It’s summer! Lighten your load with season-appropriate products for hair and skin care
By Adriana Ermter
There’s a saying in Canada: if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. And while it’s (mostly) true, when winter’s cold season finally breaks, so should your personal care habits. “Spring is the
perfect time to refresh your beauty and grooming routines,” says Kathy Reilly, associate director of education for Kao Canada. “You need to change your regimen to accommodate the seasonal changes.” It’s time to re-examine and rejuvenate the products you’re using from your head to toe.
Face and neck
After months of hiding behind thick scarfs and wool turtlenecks to avoid freezing temperatures, your skin is more sensitive and congested than you may realize. “Your skin has just undergone extreme climate assault,” affirms Charmaine Cooper, education manager for the International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica Canada. “Exfoliation equals hydration, so you need to exfoliate to shed the dry, dead skin cells and reveal brighter, more hydrated cells.” For a healthier glow, use an exfoliating scrub or retinol-based nighttime product such as Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair 1% ($134, available at dermalogica.ca) to accelerate skin renewal and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin tone and discoloration. Then, shelve your heavy creams and moisturizers and pick up a lightweight lotion, such as Nivea All-in-One Facial Cleansing Lotion ($9, available at Shoppers Drug Mart), which works as a face cleanser and hydrator in one easy application. Finally, smooth on Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Lotion SPF 60 ($14.50, available at Walmart) for a layer of protection against the sun’s harsh UVA and UVB rays.
Hair and scalp
Think of your scalp as an extension of your skin that requires a balance of oil and water just as your face and body do. The challenge is achieving the perfect balance. “As we move into spring and early summer temperatures, the scalp produces more oils, so your hair doesn’t need as much moisture as it did during the colder temperatures,” says Reilly. “Your scalp and hair acclimate to accommodate the environmental changes.”
Swapping your moisture-rich shampoo for a lighter version will give your hair more volume and body, and will help prevent flakes, remove dead skin cells and condition your scalp without weighing down your hair. Deep-cleansing shampoos such as KMS Head Remedy Deep Cleanse Shampoo (from $20, available at salons) are also ideal at removing sweat and chlorine and are safe to use daily, while dry shampoos such as Cake The ’Do Gooder Volumizing Dry Shampoo ($19, available at Shoppers Drug Mart), can be used in between washes to absorb excess oil.
Body, including hands and feet
As you transition from winter to spring, “your body’s skin undergoes similar conditions as your face and scalp,” says Cooper. “So regular exfoliation and optimized moisturization are key to ensure your skin looks its best.”
Replace thick and creamy shower cleansers with light gels and foam-based versions such as Dove Shower Foam in Cucumber and Green Tea scent ($8, available at Shoppers Drug Mart), which lock in essential lipids and proteins to keep your skin feeling light, hydrated and healthy. And while you can pack up and store your thick body creams until next winter, don’t skimp on moisturizing. Refreshing, light lotions such as Philosophy Fresh Cream Lotion (from $17, available at Sephora) absorb into your dermis quickly, ensuring your skin looks and feels hydrated all season long.
ADRIANA ERMTER is a Toronto-based, lifestyle-magazine pro who has travelled the globe, writing about must-spritz fragrances, child poverty, beauty and grooming.
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