Why is Facial Skincare Especially Important in the Israeli Summer?
The Israeli summer… oh, the Israeli summer. Scorching sun, long days at the beach, pool, trips – great fun, no doubt. But our skin? It enjoys it a little less. That blazing sun, which we love so much, can cause serious damage to our facial skin. Sunburns, premature aging, pigmentation – not a great pleasure.
Imagine: you go out for a fun day at the beach, apply some sunscreen (or not…), enjoy the sun, the water, the atmosphere. You come home tired but satisfied, but the next day – surprise! The skin is red, burning, itchy. Not pleasant at all. And that’s just the immediate damage. The long-term damage can be more severe.
In addition to the sun, the summer also dries out the skin. Air conditioners, pools with chlorine, sweat – all of these cause our skin to lose moisture. Dry skin looks tired, lifeless, and is more prone to wrinkles. No one wants that, right?
So what do you do? That’s exactly why there’s a skincare routine tailored for the summer. A proper skincare routine will help you protect your skin from sun damage, maintain its moisture, and maintain a healthy and radiant skin appearance even on the hottest days. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, and it’s definitely worth the effort. Remember, your skin is your most valuable asset, and proper care will pay off in the long run.
How Does Sunscreen Protect Us From Sun Damage?
Okay, let’s talk about the most important thing in the Israeli summer – sunscreen. Yes, yes, you’ve heard it a million times, but it’s simply crucial. Think of it this way: sunscreen is like a soldier protecting your skin from an invasion of enemies – harmful sun rays. Without this soldier, your skin is exposed to severe damage.
So what does sunscreen actually do? It protects us from two main types of sun rays: UVB and UVA. UVB rays are responsible for immediate burns and allergies. They cause our skin to redden, burn, and peel. UVA rays, on the other hand, are more elusive. They don’t cause immediate damage, but they penetrate deep into the skin and cause long-term damage such as DNA damage, premature aging, loss of elasticity, fine lines, pigmentation, and even skin cancer. Scary, right?
There are two main types of sunscreens:
- Physical sunscreen: This cream creates a physical protective layer on the skin that repels the sun’s rays. It’s like a small mirror that reflects the rays back. The disadvantage is that its texture is a bit heavier and not always pleasant to apply.
- Chemical sunscreen: This cream works by absorbing the sun’s rays. It’s like a sponge that absorbs the rays and turns them into heat. The advantage is that its texture is more pleasant and easy to apply, but it needs to be applied 20 minutes before sun exposure and is only active for about two hours.
Today, most advanced sunscreens combine the two technologies to provide maximum protection from both types of rays.
When choosing a sunscreen, pay attention to the sun protection factor (SPF). The sun protection factor indicates how long your skin can be exposed to the sun without burning compared to the situation without sunscreen. For daily protection, a sun protection factor of 30 is sufficient, which provides good protection for 8-10 hours. But if you plan to be in the sun for longer, or if your skin is fair and sensitive, you should choose a higher sun protection factor.
It is very important to apply a generous amount of sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun and to reapply every two hours, especially after swimming, sweating, or wiping with a towel. Don’t forget to apply to areas such as ears, neck, back of hands and feet.
And a final tip: even if you are at home or in the office, you should still apply sunscreen, because UVA rays also penetrate through windows.
Why is a Lightweight Moisturizer Essential in the Summer?
After understanding the importance of sunscreen, let’s talk about another must-have product in the Israeli summer: a lightweight moisturizer. You might be thinking to yourself: “In the winter I use a rich and heavy moisturizer, why would I need something different in the summer?”. So here’s the answer: the Israeli summer is a fickle season in terms of humidity. On the one hand, the humidity in the air can be very high, but on the other hand, the scorching sun, air conditioners and pools dry out our skin significantly.
Think of it this way: our skin is like a sponge. When it’s soaked in water, it looks fresh, supple and radiant. But when it dries out, it looks tired, lifeless and more prone to wrinkles. Moisturizer helps us keep that sponge full of water.
But why a lightweight moisturizer in particular? Because in the summer, our skin tends to be more oily. The heat causes our sebaceous glands to produce more oil, and if we use a rich and heavy moisturizer, we may clog pores and cause pimples. A lightweight moisturizer, on the other hand, provides the skin with the moisture it needs without weighing it down and causing problems.
So how do you choose a lightweight moisturizer? Look for creams with a gel or lotion texture, containing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Hyaluronic acid is like a magnet for water – it absorbs water from the air and transfers it to the skin. Glycerin is an excellent moisturizing agent that helps maintain moisture in the skin.
It is important to apply a lightweight moisturizer to the face and neck every morning and evening, after cleansing the face. And if you feel your skin drying out during the day, don’t hesitate to apply again. Remember, moisturized skin is healthy skin!
How Does Thorough Skin Cleansing Help in Hot Weather?
Let’s talk about another equally important topic in the Israeli summer: thorough skin cleansing. Think of it this way: in the summer, our skin is like a car driving on a dusty road. It accumulates dirt, sweat, oil, and remnants of sunscreen and makeup. If we don’t clean this car regularly, it will start to break down. The same thing happens to our skin.
In hot weather, our sweat glands work overtime to cool the body. This sweat, along with the dirt and dust circulating in the air, accumulates on the skin and clogs pores. This can cause pimples, blackheads, and skin inflammations. Not pleasant at all.
So how do you cleanse the skin thoroughly in the summer? Here are some tips:
- Morning and evening cleansing: Be sure to cleanse your face every morning and evening with a gentle cleanser that suits your skin type. In the morning, cleansing will help remove sweat and oil that have accumulated overnight. In the evening, cleansing will help remove dirt, makeup and sunscreen that have accumulated during the day.
- Use of micellar water: Micellar water is an excellent solution for removing makeup and quickly cleansing the skin. They contain small molecules that attract dirt and oil, and allow you to cleanse the skin without scrubbing it.
- Peeling: Once a week or two, it is recommended to do a gentle peel to remove dead skin cells and release blockages in the pores.
- Active cleansing gel: If you suffer from particularly oily skin, consider using an active cleansing gel containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These acids help cleanse the pores more deeply and prevent pimples.
Remember, thorough skin cleansing is the basis for a successful skincare routine. Clean skin is healthy skin!
