Keep Cool and Dry Before You Apply!

HOT WEATHER, HAPPY SKIN, HAPPY SALLY

Even a skincare therapist can get it wrong!

I'm a bit of an all-or-nothing person, so I've been struggling with my skincare routine over these hot, baking, no-air-conditioning days.

As soon as I wake up (after another awful night's sleep), I'm already sweating, despite the bedroom fan spinning at a rate of knots. Once I finally get myself into the shower, I turn the water as cold as I can bear it (my partner prefers it warm) and stand there, slowly turning every 90 degrees until I finally feel cool.

Then I step out, gently pat myself dry and try not to do anything that will warm me up again.

But warm up I do.

By the time I've dried my face and opened the first bottle of skincare, my forehead, nose and chin are already wet again.

And that's where the problem starts.

I love my skincare routine. I genuinely enjoy taking my time and layering my products. Cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum, mist, moisturiser, SPF... it's a little ritual that I always looked forward to.

Every time I start applying my skincare, I begin sweating again. Before I've even reached the next bottle, my face is damp, my skin starts to sting, it goes a little red and I've even developed a touch of prickly heat - I had it as a kid and it was awful. I suspect I'm simply not giving each layer enough time to settle before moving on to the next.

I did think about putting all my skincare in the fridge downstairs, but I kept forgetting to put on my deodorant which was in the fridge. Then I wondered about a little skincare fridge upstairs... until I remembered there's no room to swing a dog in our bathroom, never mind installing white goods.

So, much to my frustration, I've simplified everything. Quite simply, I haven't got the patience to stand there waiting for each layer to sink in before I start sweating all over again.

Instead of reaching for every bottle on the shelf, I've gone back to the basics: a gentle cleanse followed by SPF during the day, and cleanser with a moisturiser in the evening.

Dunzo.

And do you know what? My skin (and me) is much happier for it.  No more itchy!

As much as I love a beautifully layered skincare routine, sometimes we simply need to adapt. Hot weather, humidity and perspiration can make it difficult for products to settle comfortably on the skin, and piling on layer after layer isn't always the answer (The Heat Dome, anyone?!).

Sometimes less really is more.

If you're struggling in this heat too, don't feel guilty about scaling your routine back for a few days. There are some excellent facial SPFs available now that don't cost a fortune, sit beautifully under makeup and give your skin exactly what it needs.

Talking of makeup... mine has become wonderfully simple too. At the moment it's mascara, a slick of lipstick and I'm out of the door. Fighting with foundation when it's 35°C both inside and outside? No thank you.

If, like me, you're trying to survive a heatwave without air conditioning, don't worry. Your full skincare routine will still be there when the weather cools down. In the meantime, keep your skin as cool and dry as you can before applying your products, simplify where you need to and don't be afraid to listen to what your skin is telling you.

Sometimes, the best skincare decision you can make is knowing when to do a little less.