Sun, sea, sport, sangria… for a lot of us, the summer really is the best time of the year.
We’re out and about, watching and playing sport, socialising at BBQs and in beer gardens, and travelling with friends and family (has anyone found anything that does actually beat a Jet2 holiday yet?).
But with all that activity and exposure to heat and the sun, our skin can start to show signs of stress. We’re not just talking about a bit of sunburn either - we’re talking effects that can live on your skin for years.
Luckily, there are some really simple things you can do to care for your skin in the summer, and it doesn’t cost loads or require you to wake up a 3:07 am to stick your face in a bowl of ice water.
But before we get into that, we want to explain just what effect the summer has on our skin. If we understand that, it’s easier to put that bit of effort into doing something about it.
Shades off, read on.
What impact does the summer have on our skin
There are four key ways in which the summer affects our skin, and one of them is all about how our lifestyles change during the sunnier months. Let’s dive in.
Increased sun exposure ages our skin and causes pigmentation
Long periods exposed to the sun, specifically UV rays, can cause pigmentation or sun spots. These are darker areas of skin that can be caused by a number of things, including acne scarring and hormonal changes, but in the summer months, it’s most likely that big fiery yellow ball in the sky.
This damage from the sun also causes general ageing, too. In fact, the majority of the noticeable signs of premature ageing, like wrinkles, fine lines and - yes - sun spots - are caused by prolonged exposure to UV radiation.
That radiation penetrates the skin and damages our cells, causing oxidative stress. It causes skin elasticity and firmness to reduce, and that’s when things start getting a bit saggy.
What to do about it? More on that later.
Heat and dry air can cause flakiness and increase oil production
The summer can both dehydrate your skin, and also cause it to become more oily.
When we spend long periods in dry air, such as during periods of dry heat mixed with heavily air-conditioned rooms, your skin can become dehydrated. If you face starts to feel tight and rough, that’s what that is. This causes flakiness, not a good look.
And conversely, when it’s a humid heat our skin can actually produce more oil. That’s the shiny face you can have some mornings when you wake up after a hot night.
More oil means clogged pores, something we’ll talk about next…
Sweating = clogged pores = acne breakouts
When we’re hot, our bodies sweat to cool us down. Commuting to work in the height of summer, running around after kids or playing sport in the middle of the day is all going to be putting strain on whichever antiperspirant you’ve put your trust in.
Problem is, that sweat when it sits on your skin for too long can clog up your pores. Add in a bit of friction from your clothes, too and added bacteria from wiping sweat from your brow and you’re creating the perfect environment for breakouts.
Lifestyle changes can cause fatigue
We’re out more. We’re staying up late. Socialising with a drink. Lack of sleep and too much alcohol can all take a toll on our skin.
We often wear our weariness on our face. Lack of sleep can lead to puffiness, a dull complexion, dark circles under the eyes and make existing skin conditions like acne or eczema worse.
Alcohol affects our skin too, especially by dehydrating our bodies further. And poor diet choices in the summer can lead to skin issues too. Notice you tend to get spots after a few days of stress eating your way through Walkers and Dairy Milk? You’re not the only one.
A skincare routine for a healthy summer glow
So here’s what we think you do want: A skincare routine that will care for your skin and give you that healthy summer glow.
And what you don’t want: A complex, expensive procedure you need to carry out eight times a day just to have soft skin.
These are the basics of what will keep your skin fresh, hydrated, and protected this summer. All you need for the best skin you’ve ever had in your life.
-
Cleanse away sweat, bacteria and pollutants
The first thing you need to do, twice a day, is cleanse away the sweat and dirt from your skin and help keep those pores clear.
In terms of a routine, make it the first thing you do as you brush your teeth in the morning, and the last thing you do when you brush your teeth at night.
Honestly, this simple skincare act alone will solve so many skin problems in one go. Fresh face, smooth skin, fewer spots.
Our Cleansing Foam was made for this. It clears away the dirt from your skin to leave your face feeling fresh, and it’s gentle enough to use multiple times a day without stripping your skin of its natural moisture.
-
Help your skin recover with vitamin C
A vitamin C serum is all about recovery. It’s packed with the antioxidants and hydrating hyaluronic acid your skin needs to even out skin tone, help diminish those darker sun spots, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and sagginess that we know prolonged sun exposure can cause.
Once you’ve cleansed your face, apply a small amount of our Vitamin C Serum and rub it in. Morning and night is best, and a little goes a long way. Oh, and it smells amazing too. Like, seriously good.
-
Lock in moisture
Face too dry? You need to moisturise. Face too oily? You need to moisturise. Whoever you are, whatever you’re doing… you need to moisturise!
Our Daily Moisturiser is lightweight and absorbs really easily. It helps soothe and calm irritated skin, is packed with more antioxidants to help protect from pollutants, and it’s going to give you that all-day dewy complexion.
GQ are all over this stuff, it really works.
-
Look alive by paying attention to your under-eyes
As we mentioned above, we wear our fatigue on our face. And the one area that betrays more than anywhere else how tired we really feel is our under-eyes. Too many days without great sleep can cause darkening circles and puffiness. Becoming dehydrated from prolonged sun exposure (and too many vodka tonics) can cause the same.
There is a really quick, 10-minute fix for it. And yes, they look odd, but we swear they work.
Our Under-Eye Gel Patches are two little slugs of skincare magic. Not our words, but what one of our reviewers said. They’re infused with charcoal, glycerin, carrageenan and glucomannan to cool, detoxify and hydrate those under eye areas.
In literally 10 minutes, you will look and feel more energised, less fatigued, and less puffy. Stick a pair on as you’re getting dressed in the morning or whilst you’re chilling on the balcony waiting to head out.
-
Protect from harmful UV rays with SPF
Now, this really is the big one. The best way to prevent a lot of the damage that increased and prolonged exposure to the sun is to shield our skin from those harmful rays. And that’s where your SPF comes in.
BUT, we know that a lot of you find SPF creams a bit greasy and messy, and we don’t always remember to carry one with us.
So, we launched our brand new SPF50 Sunscreen Stick. It’s factor 50 that fits in your pocket or you can keep in your bag without any spills.
Once you’ve finished your skincare routine (cleanse, vit c, moisturise), apply a few lines of this SPF stick to your face - paying special attention to your under-eyes and nose. This factor 50 protection is suitable for all skin types and leaves you protected with a silky-smooth texture. You won’t feel it sat there like other SPF product either.
Get summer skincare ready with Buff
Ready to put your best face forward and enjoy the summer months? Then do it with confidence with Buff.
Whether a simple cleanser and daily moisturiser, or you want to kick things up a gear with some oils, serums and creams, we’re here for all men who want a simple, effective and affordable skincare routine that really genuinely works.
GQ, Forbes, T3, Stylist, Men’s Health, pro boxers, personal trainers to the stars and BBC make-up artists (and, most importantly, you guys) never look back once they’ve started using Buff.
Check out our skincare products here - https://skinbuff.co.uk/collections/skincare
And save when you bundle up here - https://skinbuff.co.uk/collections/bundles
Summer Skincare Routine: Caring For Your Skin During The Holiday Season
Sun, sea, sport, sangria… for a lot of us, the summer really is the best time of the year.
We’re out and about, watching and playing sport, socialising at BBQs and in beer gardens, and travelling with friends and family (has anyone found anything that does actually beat a Jet2 holiday yet?).
But with all that activity and exposure to heat and the sun, our skin can start to show signs of stress. We’re not just talking about a bit of sunburn either - we’re talking effects that can live on your skin for years.
Luckily, there are some really simple things you can do to care for your skin in the summer, and it doesn’t cost loads or require you to wake up a 3:07 am to stick your face in a bowl of ice water.
But before we get into that, we want to explain just what effect the summer has on our skin. If we understand that, it’s easier to put that bit of effort into doing something about it.
Shades off, read on.
What impact does the summer have on our skin
There are four key ways in which the summer affects our skin, and one of them is all about how our lifestyles change during the sunnier months. Let’s dive in.
Increased sun exposure ages our skin and causes pigmentation
Long periods exposed to the sun, specifically UV rays, can cause pigmentation or sun spots. These are darker areas of skin that can be caused by a number of things, including acne scarring and hormonal changes, but in the summer months, it’s most likely that big fiery yellow ball in the sky.
This damage from the sun also causes general ageing, too. In fact, the majority of the noticeable signs of premature ageing, like wrinkles, fine lines and - yes - sun spots - are caused by prolonged exposure to UV radiation.
That radiation penetrates the skin and damages our cells, causing oxidative stress. It causes skin elasticity and firmness to reduce, and that’s when things start getting a bit saggy.
What to do about it? More on that later.
Heat and dry air can cause flakiness and increase oil production
The summer can both dehydrate your skin, and also cause it to become more oily.
When we spend long periods in dry air, such as during periods of dry heat mixed with heavily air-conditioned rooms, your skin can become dehydrated. If you face starts to feel tight and rough, that’s what that is. This causes flakiness, not a good look.
And conversely, when it’s a humid heat our skin can actually produce more oil. That’s the shiny face you can have some mornings when you wake up after a hot night.
More oil means clogged pores, something we’ll talk about next…
Sweating = clogged pores = acne breakouts
When we’re hot, our bodies sweat to cool us down. Commuting to work in the height of summer, running around after kids or playing sport in the middle of the day is all going to be putting strain on whichever antiperspirant you’ve put your trust in.
Problem is, that sweat when it sits on your skin for too long can clog up your pores. Add in a bit of friction from your clothes, too and added bacteria from wiping sweat from your brow and you’re creating the perfect environment for breakouts.
Lifestyle changes can cause fatigue
We’re out more. We’re staying up late. Socialising with a drink. Lack of sleep and too much alcohol can all take a toll on our skin.
We often wear our weariness on our face. Lack of sleep can lead to puffiness, a dull complexion, dark circles under the eyes and make existing skin conditions like acne or eczema worse.
Alcohol affects our skin too, especially by dehydrating our bodies further. And poor diet choices in the summer can lead to skin issues too. Notice you tend to get spots after a few days of stress eating your way through Walkers and Dairy Milk? You’re not the only one.
A skincare routine for a healthy summer glow
So here’s what we think you do want: A skincare routine that will care for your skin and give you that healthy summer glow.
And what you don’t want: A complex, expensive procedure you need to carry out eight times a day just to have soft skin.
These are the basics of what will keep your skin fresh, hydrated, and protected this summer. All you need for the best skin you’ve ever had in your life.
Cleanse away sweat, bacteria and pollutants
The first thing you need to do, twice a day, is cleanse away the sweat and dirt from your skin and help keep those pores clear.
In terms of a routine, make it the first thing you do as you brush your teeth in the morning, and the last thing you do when you brush your teeth at night.
Honestly, this simple skincare act alone will solve so many skin problems in one go. Fresh face, smooth skin, fewer spots.
Our Cleansing Foam was made for this. It clears away the dirt from your skin to leave your face feeling fresh, and it’s gentle enough to use multiple times a day without stripping your skin of its natural moisture.
Help your skin recover with vitamin C
A vitamin C serum is all about recovery. It’s packed with the antioxidants and hydrating hyaluronic acid your skin needs to even out skin tone, help diminish those darker sun spots, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and sagginess that we know prolonged sun exposure can cause.
Once you’ve cleansed your face, apply a small amount of our Vitamin C Serum and rub it in. Morning and night is best, and a little goes a long way. Oh, and it smells amazing too. Like, seriously good.
Lock in moisture
Face too dry? You need to moisturise. Face too oily? You need to moisturise. Whoever you are, whatever you’re doing… you need to moisturise!
Our Daily Moisturiser is lightweight and absorbs really easily. It helps soothe and calm irritated skin, is packed with more antioxidants to help protect from pollutants, and it’s going to give you that all-day dewy complexion.
GQ are all over this stuff, it really works.
Look alive by paying attention to your under-eyes
As we mentioned above, we wear our fatigue on our face. And the one area that betrays more than anywhere else how tired we really feel is our under-eyes. Too many days without great sleep can cause darkening circles and puffiness. Becoming dehydrated from prolonged sun exposure (and too many vodka tonics) can cause the same.
There is a really quick, 10-minute fix for it. And yes, they look odd, but we swear they work.
Our Under-Eye Gel Patches are two little slugs of skincare magic. Not our words, but what one of our reviewers said. They’re infused with charcoal, glycerin, carrageenan and glucomannan to cool, detoxify and hydrate those under eye areas.
In literally 10 minutes, you will look and feel more energised, less fatigued, and less puffy. Stick a pair on as you’re getting dressed in the morning or whilst you’re chilling on the balcony waiting to head out.
Protect from harmful UV rays with SPF
Now, this really is the big one. The best way to prevent a lot of the damage that increased and prolonged exposure to the sun is to shield our skin from those harmful rays. And that’s where your SPF comes in.
BUT, we know that a lot of you find SPF creams a bit greasy and messy, and we don’t always remember to carry one with us.
So, we launched our brand new SPF50 Sunscreen Stick. It’s factor 50 that fits in your pocket or you can keep in your bag without any spills.
Once you’ve finished your skincare routine (cleanse, vit c, moisturise), apply a few lines of this SPF stick to your face - paying special attention to your under-eyes and nose. This factor 50 protection is suitable for all skin types and leaves you protected with a silky-smooth texture. You won’t feel it sat there like other SPF product either.
Get summer skincare ready with Buff
Ready to put your best face forward and enjoy the summer months? Then do it with confidence with Buff.
Whether a simple cleanser and daily moisturiser, or you want to kick things up a gear with some oils, serums and creams, we’re here for all men who want a simple, effective and affordable skincare routine that really genuinely works.
GQ, Forbes, T3, Stylist, Men’s Health, pro boxers, personal trainers to the stars and BBC make-up artists (and, most importantly, you guys) never look back once they’ve started using Buff.
Check out our skincare products here - https://skinbuff.co.uk/collections/skincare
And save when you bundle up here - https://skinbuff.co.uk/collections/bundles