How to Care for Your Skin at Summer’s End

Summer brings with it all sorts of fun—but not necessarily for your skin. In fact, the combination of sweat, sunscreen and UVA and UVB rays can lead to your skin looking and feeling a little worse for wear once fall rolls around. But it’s not as hard as you think to give your skin a deep clean and some soothing care to make sure that as you enter autumn you can put your best face forward.

Summer’s skincare culprits

Wearing SPF is super important all year round, but we tend to be extra liberal with the sunscreen application during the summer months. That’s great, but, depending on the formula you’re using, it can cause clogged pores and breakouts or even some general irritation. That doesn’t mean you should stop wearing it, but it does mean you should add a few things to your skincare routine to help combat it. During the summer we also tend to sweat more and are more susceptible to sun damage, thanks to more time spent outside. The former can also cause breakouts and irritation and the latter can result in sunburns and sensitivity. These are not things you want at any time of the year, but especially as you’re getting back to your routine after the shakeup that summer often brings.

How to give your skin some TLC

Cleanse

Making sure you cleanse properly is key to avoiding breakouts at any time. But at the end of summer, when you want to give your skin a deep clean, picking a cleanser with clay is going to really clear your pores and pull out dirt and bacteria. L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Daily Cleanser for Dull Skin has three types of mineral clay (Kaolin, Montmorillonite and Moroccan) and charcoal in its formula, which help to draw out impurities and leave your skin refreshed and clean without feeling dry or tight. It also has the bonus of being energizing and brightening, helping to revitalize a neglected summer visage—all in an exfoliating face wash. This refreshing cleanser can be used day or night, just lather up, rinse then follow with your typical skincare routine.

Scrub

Using a gentle exfoliating scrub is a great way to slough off dead skin cells and help keep your pores clear. The important thing here is picking a scrub that’s gentle. L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Scrubs are super fine so you don’t have to worry about too much abrasion potentially irritating any sunburn or acne flare-ups. The formula includes three types of sugar to gently exfoliate, buffing away dead skin, while grapeseed oil and cocoa butter soothe and moisturize. By getting rid of anything lingering on the surface of your skin, you’re making sure that any product you add afterward—masks, moisturizers, serums—will penetrate and work to its full potential. Reach for a scrub after cleansing to buff away any dead skin cells or residue to reveal baby-soft that’s not left dry and stripped. You can use a scrub anywhere from one to three times a week, depending on your skin’s needs.