Summer has arrived! To help you look your best during the dog days of summer, San Francisco dermatologist Dr. Sheena Kong shares some warm-weather beauty tips.
How to Moisturize During Summer — Introducing Hyalogy
In winter, the focus of your skincare routine should be keeping your skin ultra hydrated. In summer, however, you can modify your skincare routine and ditch those heavy cream-based skincare formulas. Dr. Sheena Kong introduces Hyalogy, the first skincare line containing nano-size hyaluronic acid. The nano hyaluronic acid can be absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin to provide optimal moisture. Dr. Kong’s favorites for summer skincare are Hyalogy Serum and Basing Emulsion. If your skin is always dry, try switching from using a face wash that is cream based to using one that is gel based. You can also try using a foaming face wash instead. These lighter formulas are better at soaking up excess oil than the heavier cream-based formulas. One of Dr. Kong’s favorite face washes is the P-effect Re-purerance Wash by Hyalogy. This is a foam wash containing palm and coconut oil, with an anti-inflammatory, healing and refreshing effect.
In addition, the oilier skin that most of us tend to have during summer can withstand an extra day of exfoliating. So, if you normally exfoliate once a week, you may want to try exfoliating twice a week to help keep pores free of dead skin cells, sweat, oil, makeup and other debris that can clog up the surface of your skin. Dr. Kong recommends Clear and Brilliant laser-resurfacing treatment throughout the summer to provide skin resurfacing and keep the skin clear in the summer sunshine.
Sunscreen and Free Radicals
Dr. Sheena Kong recommends wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 50 and reapplying sunscreen throughout the day. She recommends SkinCeutical Physical Fusion SPF 50 and Journee from Neocutis, a tinted moisturizer with built-in sunscreen. In addition, free radicals that are naturally produced by our cells can lead to unwanted pigmentation and collagen breakdown. Dr. Kong recommends using SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic or Phloretin CF in the morning. These products will act like free radical scavengers, which protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Embrace Your Summer Glow
Remember that many men prefer when women have a subtle glow about them, so use your summer glow to your advantage. Dr. Sheena Kong suggests using Skinceuticals Retexturizing Activator serum to achieve more even skin tone and, thus, a healthy skin glow. This serum is very gentle. After using it for two weeks each night, you will see a clearer complexion with a healthy glow.
For Additional Summer Skincare Help
If you would like additional assistance with your skincare regimen or with correcting already-visible signs of sun damage (e.g., dark spots, wrinkles), contact Dr. Kong for help. She can evaluate your skin and offer effective cosmetic treatment options to help you look your best, no matter what time of year it is.
To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Kong, please contact our San Francisco medical spa by calling (415) 673-7600 today.
