Glam Slam: Take Your Skin From Spring To Summer

I can’t believe it’s almost Memorial Day…the unofficial start of Summer and when I officially switch up my wardrobe, makeup, hair and skincare routine.

But the change of season doesn’t mean you have to put away all your spring skincare products, according to famed skin maven Sonya Dakar, whose gorgeous clients include Gwyneth Paltrow and Bar Refaeli. Just update your regimen to protect your skin from these upcoming warm, humid and sunny months.

First things first: Adjust your skincare routine according to the change in weather. Exfoliate your skin three times week to get rid of any spring flakiness and switch to a slightly lighter moisturizer to protect your skin for the warmer weather. As always you should still use SPF30 sunscreen EVERY DAY to protect skin from the sun’s damaging rays.

1. Cleanser:

With warmer weather approaching your face wash is the No.1 item in your skincare routine that you should switch out. Instead of a moisturizing cleanser, opt for a more clarifying oil-absorbing cleanser. Never use a cleanser with any detergent (SLS). The common “foaming agent” found in many skin care face washes sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) is the same ingredient found is dish washing soap and laundry detergent…need I say more! This ingredient can be incredibly harsh and irritating to the skin, so read your ingredient labels! Instead try a soothing and purifying facial cleanser that is natural and non-drying. Look for ingredients such as silver and salicylic acid (clarifying and brightening) as well as resveratrol (super anti-oxidant and detoxing) these cleansers will not only dissolve make up and dirt but it will leave your skin calm, clean and clear.
TRY: Sonya Dakar Clarifying Wash

2. Exfoliate your skin.

Your body sheds skin cells at an amazing rate every minute of every day. If you don’t get rid of them, they’ll just sitting on your skin making you look dull and dry. No matter how much lotion you use, you’re never going to have glowing skin if you don’t exfoliate. Especially when you are transitioning from spring to summer- you want to reveal a fresh young complexion! Grab a gentle facial exfoliator and hit the shower. The steam will gently soften your skin and allow the scrub to easily slough off dead dull skin. Gently rub your exfoliator in circular movements on your face and neck and 2-3 minutes and rinse with warm water. Continue to do this 2-3 times a week for beautiful skin.
TRY: Sonya Dakar NutraSphere Detox Micro Scrub

3. Don’t forget your body!

Summer is the season for tank tops, shorts, halter tops and other revealing clothing- and you should focus on transitioning the skin on legs, arms, chest, and shoulders too!! Follow these 3 steps for glowing skin from head to toe.

-Exfoliate your entire body in a warm steamy shower 2-3 times a week.

-Apply a good quality body oil as soon as you get out – apply on damp skin for best absorption. If you shower in the morning follow with a layer of sunscreen SPF30 to protect your skin.

-Treat body blemishes as you do facial ones. This mean have a spot treatment handy for little pesky body breakouts — so nothing gets in between you and your summer wardrobe!
TRY: Sonya Dakar Daily Body Shield and Sonya Dakar NutraSphere Blemish Buster

4. Treating & Preventing Pigmentation

Now that summer is approaching we want to also transition into effortless and minimal makeup. Nothing looks worse than the sun reflecting on caked on makeup that’s attempting to cover up an uneven complexion. So now is the time to not only lighten uneven pigmentation — but prevent it as well. Try wearing a lightening gel or treatment underneath your moisturizer. Look for ingredients like Beledes (extracted from a Daisy flower) that works to lighten and brighten spots as well and protect skin from reacting to the sun and developing future damage. Sonya says “This is a genius breakthrough ingredient – I have been working with it on a daily basis to help treat my clients. I recommend using a product like this 1-2 times a day with an SPF30. If you are going to be in the sun or if your skin is more sensitive then use once a day only in the evening.”

5. Nourish & Protect your skin

Oil-free products are not always the answer (even during warmer months); some oils are actually GOOD for your skin. No doctor would tell you to avoid all fat in your diet and eat 500 calories a day — you would starve! Why would you avoid nourishing oils and starve your skin? While olive oil is praised for its health benefits, so is flax oil and grape seed oil for its cosmetic ones. Avoid mineral oil (I call it the lard of skin care) and look for cosmetic grade flax seed oil and grape seed oil rich in anti-oxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that are often found in hydrating serums. They help nourish the skin from the inside out and actually help balance and control skin’s natural oil production. Everyone from rosacea prone — acne skin types can benefit from a little oil. And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE wear an SPF30 — EVERY DAY on your entire face and body!!
TRY: Organic Omega Booster

For more information, go to www.sonyadakarskinclinic.com

–Ryan Patterson