip can lock in hydration without leaving a greasy residue.
The best part is you could even create your own K-beauty routine by layering these hydrating and nourishing products on step by step. It doesn’t have to be complex, but a few swaps and additions will make a world of difference to your skin.
Step 4. Gentle exfoliation
It’s no secret that winter can do some damage to your skin and leave it with a little extra residue – think dullness, dry patches and that uneven texture that no amount of moisturiser can seem to combat.
As the seasons change and we move into summer, a gentle exfoliation can really help reset your skin to a fresher state. But let’s take a second here before you reach for the strongest scrub you own and get to work.
Exfoliation doesn’t have to be a heavy-duty process – it can be a simple and gentle reset. With so many different products on the market, it’s important to consider the type of exfoliant you’re using.
Physical exfoliants (such as a gentle rice powder or enzyme exfoliant) help to buff away surface flakes, while chemical exfoliants (like AHAs and BHAs) break down dead skin cells for a brighter and more even complexion. Frequency is also key. Depending on your skin type, exfoliating once a week might be enough to see results.
For skin that’s been over-exfoliated, it can often become more sensitive, irritated and prone to redness – the opposite of the glowing skin you’re after when it comes to summer. As with all elements of a good holistic skin care routine, less is often more, and gentle and consistent exfoliation is always better than overdoing it.
Step 5. Lymphatic drainage and facial massage
Sometimes the best skincare isn’t a product at all, but your own hands. Facial massage is a relaxing ritual that can help increase circulation and lymphatic drainage to your skin. The result: a natural, healthy glow. Spending just a few minutes every morning massaging your face can reduce puffiness and help refresh tired skin.
To take it a step further, facial gua sha can do wonders. Gently moving a smooth stone tool across your skin with short, sweeping strokes helps to increase circulation and can leave your complexion looking lifted and glowing. It’s also surprisingly relaxing and kind of like getting a mini facial at home.
The key here is that massage isn’t intended to be a replacement for your skincare routine. It’s more like an extension of it. Facial massage works best when it’s the final step in your skincare routine, after hydration, sun protection, and anti-ageing treatments.
Techniques that help support overall skin health allow the rest of your routine to work even better. A few minutes of calming massage may be just what your skin (and mind) needs to feel calmer, brighter, and ready for summer.
Step 6. Treating specific skin concerns gently
Of course, even with the most comprehensive skincare routine, we all have our ‘one thing’ that we’d like to be just a little more smooth before the summer. Whether it’s pigmentation, dryness or perhaps sensitivity, there are quick, targeted ways to nip it in the bud. You don’t have to ‘go hard’ or ‘break out the big guns’. Use a brightening serum on dark spots or an anti-inflammatory cream on irritated skin. Be diligent and consistent, and have patience.
Aggressive treatments, though, are not to be done right before summer. You don’t want to strip the skin of protection right before UV exposure increases. Steer clear of harsh chemical peels or potent retinoids, and focus on gentle options that nurture your skin in between regular self-care steps.
Start early, stay gentle
Skincare for summer isn’t about reinventing your routine and embarking on a complete overhaul of your skin. Instead, it’s about making small tweaks and changes right now, to make sure your skin is in the best condition it can be for when summer hits.
By starting early, you’ll give your skin plenty of time to adjust to lighter formulas, absorb all the hydration it can handle, and get used to gentle treatments that will help keep it in balance.
In fact, that’s the real secret to skincare for summer: staying gentle. Cleansing scrubs, aggressive peels, and quick fixes can all sound appealing (and they might give you a short-term glow), but if you want long-lasting results, it’s far better to be kind to your skin. Instead, think of the lead-up to summer as a gentle build-up, with daily SPF, consistent hydration, a spot of facial massage, and gentle, supporting treatments.
Your skin doesn’t have to be perfect to get ready for summer; it just has to be looked after. By following these six steps, you’ll feel fresh and radiant when those warmer days finally arrive, and you will know that you’ve been kind to your skin all the way.