Hot Girl Summer Starts in the Shower—Here’s How to Prep Your Skin

Most of us pare down our routines in the summer. We switch out the actives in our skincare routines and get by on serums, self-tanners, and sunscreen. We wear skin tints instead of full coverage foundations. We take a lazy girl approach to our hair. We might even abbreviate our morning routines in favor of spending more time outdoors—I find I need to journal less when I’m touching grass more.

But our body care routines are different. As you show more skin in the summer, your body is exposed to irritants like pollution, chlorine, and a whole lot of sweat. Often, this leads to body breakouts or a stripped skin barrier from chemicals in pool water or in your products. But every shower is a chance to hit reset and set yourself up for glowy skin with an intentional but effortless full-body summer skincare routine.

The Secret to Full-Body Summer Skincare

It’s June, meaning the days are only going to get hotter from here. If we’re lucky, the temperatures will drop in October. Take this as your sign to stock up on deodorant and elevate your body care routine. While winter is about increasing moisturization and bolstering your skin barrier for the harsh, cold months, summer is about exfoliation and hydration to get smooth, glowy skin all summer long.

Different skin types have different concerns in the summer. If you have dry skin, you might suffer from extra dryness thanks to salt water or chlorine. If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to double up on sunscreen. And if you’re prone to body acne or keratosis pilaris (aka strawberry skin), sweat and sunscreen can feel like summer sabotage.

Just like with your face, a summer body care routine doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. It has to be targeted to your skincare goals.

Why invest in body care?

Our skin is our largest organ. Yet, so many of us overlook the skin on our body. I was raised to slather myself in Vaseline every morning to keep my skin moisturized. My life was like that clip of Tyra Banks, singing the praises of Vaseline, playing on repeat.

But as I grew older, I began to appreciate body care that nourished my skin without leaving it overly sticky and shiny. Don’t get me wrong, classics like Vaseline, shea butter, and Aquaphor are still staples. But for a more holistic body care practice, I had to choose products that addressed my specific skin needs.

Thinking of body care as a ritual is the first step. It’s not a chore. It’s not something to neglect. In the summer, a full-body routine should be part of getting dressed. However, as the body care industry has boomed, education around what our bodies need has not caught up. We may have more options, but putting together a full-body summer skincare routine still feels complex.

Unlike an everything shower, a summer bodycare routine doesn’t have to take hours. It can be as simple as one or two products that address your specific skin goals. As they say, the best skincare is the skincare you’ll use.

A Step-by-Step Summer Skincare Guide

Nothing is more satisfying than that glowy sheen you get in the summer with the right body products. But the bodycare boom has filled the shelves with so many red herrings that are either just water or sticky oils that don’t even absorb into the skin.

Here are the holy grails for each skin concern. Mix and match depending on what your skin needs. And remember: Always wear sunscreen.

For Dry Skin

Dry skin in the summer has different needs than dry skin in the winter. While thick, occlusive ingredients might work for summer nights, during the day, you want to focus on hydrating ingredients and preserving the strength of your moisture barrier.

This is especially important after sun exposure, to bring moisture back into the skin, and after swimming, to prevent stripping your skin with chemicals or salt water.

Dry skin can also benefit from light exfoliation to slough off dead skin. Think: products that physically exfoliate but also bring moisture back into the skin.

For Keratosis Pilaris

KP, also known as strawberry skin, is the result of clogged pores and, sometimes, ingrown hairs. It’s not body acne—it can’t be scrubbed away with a loofah. Instead, choose light chemical exfoliation and at-home microdermabrasion, especially after a day of sweating.

For Body Acne

Body acne is totally normal. And it’s even more common in the summer. Unfortunately, this can be a bummer when you’re trying to beat the heat in more skin-bearing summer tops.

Just like acne on your face, body acne, especially on your upper back, needs a gentle hand. Use gentle exfoliators and prevent trapping in dirt or sweat with tight fabrics. Instead, choose breathable fabrics and incorporate anti-acne products into your body care routine.

For Skin Protection

Protecting your skin in the summer is about listening to its needs. Getting sun exposure? Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply as needed. Post sun care? Soothe your skin with aloe. Want to boost your body’s resilience? Load up on antioxidant-rich skincare to protect against pollution.

By preventing skin damage and taking care of your skin barrier, you can keep your full-body summer routine even more streamlined.