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If your skin is aging and the summer heat leaves it feeling more irritated than radiant, you’re not alone.

Finding a routine that’s lightweight and effective — one that hydrates, prevents breakouts, and still plays well with actives like Tretinoin — can feel like a balancing act.

 

 

After years of fine-tuning, I’ve found a summer skincare routine that works — not just in theory, but in real life. The products might change, but the structure stays the same: simple, intentional, and focused on what skin in midlife actually needs.

In this blogpost, I’ll walk you through exactly what I use and why — from cleansing to sunscreen — so your skin stays healthy, calm, and glowing… even when the temperature rises.

 

 

 

 

My summer morning skincare routine

My morning routine seems to be the one that changes the least throughout the seasons, probably because I need it to be quick and efficient year round, so there isn’t much to strip away from it once the temperatures rise.

I start with a quick ZIIP Halo (399,99 € with a bottle of gel, full review here) program, usually the preloaded 4 minute program called “The Lift”, sometimes one of the others for good measure. That has an instant sculpting effect on my face I enjoy, though I still don’t think there are noticeable long-term effects to using it. (More info: The benefits of using microcurrent on your face)

To get off the gel – and the sweat that I might have on my face, because nights can get warm here and we don’t have air condition, I cleanse with a non-stripping gel cleanser. The one I am using right now is The Inkey List Fulvic Acid Cleanser, (150 ml for 14 €, full review here), other options are the Geek and Gorgeous Jelly Joker (150 ml for 9,50 €, full review here) or something along those lines. I am not that picky as long as it doesn’t strip my skin.

After that it is Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (118 ml for 39 €, full review here) five times a week against congestion and either afterwards or as only step the Geek and Gorgeous C-Glow Serum (30 ml for 12,50 €, full review here), my favourite Vitamin C serum you have seen countless times featured already. The lightweight and watery texture make it perfect for hot days.

The eye cream I am currently using is the face theory Ocuwake Eye Cream Pro (full review here), mainly because I liked it when I tested it and want to finish it. Since me reviewing their line around 1.5 years ago, facetheory had a complete rebrand and changed their packaging and much of their product lineup so this exact one isn’t available anymore. The one coming closest would be the facetheory Peptide Firming Eye Cream (15 ml for 35 €).

And then it is sunscreen, with two different categories depending on what the day will bring:

If it is a basic office day with me being outdoors for getting to and from work only, I use one of the lovely hydrating options you have seen mentioned quite often before: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun & Probiotics SPF 50+ (50 ml for 15,99 €, full review here) – no, I haven’t tried the new version yet – or the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Sun Serum SPF 50+ (50 ml for 14,99 €, full review here). For touchups during the day, before I leave the office to cycle back home for example, I reach for the Bioré Aqua Rich Sunscreen SPF 50 (50 ml for 9,45 €, full review here) as it is the most refreshing one I have found and doesn’t have that suffocation feeling you often get when you layer sunscreen over sunscreen.

On days when I know I will be outdoors for a good portion of the day though, I will start with a layer of the La Roche Posay UVMune 400 SPF 50+ Invisible Fluid (50 ml for 16 €, full review here), which is the most comfortable water resistant option I have found and offers amazing UVA protection, great for me as I am worried about hyperpigmentation.

Another thing I like to do during the day in summer is use a face mist. I have several options at the various places I spend my time: The office, my work area at home, my bedroom, wherever I spend time regularly. The main purpose I want them to do is refresh, so I am not too worried about promised skincare benefits, the mineral water ones would do, but over the course of skincare testing I have accumulated a few with some “extras” that I reach for.

Usually it is antioxidant effects, like the Maysama Green Roibos AOX Hydrating Atomiser (120 ml for 57,95 € full review coming soon) – this one lives at work, extra peptides like the Timeless HA Matrixyl 3000 Rose Spray (120 ml for 19,99 €, full review here) that I keep next to my bed or a very old favourite – who remembers this from blogging in 2012-ish? – the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Face Mist (100 ml for 70 €, full review here). This one is in my office space at home and I guess the main purpose is to smell good.

They are of course an extra, your skin will do perfectly fine without them, but feel very refreshing in the heat.

 

 

My summer evening skincare routine

First step is to take off my makeup and the several layers of sunscreen I am wearing, for which I use the SKIN1004 Centella Cleansing Oil (200 ml for 14,99 €, full review here). It is a lovely oil that manages to get rid of my mascara and liner – not waterproof – and rinses cleanish without the need of extra scrubbing. But because the sunscreen, sweat and makeup layer is probably quite thick at this time of the year, I will follow up with a second cleanse, usually using the same cleanser I used in the mornings.

Next step is 10 minutes of LED using the Currentbody LED Light Therapy Mask Series 2 (449,99 €, full review here) with the corresponding Neck and Decollete Mask (399,99 €, full review coming soon). The latter one is still new to me, but I have high hopes as the face mask is a firm favourite of mine. If you can’t bear the thought of a mask sitting closely to your face in the heat, the Faradbeauty Luxe Halo LED Mask (170,95 €, full review here) might be something you are interested in trying. It has a birds nest structure and is much more breathable.

After that it depends if it is a Tretinoin night or not. Yes, you can keep using your retinoids during summer, especially if you, like I do, use it as medication against adult acne. I use mine every other night year round, which is the sweet spot for me in giving me results, but also minimising irritation. (More info: Can you use your retinol in summer?)

On the nights I won’t use Tret, I apply the Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP Serum (30 ml for 94,95 €, full review here) that I started earlier this year and that is still going strong. Afterwards I apply the Banish Instant Lift Brightening eye cream with Vitamin C (15 ml for 72 $, full review here), again mainly because I want to finish it, and then a lightweight cream. Currently I am using the Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel (50 ml for 54 €, full review here). My skin might not be as oily as it used to be a few years ago, but in the summer heat I still crave something lightweight.

If I use Tretinoin, I use a light layer of the SKIN1004 Centella Asiatica Ampoule (100 ml for 12,99 €, full review coming soon) for lightweight hydration and then the same eye cream and moisturizer I used the night before. The Ampoule really feels like nothing on the skin and the Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel gives my skin the Niacinamide fix that is supposed to help tolerate the Tretinoin. (More info: The benefits of Niacinamide in skincare explained)

And as last step, just like I prefer it for the rest of the year, I use my Tretinoin cream dotted all over my face and spread out, making sure to only use a thin layer around my mouth and nose, the areas where I tend to get irritated the easiest. (More info: How to use Retin A with minimal irritation)

And that is everything: As little layers as possible with products that deliver what I need to keep my skin hydrated, acne-free and looking its best during the summer heat.

What does your summer skincare routine look like?

 

 

Shop my morning routine

 

Shop my evening routine

 

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