Summer skin: best treatments and SPF habits for the warmer months
Believe in Beautiful Blog
Summer in Brisbane means long days, afternoon storms and humidity that has you sweating the moment you step outside. Your skin feels it too: more oil, more shine, the occasional breakout and plenty of sun.
Here’s how to adjust your routine, which treatments suit the warmer months, and how to stay smooth and glowing all season long.
Lighten your routine for heat and humidity
The rich creams that felt perfect in winter can feel heavy once the humidity arrives. A few simple swaps help:
- Cleanse well at night. Sweat, sunscreen and oil build up through the day. A foaming cleanser such as our Rejuvenating Foaming Cleanser ($69) helps lift it all away.
- Go lighter, not skip it. Skin can still be dehydrated even when it feels oily. Try a hydrating serum like the Pure Hydration Concentrate Serum ($99) under a lighter moisturiser.
- Control oil gently. Harsh scrubs can leave skin irritated. Gentle exfoliation once or twice a week, for example with the AHA Power Exfoliant ($59), helps keep skin smooth. Use it as directed and always follow with SPF.
- Blot, don’t pile on powder. Blotting papers take care of midday shine without layering more product on your skin.
If the humidity tends to bring on breakouts, our acne concern page has more advice.
SPF habits that actually protect your skin
- Apply SPF 50+ every morning to your face, neck, ears, chest and hands, even if you’re mostly indoors.
- Reapply regularly, at least every two hours when you’re outdoors, and after swimming, sweating or towel drying.
- Add a hat and sunnies. A wide-brimmed hat protects the areas sunscreen often misses, and shade in the middle of the day helps too.
- Treat makeup SPF as a bonus. Our mineral foundations and BB Cream contain SPF15, which is a nice extra layer but not a replacement for SPF 50+ underneath.
The best skin treatments for summer
Summer is all about treatments that refresh, calm and hydrate, with little or no downtime.
- LED ($180, 40 min): blue light for breakouts and red light to calm inflammation. It’s painless with no downtime, though it isn’t suitable if you’re on photosensitising medication such as isotretinoin. Read more about LED light therapy.
- Hydro Jelly ($180, 40 min): Esthemax Hydrojelly® algae-based masks that help with hydration, redness and dullness. Perfect before a summer event.
- Micro Skin Treatment ($180, 40 min): microdermabrasion that gently exfoliates for smoother, brighter-looking skin. You may be a little pink for a few hours.
- Everyday peels ($180, 40 min): choose from the Sensitive, Mature Skin, Youthful Skin and Oily Skin Peels. The Oily Skin Peel (15% salicylic) is popular when humidity brings congestion. Diligent daily SPF afterwards is a must.
What about stronger corrective work? Higher-strength peels, skin needling and pigmentation treatments such as Cosmelan are often best saved for the cooler months, when it’s easier to keep your skin out of the sun while it recovers. Your therapist will advise what’s right for you.
Want glowing skin all summer without the planning? The Radiance Club ($135 a month, regular value $180, save 25%) gives you one Radiance Skin Treatment every month, with your therapist choosing a modality such as LED, a peel or Hydro Jelly to suit your skin on the day. Members also save 20% on Australian Skin Institute and Tugun Compounding Pharmacy retail. See the details on our memberships page.
Hair-free summer: waxing or IPL?
| Waxing | IPL hair removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Results | Smooth for around 3 to 6 weeks | Long-term hair reduction over a course |
| How often | Every 4 to 6 weeks | Usually every 4 to 8 weeks |
| Sun and tanning | Shave or wax at least 24 hours before a spray tan | Avoid sun and tanning on the area 2 weeks before and after |
| Before you start | Hair about 5 mm long | Free consultation required |
Waxing is quick and easy to fit around summer plans. Popular choices include a Brazilian ($79), Half Leg ($65), Underarm ($29) or a Brazilian & Half Leg combo ($144). Exfoliate 24 to 48 hours before your appointment. First time? Read your first wax: what to expect.
IPL offers long-term reduction, but because you need to avoid sun and tanning on the treated area for 2 weeks before and after each session, summer takes extra care. Cover the area, wear SPF 50+ and plan around beach days and tans. A free consultation is required before any IPL treatment. Learn more in IPL hair removal: how it works.
New clients can choose one first-visit offer, including 50% off waxing, IPL, massage or spray tanning. See our offers.
Get your glow from a bottle, not the sun
A spray tan gives you sun-kissed colour without the UV. A Full Body Spray Tan is $49 and takes about 10 minutes, with an Extra Tan Coat Add-On for $29.
- Exfoliate, and shave or wax, at least 24 hours beforehand.
- Skip moisturiser, deodorant, perfume and makeup on the day, and wear loose, dark clothes.
- Rinse off after 2 to 6 hours, as guided by your therapist on the day.
- Moisturise daily to help your tan last around 5 to 7 days.
Remember there’s no SPF in a tan, so keep up your sunscreen. If you’re having IPL, avoid tanning for 2 weeks before and after each session. More tips in our guide to a flawless spray tan.
Stay summer-ready with a Beauty Pass
The Beauty Pass gives you monthly credit to spend on waxing, IPL, lashes and brows, spray tanning and massage, and you choose your treatments each month.
- Essential: $69 a month for $85 credit. Covers a Brazilian wax ($79).
- Maintenance: $99 a month for $125 credit. Our most popular pass, covering a Brazilian & Underarm wax combo ($108).
- Complete: $149 a month for $200 credit. Enough for a Brazilian & Half Leg wax ($144) plus a spray tan ($49).
There’s a 6-month minimum commitment. Compare all options on our memberships page.
Ready to book? Get your skin, hair removal and glow sorted before the heat really kicks in. Book online or find your nearest clinic on our clinics page.
