The Ultimate Guide to a Summer Bod: Skincare Edition

Hot girl summer might be trending on Tiktok, but if we know one thing, it is that skin care is no trend.

As we all finally make our way back to beach side lounging and outdoor parties, our skin is coming out of hibernation too. If you’re anything like me, then your complexion probably spent most of its quarantine days hiding under fluffy robes and co-ord sets… but not anymore! Now that the sun is shining and the social scene is calling our name, it’s time to break out those shorts and let skin breathe.

If you are looking to get your body-ody ready for days spent in the sun, look no further than the ultimate summer body skincare guide. With 4 tips to help promote healthier-looking skin from head-to-toe, these tricks will keep you glowing for summer, no matter where you go!

Exfoliate with a Body Scrub

No one wants dry skin by the poolside. And while summer weather might translate to tanned skin, dipping your body into pool water or the salty sea can cause your complexion to appear dull and flakey. That’s why exfoliation is key. Just like you exfoliate your face to slough away dry skin, you need to do the same for your body 1-2x a week. Using a body scrub that is powered by plant-based seeds and hydrating ingredients will ensure that you receive a gentle exfoliation, without sacrificing moisture. You can also look for juicy summer-inspired ingredients like Grapefruit or Eucalyptus to add an uplifting scent, just like the COSMEDIX Polish Dual-Action Body Scrub.

Help protect with SPF

Summer skin (or any skin for that matter) isn’t complete without a lightweight SPF. Sunscreen is a non-negotiable year-round, but warm weather and bright days call for an added dose of protection. A moisturizing spray sunscreen is a great way to streamline your skin routine while helping to protect that beach bod from UVA and UVB rays. Look for an oil-free formula, just like Protect UV Mini Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Moisturizing Spray that won’t clog pores and features multi-tasking ingredients, like Niacinamide, to help maintain moisture and smooth skin texture. Then simply spritz from head-to-toe and don’t forget to reapply!

Extend Serums to Your Body

Did you know that COSMEDIX serum can be used on the body? That’s right. No need to worry about back acne or dark spots below the neck because these serums are specially formulated for the skin—and that means all skin. If you’re feeling shy about slipping into that tank top or bikini (don’t be, you’re beautiful!) just apply your favorite serum to the affected area. Ingredients like Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil and Willowherb are great for body acne as they help refine pores and reduce the appearance of redness (we love Clarity). You can also help brighten the look dark spots or uneven skin tone with a Vitamin C serum, like Simply Brilliant.

Reset Overnight with a Body Treatment

The ultimate summer bod doesn’t just lie in your daytime products but your nighttime treatments too! Using an overnight body treatment lets you do the most while you slumber by boosting hydration and brightening the look of skin. Better yet, try a lotion that is formulated with Vitamin A. Lathering your skin in a retinol body lotion will help revive the look of your complexion and address dark spots and wrinkles. Our COSMEDIX A-Lift Overnight Vitamin A Body Treatment is also formulated with Caffeine in Safflower Oil to help promote elasticity and firmness for smoother, softer-looking summer skin.

Antioxidants in Skincare: How They Work and How to Add Them Into Your Skincare Routine

A simple Google search and you will quickly discover that antioxidants are the bread and butter, the sugar and spice, the soap and water to your full body and skin care routine. These potent little substances can be found everywhere, from that trendy kale salad to the Vitamin C serum on your bathroom counter—so there is practically no excuse to NOT get your daily dose. But even with their buzzworthy status, the benefits of antioxidants can get lost in the mix. Sure, they tell you to use them in your skincare routine, but why? What do they actually do?

You might be happy to learn that the antioxidant popularity is truly founded on fact. These substances are nothing short of a powerhouse, and when used topically on the skin, they can pack quite the punch. Known to help protect the skin from environmental stressors, antioxidants also help reduce the look of dark spots, brighten the look of skin and promote an even skin tone.

Interested? We thought so. Keep on reading to learn more with COSMEDIX ultimate skin care guide on antioxidant ingredients and how you can add them into your daily skin care routine:

First Things First, What Ingredients are High in Antioxidants?

Vitamin B: Also known as Niacinamide—the rising star that we deep dove here—this vitamin is high in antioxidant properties. With a long list of multi-tasking skincare benefits, the specific antioxidants found in this ingredient are known to help protect the skin by improving the natural skin barrier and aiding in healthy skin renewal. Vitamin B is also a great go-to for blemish-prone skin, as it helps balance the look of oil and restores a healthy-looking glow.

Vitamin C: The ultimate brightening bestie, Vitamin C is often found in a variety of citrus fruits like Oranges and Grapefruits. Vitamin C is powered by antioxidants that help protect the skin from environmental stressors while brightening the look of skin and improving the overall look of tone and texture.

Vitamin E: Yep, another vitamin. This vitamin is a little sneakier than the others, as you are sure to find it hiding in a surprising number of your cleanser, serum and moisturizing products. Due to its thick texture, Vitamin E is usually added into moisturizing skincare, rather than used alone. There are technically 8 different kinds of Vitamin E, but all you need to know is that they are great for restoring the look of skin and helping to protect skin from environmental stressors.

Green Tea: That’s right—the popular leaves used in the superfood tea are also beneficial to your complexion. Green tea features a plant-based chemical that acts as a natural antioxidant—making it an easy ingredient to spot if you are after extra antioxidant protection. Often found in refreshing skincare products, Green Tea not only protects the skin from environmental stressors, but also helps soothe the look of skin and aids in balance oil production.

What Products Should I Add into my Antioxidant Skincare Routine?

Balancing Toner| Don’t underestimate the power of a skincare toner. An Antioxidant Infused Toner makes it easy to spray your way to an added dose of skin-loving ingredients. COSMEDIX Benefit Balance is formulated with a blend of Green Tea, Shea Butter and Aloe Vera to help give you an extra layer of protection from environmental stressors while locking in moisture.

Antioxidant Serum | Start your day off with an antioxidant boost using an Antioxidant Firming Serum. Powered by Vitamin E and Spin Trap, Affirm serum is a supercharged “multivitamin in a bottle” that helps improve the look of an uneven skin tone and promote a firmer-looking complexion.

Vitamin C Booster |Using Vitamin C Mixing Crystals is a streamlined way to amplify your skin care routine with benefits that are personal to you. Simply sprinkle the Pure C booster into your favorite serum or moisturizer for an extra shot of antioxidants that help reduce the look of dark spots and protect the complexion for a healthier, brighter-looking glow.

Lather Up! Discover the Sunscreen Soulmate for Your Skin Type

No matter what the weather forecast, sunscreen should always be on your radar!

SPF is a non-negotiable in any skincare routine, yet some people still treat it like an “option” (stop that!). As one of the few products that is actually proven to help prevent sun damage, a good SPF is also known to help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and pigmentation. Basically, it’s THE skincare holy grail for your complexion.

And even though you may know the importance of sunscreen, knowing which to buy is another challenge of its own. So to help make life a little easier, we’ve put together a little guide to match your skin types with your sunscreen—along with a few sun facts in recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month!

Dry Skin

Dry skin types can use hydration anyway they can find it. Moisturizers are the obvious go-to when it comes to helping tame flakey skin, but with a skin-loving formula in hand, a sunscreen can act as a hydrator too. If you are on the hunt for an SPF that will help keep your dry skin at bay, look for a product that contains conditioning ingredients combined with a sun protector (bonus points if it’s a moisturizer that doubles as a sunscreen). Hot ingredients include plant-based with moisturizing and soothing properties like Jojoba Oil and Lavender.

Try: Hydrate + Broad Spectrum SPF 17 Moisturizing Sunscreen | A two-in-one moisturizer and sunscreen powered by antioxidants, Jojoba Oil and Lavender Oil to help protect the skin from environmental stressors and future sun damage—without leaving behind an oily or greasy residue.

Normal to Oily Skin

Along with the dreaded white cast, sunscreen that leaves a greasy film is a huge deal breaker for many people practicing sun protection. For normal and oily skin types, a heavy sunscreen can easily send them into oil slick status. This is why lightweight, yet moisturizing formulas are the best match for these skin types. Using a broad spectrum SPF that contains ingredients, like Trehalose, that help maintain moisture without going overboard is a simple why to help protect and condition.

Try: Protect UV Broad Spectrum 30 Moisturizing Spray| Packed with Green Tea Extract and Trehalose, this spray sunscreen helps provide head-to-toe UV protection with a sheer veil of hydration that doesn’t leave behind a white cast.

Mature Skin

Hopefully you’ve clung to our every word when it comes to the importance of SPF and skin prevention, but even then, it’s completely normal for skin to develop fine lines and dark spots over time—it’s all part of living life! The true key to sunscreen for mature skin is applying a formula with Broad Spectrum SPF that is high enough for your complexion (think SPF 40 or 50). This will help protect skin from environmental stressors while also helping to prevent future sun damage. Feel free to multi-task with an age-defying sunscreen formula that includes peptides and amino acids to help improve the look of dark spots and wrinkles as it helps protect skin from sun damage!

Try: Peptide Defense Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 50| Another 2-in-1 moisturizer and sunscreen that features a powerhouse of peptides, botanical extracts and vitamins to help deeply hydrate and improve the appearance of visible signs of aging.

BONUS! COSMEDIX Sun care Tips

1. Use sunscreen every day, even if it is cloudy or you spend most of your days in doors. UVA rays aren’t stopped by windows or clouds!

2. Wear hats. Hats are a great everyday accessory, but they are also a must-have to help protect the scalp when sitting by the beach or pool side.

3. Apply Vitamin C. This key ingredient helps brighten the look of skin, helps improve the look of dark spots and helps protect the skin from environmental stressors.

4. Don’t forget to reapply! It is suggested that your reapply sunscreen throughout the day. If you are swimming or sweating, it is best to reapply every hour.

5. Check expiration dates. Yes, sunscreen expires and you need to check expiration dates to make sure you are using the most beneficial product possible!

The Best Skincare Advice We Got from Mom

Counselor. Superhero. Cheerleader. Boss Babe. Moms are the guiding light of our lives, and it is so important that we take the time to show her just how much we care!

This Mother’s Day, COSMEDIX decided to take a page from the mother’s book of advice (there’s a lot) by highlighting some of the best skincare guidance our very own moms passed down to us—plus which COSMEDIX mother’s day bundle is perfect for her!  

Eunice | Creative Content Manager

Mom’s Advice: “Don’t touch your face. Growing up my mom was an aesthetician and out of all the skincare rules this is the one I heard the most!”

Her Perfect Bundle: ”The Mother’s Day Brightening Bundle. First, my mom is obsessed with Vitamin C, which is the star ingredient in both Simply Brilliant and Pure C Mixing Crystals. Combined, these skincare products are excellent for helping improve the look of dark spots, uneven skin tone and texture.”

Amber | Marketing Coordinator

Mom’s Advice: “My mom taught me the importance of quality skincare and being conscious of what I put on my complexion. Choosing products that are made with clean ingredients that love the skin is always worth a few extra bucks.”

Her Perfect Bundle: “COSMEDIX Affirm + Rose Quartz Roller Bundle. Affirm is such an easy everyday serum that helps protect and firm the look of skin. My mom also loves anything that pampers, so the Rose Quartz roller is the perfect addition to her skincare routine!”

Kimberlin | Senior Graphic Designer

Mom’s Advice: “Start your skincare routine young and your skin will thank you later. My mom wears minimal makeup and has beautiful skin—which she credits to starting her skincare routine early. Prevention is truly key!”

Her Perfect Bundle: “The Brightening Bundle for sure! Vitamin C is so good for helping to protect your skin from outside stressors, plus I love that you can add the Pure C Vitamin C Mixing Crystals into any of your skincare products for an added boost.”

Kennedy | COSMEDIX Office Admin

Mom’s Advice: “My mom always stressed how it important it was to wash your face before bed! Yes, we get told this all the time, but it was something I didn’t fully understand the importance of until I got older. Now I can’t fall asleep without a fresh face.”

Her Perfect Bundle: “Definitely the COSMEDIX Clarifying Bundle! My mom is all about a deep skin clean. The Clarity serum is such a great skincare multi-tasker to help improve the look of wrinkles AND pores. The Correct spot treatment is also a fool proof go-to for pesky pimples that like to pop up throughout the week.”

Grace | Digital Marketing Specialist

Mom’s Advice: “Wear sunscreen. It a rule as old as time, but it is so important to the health of your skin—especially as you get older.”

Her Perfect Bundle: “The COSMEDIX Clarifying Bundle. My mom loves a good face mask, and the Detox Activated Charcoal Mask in this Mothers Day skincare bundle helps exfoliate and deep clean the skin while you sit back and relax.”