CosBeauty Magazine #94

Q&A with
Dr Burcu Kim
SKIN
DO WE NEED TO LIGHTEN
UP OUR SKINCARE
ROUTINES IN SUMMER?
Yes, especially if your skin is oily or
acne-prone. The heat and humidity of
the warmer months, when combined
with thick and occlusive products,
can clog your pores and contribute
to acne and inflammation. It is best
to switch to lighter formulations in
summer and make sure your makeup
products are non-comedogenic or
oil-free.
SHOULD WE BE
EXFOLIATING MORE OR
LESS IN SUMMER?
It’s best not to overdo it with
exfoliation at any time of the year.
Generally, I would recommend
exfoliating two to three times a week
for normal skin. If your skin is prone
to acne and on the oily side, you
can try exfoliating a little bit more in
summer. Conversely, if your skin is
prone to dryness and irritation, which
is more often the case in winter, then
you should exfoliate less.
Another thing to consider is
that we tend to spend more time
outdoors in the sun, and the AHAs
/ BHAs that we use to exfoliate can
make skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Remember to apply sunscreen and
moisturise to help mitigate any sunsensitivity
and irritation.
HOW CAN WE KEEP SKIN
HYDRATED WITHOUT
BEING OILY?
It’s important to keep moisturising
your skin even during the warmer
months, however it is best to
switch to a lighter formulation. The
combination of heat, sweat and oil
with occlusive skincare products
and makeup can lead to breakouts.
Lighter formations include gel-cream
moisturisers, or simply opt for a
hyaluronic acid serum under your SPF.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally
occurring ingredient which is
classified as a humectant – a
substance that retains moisture and
is capable of binding over 1,000
times its weight in water. As such,
it is a key ingredient to look for in
your moisturiser. L’Oréal Paris has
recently launched the True Match
Nude Plumping Tinted Serum which
includes the plumping power of
1% hyaluronic acid. This is a great
product to add to your summer
beauty routine to help keep your
skin hydrated.
WHY DOES
PIGMENTATION SEEM
MORE PROMINENT IN
SUMMER? HOW CAN
WE HELP TO REVERSE
CUMULATIVE SUN
DAMAGE?
There are many different reasons
we might have pigmentation on our
face, however the greatest enemy
is UV radiation. Your epidermis
contains cells called melanocytes that
store and produce pigment known
as melanin. These melanocytes
produce more melanin in response
to UV radiation. With increased
sun exposure, pigmentation often
gets worse in summer. Wearing a
physical sunblock, such as zinc oxide,