Your Summer Hair & Skincare Glow-up Guide

Welcome to the ultimate California Summer Glow-up! As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, it’s time to refresh your beauty routine. This season, we're focusing on achieving that perfect summer glow while keeping your skin protected and radiant. Read on for tips, tricks, and product recommendations to help you shine your brightest all summer long.

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The Importance of SPF

Summer means more time outdoors, and protecting your skin from harmful UV rays is crucial. Who wants to deal with sun damage in the years to come?


Why SPF Matters: UV rays can cause premature aging, sunburns, and increase the risk of skin cancer. SPF acts as a shield against these harmful effects and help us look (and feel) our best for longer.


Choosing the Right SPF: Look for broad-spectrum sunscreens with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30. Products like SkinMedica's Total Defense + Repair not only protect your skin, but also repair and hydrate.


SPF Application Tips: Apply a generous amount of sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside. Don’t forget areas like your ears, neck, and hands. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating.


Shop our recommended SPF products here.

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Hydration is Key

The sun can dehydrate your skin, leaving it dull and dry, causing our skins to do everything but glow.


When you’re exposed to the sun, the heat increases the rate at which moisture evaporates from your skin. This loss of moisture can disrupt your skin's natural barrier, leading to dehydration. Common signs of a dehydrated skin include tightness, flakiness, increased sensitivity, and a lacklustre appearance. Your skin may also feel rough to the touch and fine lines may become more noticeable.


Let’s take a look at some at-home fixes:


Moisturizers: Opt for lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizers that lock in hydration without clogging pores. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, which are excellent for retaining moisture. Products such as SkinMedica’s Ultra Sheer Moisturizer provide hydration without feeling heavy.


Hydrating Serums: Incorporate serums with powerful hydrating ingredients. Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it a key player in keeping your skin hydrated. Serums penetrate deeper into the skin to deliver hydration where it’s needed most.


Face Masks: Use hydrating masks once or twice a week to give your skin an extra moisture boost. Look for masks containing aloe vera, honey, or cucumber extract, which have soothing and hydrating properties. These masks can help replenish lost moisture and restore your skin’s natural glow.


Discover our top treatment for optimal skin hydration here.

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Post-Sun Skincare

After a day in the sun, your skin needs some extra love… Prolonged sun exposure can lead to sunburn, redness, and irritation as UV rays penetrate the skin, causing inflammation and damage to skin cells (we don’t want this). Over time, repeated sun exposure without proper care can contribute to premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and an increased risk of skin cancer.

Couldn’t ditch the rays? Here is what we recommend to soothe and repair:

  • Gentle Cleansing: Cleansing removes sweat, sunscreen, and environmental pollutants that accumulate on your skin throughout the day. Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils. Look for ingredients like chamomile, aloe vera, and glycerin, which are soothing and moisturizing.

  • Cooling and Soothing: Applying cooling and soothing products can help calm irritated skin and reduce redness. Aloe vera gel is a classic post-sun treatment due to its cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. Products containing cucumber extract, calendula, and chamomile are also effective at soothing the skin.

  • Hydration and Repair: Sun exposure can dehydrate your skin, so it’s crucial to replenish lost moisture to prevent dryness and flakiness. Use a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid to attract and retain moisture in the skin. Follow up with a rich moisturizer that contains ingredients like shea butter, ceramides, and peptides to repair and strengthen the skin barrier.

  • Antioxidant Boost: Sun exposure generates free radicals that can damage skin cells. Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals and help repair the skin. Serums with vitamins C and E, green tea extract, and resveratrol can help repair sun damage and enhance the skin’s natural defense mechanisms.

  • Nighttime Recovery: Nighttime is when your skin naturally repairs itself, making it an ideal time to use more intensive treatments. Use a night cream or serum with ingredients like retinoids, peptides, and niacinamide to boost collagen production and cell turnover. These ingredients help reduce the appearance of sun damage and improve skin texture.
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    Healthy Hair in the Heat

    Summer can be tough on your hair. Yes, it really can… Just like your skin, your hair can suffer from UV damage. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays can break down the protein structure of your hair, leading to weakened strands, dryness, and split ends. The sun can also harm your scalp, causing burns and irritation, which can affect hair growth and overall scalp health.

    That’s not all - high temperatures can dehydrate your hair, making it dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. The heat opens up the hair cuticles, allowing moisture to escape more easily. Add some chlorine (think swimming pools) into the mix and your hair becomes stripped of its natural oils, leaving it dry and damaged.

    So, how do we combat hair damage in summer?

    Protection: Wear hats or use hair products with UV protection to shield your hair from sun damage.

    Hydration: Use deep conditioning treatments to keep your hair hydrated. Coconut oil and argan oil are great for maintaining moisture.

    Repair: After swimming, rinse your hair with fresh water to remove salt or chlorine. Use clarifying shampoos occasionally to eliminate buildup.

    Learn more about our favorite hair care treatments here.

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    Stay Radiant with ARMÉE Cosmetics

    Your luscious lips need all the help they can get in summer… Discover our latest products designed to enhance your natural beauty while providing essential protection and care.


    Lip Exfoliation: Remove dead, flaky skin and reveal your softest, silkiest lip-look ever. Gently exfoliating your lips will also result in smoother lipstick application that will also last longer.


    Hydrating Lip Care: Keep your lips soft and plump with hydrating lip treatments that include hyaluronic acid and antioxidants and collagen lip masks for a little extra lip-love at night.


    Non-drying Lipsticks: Invest in non-drying lipsticks to help avoid a vicious circle… Most matte lipsticks dry out the lips, but not the those from ARMÉE Cosmetics.


    Explore ARMÉE Cosmetics lip care products here.

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    Glow from Within

    Nutrition plays a significant role in your skin's health and radiance. What we eat will most certainly always be reflected by our skin! Let’s take a look at some top tips to help achieve that gorgeous summer glow:

    Hydration: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. Herbal teas and water-rich fruits like watermelon can also help.


    Antioxidants: Eat foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, nuts, and green leafy vegetables, to combat free radical damage.

    Healthy Fats: Incorporate omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts to maintain your skin’s elasticity and hydration.


    Join us in celebrating the beauty of summer with a glow-up like no other!

    Remember to check out our specials for limited-time promotions on skincare treatments, and to follow our blog for more tips and updates. Let’s make this summer season our most radiant yet!


    info@californiacosmetics.com