How to Look After Your Skin During a Heatwave

We all love a bit of sunshine, but when the temperatures start getting really high, our skin can definitely tell the difference.

Heat, sweat, strong sunlight and spending more time outdoors can leave your skin feeling oily, dry, irritated or just generally not its best. So, while you're enjoying the warmer weather, it's worth giving your skin a little extra attention too.

Here are some simple ways to look after your skin during a heatwave.

Keep Your Skin Clean

When it's hot, you're probably sweating a lot more than usual. Sweat mixed with oil, sunscreen and everyday dirt can leave your skin feeling a bit greasy and uncomfortable.

Try to keep your cleansing routine simple. A gentle purifying cleanser in the morning and evening should be enough for most people. If you've been particularly sweaty after exercising or being outside, you may also want to wash your face afterwards.

There's no need to scrub your skin within an inch of its life though – being too harsh can actually leave your skin feeling irritated.

SPF Is a Must

This is probably the most important one.

Even if you're not planning on spending the whole day sunbathing, your skin is still exposed to UV rays when you're outside. Make sure you're applying a broad-spectrum SPF30 or higher to exposed skin.

Go Easy on Heavy Products

If your usual moisturiser suddenly feels far too heavy when the weather warms up, you're not imagining it!

A lighter daytime moisturiser product can feel much more comfortable in hot weather, particularly if your skin tends to become oily.

You don't need to completely change your skincare routine, but swapping a few heavier products for lighter alternatives can make a big difference.

Be Kind to Sun-Exposed Skin

If you've spent the day outside, your skin might be feeling a little more sensitive than usual.

If your skin feels hot, tight or irritated, keep things simple. Use gentle cleansing products and avoid going overboard with exfoliators, scrubs or strong active ingredients.

Sometimes your skin just needs a bit of time to calm down.

Finally...

Looking after your skin during a heatwave doesn't need to mean buying lots of new products or completely changing your routine.

The basics really do make the biggest difference – keep your skin clean, use SPF, stay hydrated and pay attention to how your skin is feeling.

And most importantly, enjoy the sunshine, but don't forget to look after yourself while you're out there!