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After you’ve learned on how to care for your hair at summertime, it’s time to make sure that your skin looks great and feels healthy this summer too. Summer can affect your skin in different ways, but the bottom line is that your routine does need a tweak or two no matter what your skin type. Even if you make the slightest change to your skin care routine in the summer, you can ward off major effects of UV damage and the elements.

Change Your Routine

Though the routine we’ll suggest might look to “metrosexual” for you, having great skin goes beyond that.

• Clean Out Those Pores
Summertime means that your skin will look and feel more oily. Your pores will seem larger when you factor in dirt and air pollution, so work hard to keep your pores clean. Your routine for younger skin should involve a preventative acne medication that includes chlorophyll, as well as cooling ingredients like eucalyptus, mint, and cyprus.

• Exfoliate, Exfoliate
Be sure to exfoliate your face when summer begins. Freshly exfoliated skin will receive sunscreen evenly and look more radiant. If you’re going to apply sunless tanner, exfoliating in advance will help you achieve an even golden glow.

• Get Summer-Specific Eye Cream
Calm those tired eyes with a rich eye cream. Summer sun can strain your eyes, even with sunglasses, and you should fight the effects of squinting and straining with the right cream. One that really works is Anti-AGE Advanced Protection Eye Cream SPF 25. The cream fights four signs of aging: pollution, sun, stress, and sugar.

• Use a Mask
Make it a rule to treat your skin once a week to a pore clarifying mask. Masks that will balance the pH of your skin are excellent for summer, and a finishing spray in an aerosol water mist will cool and refresh the skin at any time.

Summer Skin Checklist

Are you headed out on vacation? Protect your skin with these essentials:

• Sunscreen
Find a sunscreen that’s water resistant, and expect to apply about one ounce to cover your body. Neutrogena’s sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays, which is better for your skin in the long run.

• Medicated Chapstick with SPF
Keep the effects of wind and water at bay with a long-lasting medicated lip balm. If you have sensitive skin, stock up on a chapstick that fights fever blisters and cold sores, which can become a problem in prolonged sun exposure.

• Sunscreen Spritz
Apply a sunscreen spray to the back of your neck and arms to get to those hard-to-reach places.