Surviving the heatwave: essential skin care tips

Summer heatwaves, especially in big cities and for those who aren't lucky enough to go on vacation, are hard on the skin. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to look after your skin in the heat and survive the heatwave!

You'll have a light hand

At 40°C, it's not necessary, and even less pleasant, to carry out an elaborate skincare routine with several treatments and several layers on the skin. It's best to stick to the bare essentials in the morning: a light moisturizing gel-cream and a SPF50 sun protection. We prefer to fill up on active ingredients in the evening, to feed the often dehydrated skin by heat.

A recommendation for moisturizing gel-cream

Watermelon Moisture Soothing Gel Cream from Korean brand Heimish: a very light texture but a formulation rich in moisturizing and soothing active ingredients such as shea butter and aloe vera. As its name suggests, this gel also contains watermelon, but without the watermelon scent. A must-have for summer. 

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For make-up, the same goes for putting away your favorite foundation, rather heavy for summer, and opting, if necessary, for a bb cream. Lighter. My favorite? Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream. It provides excellent coverage for redness and imperfections and gives a lovely glow, without any plaster effect. It's also very resistant to perspiration and water, and has a sun filter. Be careful, however, to use it on top of its SPF 50 sunscreen, not on its own! Tone 23 is perfect for fairer skin tones, while 27 is a little warmer.

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A mist you'll carry away 

For all-day refreshment, there's nothing like a thermal water or skincare mist to carry around with you in your bag. The mist refreshes while moisturizing the skin, which is worn down by the heat and heatwave. 

A classic? Uriage thermal mist, in a mini format that can even be slipped into a clutch bag. A mist with a twist? MisshaGlow Skin Balm To Go Mist, perfect for those who use make-up. Helps set while refreshing. 

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Thou shalt use the freshest care 

We don't necessarily think about it, but the fridge is our cosmetics' best friend in summer, especially during heatwaves. There are mini cosmetics fridges, fantastic for storing gel-cream in summer, but also products with fragile formulations such as those containing retinol or vitamin C, which tend to oxidize. However, they don't always have the space to store them. In this case, don't worry, the kitchen fridge will do the trick! You can store your moisturizing gel-cream in there, of course, but above all, and this is my favorite tip, sheet-masks! It takes up absolutely no space, even in a small, overcrowded fridge, and the effect is guaranteed! There's nothing like taking a moment to yourself in the evening with a cool sheet mask to refresh and relax. 

My sheet-mask recommendations? Beauty of Joseon's highly soothing Centella Asiatica Calming Mask. This fabric mask is enriched with 15 % of centella asiatica extract, a particularly soothing active ingredient, and three types of hyaluronic acid. It's suitable for all skin types and will benefit even sensitive, irritated skin. I like to apply it fresh for 15 to 20 minutes, after cleansing my skin of all impurities.

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You'll achieve perfect cleaning

We say it all year round: double cleansing in the evening is the key to impurity-free skin. And therefore potentially free of acne, imperfections, etc. In summer especially, and even in the midst of vacation relaxation, double cleansing is essential. What's the point? Because the skin is prone to perspiration, and there's an accumulation of sun products, skincare products and possibly make-up. The first cleansing with a balm is essential, as it dissolves any make-up and skincare products. Some people like to rinse with their hands. I prefer to use a small sponge for the face, which should be changed every day to avoid bacteria build-up.

Do you have a facial cleansing balm recommendation?

Clean it Zero balm from Banila. This rich balm transforms into oil on contact with the skin. It removes all make-up, even waterproof, leaving skin soft and plump. Concentrated in active ingredients such as vitamins E and C, it leaves skin perfectly smooth and clean.

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Then you can proceed with a second cleansing, using a gel adapted to your particular problem, for example. In summer, however, I particularly like to use Beauty of Joseon's Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser. This is a gentle hypoallergenic cleansing gel with a low pH of 5 to 6 to maintain the skin's moisture and lipid balance. It therefore does not dry out the skin in any way. Its formulation is enriched with plum oil, rich in nourishing vitamin E, and mung bean extract, which deeply moisturizes the skin. The green tea extracts it contains also make it a perfect antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. The big plus? Presented in a 100ML tube, it's perfect for travelling in the cabin!

The products mentioned in this article have been purchased and tested personally. They are not the subject of gifts or remuneration from marques. The article may, however, contain affiliate links.