The best glow up is a state of mind. Here’s how to glow up inside (and out) this summer.
– KEYS SOULCARE
Glowing up is so much more than meets the eye. It’s about living in alignment with your best self and discovering exactly what lights you up, whether that’s incorporating a meaningful gratitude practice or soaking up extra time outside while the weather’s nice.
From soul-nurturing skincare rituals to daily self-care essentials, these ten glow up tips will help you feel your best this summer and beyond.
1. UP THE ANTIOXIDANTS
Did you know you can find antioxidants not only in what you eat, but also what you put on your skin? Antioxidant-rich foods include berries, nuts, and leafy vegetables. Eating in alignment with the seasons can be a nourishing way to increase the antioxidants in your diet, which can help the body defend against free radicals and environmental aggressors (or stressors).
Skincare is another place you can find antioxidants.Use dermatologist-developed formulas with ingredients that are rich in antioxidants, like the marula and baobab oils in Sacred Moisturizing Body Oil, the sunflower seed oil in the Radiant Eye Cream With Peptides, or rose water in Let Me Glow Illuminating Primer Face Serum with Niacinamide.
2. BECOME BFFS WITH YOUR SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen is a must year-round, but especially during the summer months when UVA and UVB rays are at their height. Use a multi-tasking sunscreen like Protect Your Light Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 for a boost of both hydration and sun protection (sans white cast). Remember to apply sunscreen to the tops of the ears, wear a hat to help protect your scalp, and reapply at least every two hours when exposed to prolonged sunlight.
3. CHANGE OUT OF WET CLOTHES
You might be tempted to keep your swimsuit on all day long, but staying in wet clothes can feel less than luxurious. Remember to pack a change of clothes — especially must-haves like underwear and socks — so you can stay dry and comfortable no matter how long you’re out and about. Nothing says glam in the summer like multiple outfit options!
4. HARNESS THE POWER OF THE COLD SHOWER
A refreshing shower after a day’s worth of sun and sand is an elite feeling. After gently cleansing your body with the Renewing Body + Hand Wash, why not end your shower with a burst of cool water? There are many benefits to taking a cool shower, such as feeling more awake, quickly boosting your mood, or increasing circulation.
5. SWAP BODY LOTION FOR BODY OIL
The last thing you want to do in the heat of the summer is wait for your body lotion to dry down. Instead, reach for a lightweight, hydrating alternative to lotion, like our Sacred Moisturizing Body Oil. It uses a nourishing blend of fast-absorbing oils like marula, baobab and jojoba, leaving skin hydrated without feeling greasy. You can even apply it to to your hair and nails whenever they need a little TLC.
6. PUT DOWN THE RETINOL
When it comes to summertime skincare, less tends to be more. As temps rise and the sun stays out longer, you’ll want to skip rich facial creams and stronger active ingredients — like retinol — in favor of a gentler, summer-friendly routine. Retinol may affect your skin’s sensitivity to the sun (though everyone’s skin is unique!), so it’s recommended you pair retinol with sunscreen year round. You can also opt for a gentler retinol alternative like bakuchiol instead.
If you find your skin is craving more hydration after a long day at the beach or a balmy night out with friends, squalane and peptides are two super ingredients in your skincare that you can rely on to help keep skin soft and maintain hydration — even when temperatures are scorching.
Truly Becoming Peptide Serum and Firm Belief Smoothing Peptide Cream are two soulcare offerings that harness the power of peptides to help provide long-lasting hydration and help improve the appearance of fine lines.
A facial oil can be a soul-nurturing addition to your PM skincare ritual. Deeply Replenishing Squalane Facial Oil delivers a boost of lightweight hydration, replenishing skin overnight thanks to a blend of antioxidant-rich and nutrient-rich oils like squalane plus prickly pear seed oil and pomegranate seed oil.
Or, try incorporating a daily serum to your ritual like Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum to help balance skin’s appearance (and give you a serious glow.) Niacinamide helps brighten while rosewater plus squalane helps to replenish dry, dull skin.
7. REMEMBER TO CLEANSE
Your skin goes through a lot in the summer — heat, sweat, pollution, sunscreen, makeup, salt water, you name it. Keep your cleanser game simple and effective with a gentle formula like Golden Face Cleanser, which removes dirt, makeup and impurities while leaving skin feeling soft and refreshed.
You can use also turn your daily cleanse into a ritual of presence and gratitude. As you lather Golden Cleanser onto your skin, take in the soothing sage and oat milk scent and repeat the affirmation: “I am devoted to this moment.”
8. KEEP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean skimping on support for your immune system! There are many ways to keep your immune system strong during the summer, like:
- Eat plenty of leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables
- Try prebiotics or probiotics for gut support
- Take supplements like Vitamin C or Vitamin D
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated
9. JOURNAL OUT YOUR FEELINGS
A true glow up happens inside and out, and our thoughts dictate our reality. Practice daily self-care with the Gratitude Journal, a safe place to process and document your summer memories. You might find having a journal dedicated to your summer is a meaningful way to catalogue the small joys of each day.
Featuring soul-nurturing affirmations from Alicia Keys, you can use the gratitude journal as part of your morning routine or daily rituals. As you write, consider the affirmation: “I am a masterpiece, a beautiful work in progress.”
10. STAY HYDRATED
Hydration is so much more than skin deep. You can use moisturizing and hydrating skincare everyday, but ultimately, drinking adequate amounts of water is going to help you feel your best — especially when it’s hot outside. Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses a day.
How are you showing up and glowing up — inside and out — this summer? Share your summer glow up tips with us.
Related Stories
