Skincare Tips for Redness

From sunny skies and beach trips to ice lollies and paddling pools, there’s plenty to look forward to about summer – but if you are prone to skin redness, the very things you love about sunny weather might also trigger flushed cheeks and an unwanted glow.

UV exposure, heat, humidity, and sweat can all contribute to common temporary skin irritations such as flushed cheeks, sunburn, and Polymorphic Light Eruption (PLE) – a bumpy, red sun irritation that affects up to 10-20% of the population.

But help is at hand – there are plenty of things you can try if you’re looking for ways to calm a summer flush.

Top 5 Summer Skincare Tips

• Stay out of the sun

  Seeking shade and dodging direct rays not only helps to keep your overall body temperature down, but reduces the risk of sunburn and skin damage. Wear a wide-brim hat, carry a parasol and avoid stepping out between 11am-3pm when the sun is at its strongest – your skin will thank you!

• Use SPF

  The NHS recommends sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB, and at least 4-star UVA protection. Make sure you apply sun cream liberally, as applying too little reduces its effectiveness, and reapply at least every 2 hours – and if you’re taking a dip, reapply after every swim!

• Immediate cooling relief

  Lowering your skin temperature can help to reduce redness and discomfort – and there are lots of easy ways to do it. Shark ChillPill features an InstaChill Cooling Plate which you can touch against your skin to instantly reduce temperature on contact – plus it has a personal-sized fan and mister for on-the-go cooling.

  If you’d like to include instant cooling relief in your skincare routine, look to the Shark DePuffi – a Gua Sha inspired curved sculpting tool with InstaChill mode to help contour the face, depuff under-eyes and rapidly help your skin to feel soothed. Not just for your face, try it on your neck, shoulders and more.

  For a tech-free option, try a cool, damp flannel to your forehead or pulse points.

• Choose anti-redness skincare

  Which skincare ingredients are best for fighting redness? "Cica" (Centella Asiatica) is a popular plant-derived ingredient that is often used in skincare products that aim to calm the appearance of redness. Niacinamide is also thought to have powerful anti-redness properties alongside pore minimising and dark spot reducing benefits.

• Balance redness with green tones

  Green-toned concealers and primers have long been a staple of makeup afficionados as the colour helps to balance out redness to achieve a neutral tone. Although it will not treat any underlying conditions or causes of redness, green concealer can offer an instant confidence boost.