Why you should moisturise in summer

The heat is on! And somehow our will power to stick to a balanced skincare routine goes straight out the window, am I right? How many of you have already started to skip your regular moisturising cream because in high temperatures and high humidity, you feel it’s too much for your skin? Or maybe you read somewhere that hydrating combination or oily skin is a no-no in summer? Well, I’m sorry to have to break it to you, but you’re really not doing your skin any favours. Let’s have a look at the reasons behind why you should moisturise in summer to keep your skin in tip-top condition.

Summertime skin woes

The heat, sweat, increased sun exposure, air conditioning, salt water, chlorinated pools and less shut eye are all factors that can play havoc with your skin. Why? Because skin is made up of a very high percentage of water, and just a 10% reduction in its hydration levels can cause problems. Therefore, exposure to these factors throughout the summer often leads to an increase in the dreaded trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), which in turn compromises the skin’s protective barrier, making it much more sensitive and irritated. Keeping our skin correctly hydrated all year round not only gives us a glowing, youthful and healthy appearance, but in the long term it also prevents the appearance of fine lines and the loss of elasticity. This is the key to great skin and the main reason why you should moisturise in summer without fail.

Which skincare products to use in summer

Although hydration starts from within and here at Twelve HQ we are big advocates of drinking lots of water and following a healthy diet rich in antioxidants and seasonal foods, we know that skin often needs an external helping hand.

For us, the most important thing you can do to ensure that your skin remains in perfect condition in the summer months is to provide it with double-action hydration. By this we mean regulate its cutaneous water content and at the same time provide skin with key lipids. A good moisturiser should act on both these levels. Our recommendation is, of course, the ESSENTIAL BIO TECHNOLOGICAL MOISTURISER, a light cream that contains both water and essential lipids designed to feed the top layers of the epidermis. Packed with powerhouse antioxidants and an optimal amount of hyaluronic acid, this moisturiser provides skin with incredible daily hydration.

However, if your skin tends to get oilier during the hot months and the idea of applying both a moisturiser and sun cream sends you into a panic, then we recommend using just a daytime antioxidant serum under your favourite SPF instead. This way, you not only avoid dehydrated skin but also neutralise the free radicals produced by the sun, all without the shine! That being said, just remember not to skimp on your night time routine as well.

The Twelve collection offers three serums with each one covering a specific need. What’s more, each serum contains a high amount of Butterfly Bush Leaf, a botanical extract rich in antioxidants and capable of protecting the skin against harmful UV rays.

If you’re concerned about sun spots and hyper-pigmentation, then our IDEAL BRIGHTENING CORRECTIVE SERUM is the one for you. Its exclusive combination of herbs contains a powerful blend of antioxidants that block the function of tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for the excessive production of melanin in the skin.

Both our IDEAL MOISTURE LEVEL SERUM and IDEAL REBALANCING LEVEL SERUM contain the same amount of large molecular hyaluronic acid and water-retaining saccharide isomerate, a plant-based sugar which is identical to carbohydrates found in the skin. However, the IDEAL MOISTURE LEVEL SERUM is recommended for drier skin types, as it contains a higher dose of Mallow extract (soothing and moisturising.) On the other hand, the IDEAL REBALANCING LEVEL SERUM is more for combination / oily skins as it includes Epilobium extract. This amazing ingredient contains a remarkable level of the tannin Oenethin B, which inhibits the activity of 5 Alfa-Reductase, the skin enzyme responsible for sebum production.