There are many advantages to limiting your skincare program to your face, neck, and chest. After all, these places are typically exposed year-round, whereas others may only be exposed during warm weather. Using the appropriate products in your body care routine will help you have lovely summer skin while also protecting your skin from overexposure to the sun.

While your face and neck can certainly take the lion’s share of sun damage and show wrinkles sooner than the rest of your body, summer is an excellent time to give the rest of your skin a little TLC.

So what’s the best body care routine to keep your skin smooth, beautiful, and protected this summer? We’ve got the only body care routine you need here—along with the best products for glowing summer skin.

Skincare Tips for Your Body

If you’re like most of us who are out and about in summer, perhaps you may get more sun exposure. Your skin can take a beating. Premature wrinkles, sunburn, and dry skin from the ocean or chlorine in swimming pools can cause your skin to look less stellar than you’d like. 

Although warmer temps call for switching out your products for lighter options, such as a more lightweight moisturizer and serum, don’t toss your body lotion or assume higher humidity levels will help your skin stay moisturized and smooth.

For your summer body skincare routine, it’s still important to:

Not Use Harsh Body Washes or Soaps 

You know not to use harsh cleansers on your face. But did you know it’s just as important to avoid them for your body too? Although your body can generally withstand harsher cleansers, it’s still important to protect your skin barrier by choosing gentle products. Choose soaps or body washes that don’t contain drying agents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Use hydrating ingredients such as aloe vera, glycerin, jojoba oil, and shea butter to protect your skin while cleansing.

Keep Your Skin Moisturized

 It’s tempting to skip moisturizing in the summer, depending on the humidity where you live, but do your skin a favor and at least apply a light body lotion. Skin can quickly dry out with the heat, beach days, and swimming, so keeping your skin moisturized can help prevent premature aging and wrinkles. 

Exfoliate Every Week

Exfoliating is a must to remove dead skin cells, prevent flakiness and encourage cellular turnover. It is the process of new cell growth. If using a physical exfoliant, such as a sugar or salt scrub, exfoliate once or twice a week. If using a chemical exfoliant, you may be able to use it a few times a week, depending on your skin type.

Protect Your Skin from The Sun

Sunscreen is important all year long, but it’s especially important in the summer when many people spend more time outside. Choose a sunscreen that is appropriate for your skin type and has at least 30 SPF. Remember that sensitive skin types tend to do better with mineral sunscreen, which uses zinc or titanium oxide rather than chemical sunscreen. 

Best Products for Beautiful Summer Skin

Having the right products for your body care routine can help support beautiful summer skin. They also ensure you not only glow all summer long but that you protect your skin from too much sun. Check out some of these gems for your summer skincare:

Biossance Squalene + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen

This SPF 30 sunscreen is made with zinc oxide for a purely mineral formula and is suitable for sensitive skin. Enjoy broad-spectrum protection with this lightweight yet hydrating sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast—perfect for protecting the skin at the beach or pool.

Earth Harbor GLOW JUICE Refining Enzyme Mask

This enzyme mask is actually a chemical exfoliant that uses alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA) from pineapple and pomegranate to remove dead skin cells and reveal glowy skin underneath. The best feature is that it only takes three minutes to apply. So you can do it just before leaving the house and simply rinse with water before applying your body lotion.

True Botanicals Pure Radiance Sugar Exfoliating Body Scrub

For those who want a physical exfoliant to scrub away dead skin cells and leave skin feeling soft and radiant, this sugar exfoliating body scrub from True Botanicals features green tea extract, jojoba and hemp oil, and white clay to gently yet effectively exfoliate the skin. Depending on your skin type, exfoliate your body once or twice a week.

100% Pure Blood Orange Nourishing Body Cream

Although this cream is thicker than a typical body lotion, it does not leave a greasy finish and absorbs rapidly, leaving skin nourished and smelling like oranges, all without the use of synthetic fragrance. Ingredients such as green coffee, cocoa butter, and rose hydrosol provide anti-aging benefits while moisturizing your skin.

OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil

Infused with seaweed and antioxidants, this body oil is designed to not leave a greasy finish and is naturally scented with lime, grapefruit, and passionfruit to leave you smelling fantastic on your summer adventures. Sunflower seed oil, acai pulp oil, and rice bran oil mingle in this formula to leave skin positively glowing for your summer body care routine.

Bonus Tips

Don’t forget about these bonus tips to keep your skin looking amazing all summer long!

• Always use shaving cream instead of regular soap to prevent razor burn.

• Soothe existing razor bumps with aloe vera gel or witch hazel (aloe vera also works as a great sunburn soother!)

• Consider dry brushing to exfoliate the skin without water.

• Avoid backne and buttne by applying a toner before your body lotion.

• Remember, summer is not the best time to get professional skincare treatments such as laser resurfacing and chemical peels.

• Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure at all times.

Beach Ready Skin!

What does YOUR body care routine look like for summer? If your body needs some extra TLC during the hotter weather, follow the tips and use the best products listed above to get started with glowing skin that’s beach-ready along with some anti-aging benefits!