How to Get Smooth Skin for Summer

Picture this all too relatable scenario: You've been cooped up inside for months and are quickly becoming resentful of the sweatpants that you work and sleep in every day—but hey, you're not going out, right?

Sound a little too familiar? Well, we didn't make it up! This just happens to be the present problem for women worldwide who are just now realizing that summer's around the corner, and it might be time to put the sweatpants away and shave those legs.

Sure, your self-care routines have suffered from months in quarantine and not having the social cues to remind you to do some of the glow-up routines that made you feel and look your best. But it's okay, don't stress! We've got you. Be sure to follow our quick guide below so you can learn how to get your skin glowing and summer-ready in basically no time at all.

Crafting Your Routine for Your Smoothest Skin Ever

After months in hibernation, it's time to step your pamper routine up! First place to start: the shower.

For maintaining healthy glowing skin, it is incredibly important that you are properly cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing the skin—especially in the warmer summer months! Odds are you're probably going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, and your skin can really take a beating after all that sun, dirt, oil, and pollution build up. Plus, once the temperatures turn up, your oil glands become even more active, and that brings on - you guessed it - the lovely combination of sweat and oil.

Step 1: Cleansing

To combat this, cleansing will be your first line of attack. This step doesn't have to be extravagant, just lathering your body with a bar of sudsy soap can be enough to wash away the day. We recommend spending 2 - 3 minutes washing your body and then rinsing with warm (not too hot) water.

If you need a little help getting in the summer mood, opt for a scent that will uplift your spirits and remind you of warmer days away. Our favorites? We're obsessed with our Signature Hawaiian Coconut and Mango Guava scents because they are so reminiscent of a tropical beach vacation, and it doesn't take much to get us on board with that vibe.

Step 2: Exfoliating 

After cleansing, you will want to exfoliate using a gentle (but effective) sugar- and salt-based scrub that will stimulate blood flow and slough off the top layer of dead skin cells. Since your legs and arms will be exposed all season long, you really don't want to skimp on this extra step, as it will create the perfect foundation for moisturizers and prevent build up of dirt and oils. 

Choosing the perfect exfoliating scrub for your skin doesn't just come down to the scent and whether or not it's sugar- or salt-based. You also want to make sure that the scrub's active ingredients are best suited for your skin.

For Normal Skin:

If the skin on your body is normal but could use a boost of hydration during the summer months, opt for an oil-based scrub. Look for oils such as coconut, jojoba, almond, or argan oil, as these are rich in omega fatty acids and natural moisturizing agents that will keep skin smooth and hydrated.

For Dry, Sensitive, or Mature Skin:

If you have dry, sensitive, or mature skin, choosing a butter-based scrub with a butter like shea, babassu, or cocoa in the ingredients, will deeply nourish and add a radiant glow to the skin.

Step 3: Moisturizing

After the shower, it is best to immediately apply your moisturizing body butter to slightly damp skin to lock in the moisture. Body butters are a creamy, fabulous way to give your skin an extra boost of healing hydration and moisture, all while providing the foundation for glowing, bouncy, youthful-looking skin.

And to top it all off (and make you look like a million bucks)—a body oil is the "cherry on top" of your summer skincare routine as it will give you that perfect summer glow in seconds. Our body oils are formulated with purposeful and impactful oils like shea nut, safflower, and avocado oil, which are high in antioxidant vitamin E to help fade scars and stretch marks, promote skin elasticity and texture, and reduce bumps and redness.

Bella Skin Tip:

On those days when you want something lightweight, and that will give you a glowy appearance, it's totally okay to dive right into body oil and skip the body butter altogether! We especially love this trick when we're doing a quick touch-up before going out.

Do You Need to Exfoliate in the Summer? (The Answer is Yes.)

The summer months are always busy, and you may be wondering if exfoliating is even worth that extra step a couple times a week. Well, the short answer is yes! And here's why.

There's a reason why you tend to feel extra clean after scrubbing in the shower. Exfoliating helps to get rid of the excess dead skin cells, dirt, and grime that accumulate on the skin—especially as we start spending more and more time outdoors. 

But that's not all. Exfoliation is the key to glowing summer skin since regularly polishing your body can help brighten and even skin tone, boost circulation for a youthful glow, prevent in-grown hairs and clogged pores, say goodbye to dry patches, and help your body butters and hydrating oils better penetrate your skin.

Since our body scrubs are formulated with some of the most nourishing, natural ingredients on the market, they are gentle enough to be used up to 3 times a week. We even recommend letting the scrub and its natural oils sit on the skin for 1 to 2 minutes before rinsing, just to help soak in all those yummy ingredients.