Summer Skin Care Tips: 6 Steps to a Natural Glow

April 6, 2026 · Edited by Shahid Hussain

By June, your face feels oily by noon, your sunscreen slides off with the sweat, and the tan line from your dupatta won’t fade.

Summer skin care has six steps: SPF 30 every day, gentle washing after sweat, a light moisturiser, careful exfoliation, lighter make-up and, if you want more glow, a clinic facial. Sun protection matters most: in a 4.5-year trial, daily sunscreen users showed no detectable increase in skin ageing.¹

Why does skin struggle in summer?

Strong sun darkens pigment and ages skin, and up to 80% of the sun’s harmful rays can reach you through cloud.² UVA also passes through window glass, so time in a car counts too.² Sweat adds to the problem. It irritates skin, especially under a helmet or hat.³

What are the six steps?

1. Wear SPF 30 or higher every day

Choose a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen. Use at least a teaspoon on your face, about 15 minutes before you go out, and reapply every two hours and straight after sweating.⁴ If your skin is oily, look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide without fragrance or oils.⁵ If you get dark patches, a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide also helps against visible light.²

2. Wash gently, and after you sweat

Use a gentle foaming face wash up to twice a day and after sweating. Avoid scrubbing, even to remove make-up, and skip oil-based or alcohol-based cleansers. During the day, press a blotting paper on shiny areas for a few seconds without rubbing.⁵

3. Keep moisturising, with something light

Oily skin still needs moisturiser, so choose one labelled oil-free and noncomedogenic.⁵ A gel is lighter than other types and is often water-based.⁶

4. Exfoliate carefully, or not at all

Start with once a week. The more aggressive the method, the less often you need it, and overdoing it leaves skin red and irritated. Stop if you are sunburnt, and don’t combine it with retinoids or benzoyl peroxide. Strong scrubs and acids can leave dark spots, especially on darker skin.⁷ If you have acne, dermatologists advise avoiding exfoliants altogether.⁸

5. Lighten your make-up

Choose oil-free, water-based products with a matte label, and never sleep in your make-up.⁵ Keep your hands away from your face during the day, because touching it can make acne flare.⁸

6. Add a clinic facial if you want more

A HydraFacial clears pores and hydrates in about 40 minutes, with no downtime, and the glow lasts a few weeks. That makes it easy to fit in during summer. It works on the surface, so deeper pigment needs a peel or laser.

What does the research say about HydraFacial?

HydraFacial uses a technique called hydradermabrasion. In a trial of it in 20 women aged 34 to 56, six sessions reduced fine lines, pore size and pigmentation, while the same serum applied by hand changed nothing.⁹ In 20 adults with mild to moderate acne, six sessions two weeks apart raised the share with clear or almost clear skin from 20% to 65%, as rated by investigators.¹⁰ Both studies are small, and the acne study had no comparison group.

Does drinking more water make skin glow?

It may help a little. In a small study of 49 young women, more water improved skin hydration, especially in those who usually drank less.¹¹ Water won’t replace sunscreen or moisturiser, but in a Pakistani summer there are plenty of other reasons to drink it. A diet with plenty of fresh produce may also help prevent skin damage, while a high-sugar diet may speed ageing up.³

What if the tan or dark patches don’t fade?

A doctor can check which kind of pigment you have, because each kind is treated differently. Our sun tan removal page covers a tan that won’t fade, and our pigmentation treatments page compares the options, including peels and pico laser. If your skin feels dry and dull after the heat, a skin booster such as Profhilo is another option.

Consultations for aesthetic treatments are free at all 12 of our clinics, and you can ask for a female doctor. For a deeper clean before the heat, see HydraFacial in Karachi or HydraFacial in Rawalpindi.

Medically reviewed by Dr Sadaf Saleem, Dermatologist, FCPS (Dermatology), PM&DC 62494-P; Dr Junaid Rabbani, Dermatologist, PM&DC 44510-S; and Dr Shegref Mushtaq, Dermatologist, FCPS (Dermatology), PM&DC 19827-N