With summer heat beating down our doors, it’s important to take extra measures with your skincare routine. Sun exposure can be hugely damaging to your skin, bringing about early signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and changes in texture. While this damage can be minimized, it can’t be fully undone, so it’s important to be proactive and protect your skin as much as possible.

You don’t have to go to an expensive spa or sit for an hour-long facial to care for your skin this summer. We’ve got three tools that will not only help you maintain a gorgeous glow, but will also help keep your skin looking younger, longer. 

Facial Cupping 

Cupping is first on the list, as it provides a multitude of benefits that can help you beat skin woes in the summer (and all year round!). Facial cupping is great for promoting cell turnover, which can help prevent dullness and clogged/enlarged pores. In the summertime, it’s easier for our skin to get overwhelmed—excess sweat and the use of additional products, like sunscreen, can upset your skin’s balance, and cupping is a great way to stimulate your cells and reveal fresh, new skin.

• Keep skin hydrated as you cup by using a non-comedogenic skin oil when you cup. This will help the cups glide smoothly over your skin.
• For best results, make cupping a regular part of your skin care regime. Cupping for a little as five minutes per day, every other day, is enough to see results. 
• Go easy on sunburned skin. If you find yourself glowing red after a day in the sun, apply aloe vera gel and give your skin time to rehydrate and heal before cupping.  

Facial Rolling

Facial rolling has had a boost in popularity, and people are loving the gorgeous roller stones that are available. The best part is, those lovely cooling stones feel like heaven and are proven to reduce puffiness, soothe sun-scorched skin, and improve texture. Stones such as jade are used in rollers for their cooling properties and using a roller as a part of your daily regime might mean that expensive makeup primers are a thing of the past. 

• Keep puffiness at bay by using your roller every morning. The stone helps unclog congested skin and can keep your lymphatic system draining properly. 
• If your skin is feeling scorched, a jade roller can help cool things down without aggravating the burn. Keep your roller in the fridge to soothe sunburned skin and help it heal more quickly. 
• Rolling can also help ‘plump’ the skin by increasing blood circulation to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. 

Gua Sha

If you haven’t heard of gua sha, you’re not alone, but this technique is rapidly becoming the ultimate way to slough off dead skin and uncover your freshest face yet. This ancient Chinese treatment uses a flat-sided tool, usually made of stone, that scrapes gently over the skin to encourage lymph drainage, release toxins, and relax facial muscles. All of these, in addition to scraping away dead skin cells lead to a firmer, brighter complexion.

• Smooth out dull, tired skin—gua sha not only exfoliates, it also improves circulation and can reduce signs of aging such as under eye circles and fine lines and wrinkles. 
• Reduce the appearance of dark spots. Sun exposure can cause dark spots, or hyper-pigmentation, which can be difficult to fight with simple creams and serums. Gua sha scraping can lighten these spots and create a more even skin tone. 
• This technique is also ideal for acne and other skin conditions. Gua sha is less abrasive that harsh exfoliating cleansers and can help the skin better absorb acne-fighting products. This is a great option for people who suffer from acne and sensitive skin that may become worse in the summer months. 

Summer Skincare Tips

Summer skin needs different care than in the winter, so keep these best practices in mind before you head out into the sun.

• Everyone needs sunscreen. Even if you bake to a golden brown, your skin needs protection. Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30, thirty minutes before you will be under the sun and reapply often. This will help fight damaging UV rays and keep your skin looking younger longer.
• Hydration is key. One of the biggest dangers of summer is dehydration, and because your body needs more water to run, you need to drink enough to hydrate your skin. If your skin is looking dry and dull, you may need to up your water intake. 
• Cool showers. When you’re hot and sweaty at the end of the day, all that excess can clog your pores, causing breakouts. Turning the tap for a cool shower is a great way to not only feel refreshed, but to flush your skin and prevent future eruptions.