People with dry skin should opt cleansers that have barrier protection and hydrating factor. Cream or gel cleansers are the best for dry skin. The ingredient you should be targeting should be glycolic acid and salicylic acid.

Oily or acne prone skin should have cleansers which are Foam based with the same active ingredients. Salicylic acid and Glycolic acids are best for acne prone skin but should be only used at night. Even if you have acne prone and oily skin type, you must not over cleanse your skin. Over cleansing leads to exfoliation of epidermis which signals the skin to produce more oil. Therefore, you should use mild face washes in the morning and acid-based cleansers at night.

Toner and Mists

Toners and mists are there to lay down a foundation for other skincare products. They are used for hydration, pigmentation and large pores. Toners are available in spray bottles or normal bottles which we use with cotton pads. Personally, I would suggest three sprays of toner or mist rather than swathing your face with cotton pads with toner in it.

Now in summers the pores are commonly enlarged, and large pores calls out for more oil production and also lead to clogged pores, acne alert. So, for large pores we have to include certain active ingredients in toners which will minimalize the pores and protect skin from excessive oil production and acne.

• Niacinamide
• AHA and BHA
• Lactic Acid

For dry skin add these ingredients in your toner

• Hyaluronic Acid
• Licorice
• Vitamin C
• Rose Water

Serum

There are hundreds of serums, but you still cannot find the perfect serum for summer skincare. Our skin goes through a roller coaster of changes from winter to summer and it needs our full attention. Face Serums play a vital role in giving the skin what it exactly needs. They are thin and concentrated form of active ingredients which are highly absorbable.

Summer skincare essential serums should have.

• Morning- Vitamin C Serum
• Alternative Nights- Niacinamide Serum
• And twice a week retinol serum that too only at night, on these days you shouldn’t be using niacinamide. Always pair the retinol serum with a thick moisturizer get a look into how to apply retinol in your skincare.

And just for a day do not apply anything on the skin just let it breathe for a day. Or if you still feel the need of applying serum, then apply Hyaluronic acid serum. Hyaluronic acid will keep the skin hydrated and will protect it from getting dried out.

Moisturizer

Low viscosity and gel moisturizers are always best for acne prone and oily skin. Whereas people with dry or combination skin can use a denser moisturizer but since it is still hot outside, try wearing a low viscosity moisturizer only. Because anyway we are going to top it with sunscreen.

Sunscreen

The game changer in summer skincare is sunscreen. Its 30°C in March and for sure the temperature will show its true colors in upcoming months. Sun protection is something that cannot be neglected, because even if you have an A game going on with cleansers, toners, serums and moisturizers if you miss on sunscreens you are going to get all the hard work in vain.

Which sunscreen to get?

Go for Sunscreens with SPF 50 or more and PA+++ or PA++++ protection grade of UVA. In summers we tend to get tanned and there is a lot of pigmentation, or blemishes seen on the skin. Your face and chest seem like zebra crossing. So, to avoid that reapply sunscreen every two to three hours, trust me on this, reapplication of the sunscreen will help with skin tanning significantly.

Also go for ingredients which are best in sunscreen such as.

• Titanium dioxide
• Avobenzone
• Oxybenzone
• Zinc oxide

Other active ingredients such as niacinamide, vitamin c, calamine, kojic acid etc. are secondary to a sunscreen. Always look for the listed sunscreen ingredients first.