Now’s the time of year when you want to be outside, enjoying the great weather and soaking up the sunshine. But if you’re not careful, those same situations that make this season such a blast can also wreak havoc on your complexion. As the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense. Here’s how to make sure you can avoid summer skin bummers before they happen.

Reduce Redness

There are many reasons your complexion could begin to resemble a cherry tomato. “Redness develops in the initial stages of a sunburn, and this is due to UV exposure,” says Shejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Redness is also a sign of rosacea, which can flare with both ultraviolet radiation and heat.” It can also indicate irritation or an allergic reaction. So what’s a person to do? Sunscreen is an important first step. (We love Make P:rem Blue Ray Sun Gel SPF 50+.) “Once you’ve developed redness, look for soothing and calming ingredients, such as aloe vera, chamomile, colloidal oatmeal, and niacinamide,” Dr. Shah says. Whamisa Organic Flowers Deep Rich Essence Toner is packed with nourishing aloe vera extract, making it gentle enough for even the most reactive skin.

Dispatch Dryness

Although you may think dehydration is something skin is more likely to experience in the winter, air-conditioning, chlorine, and sun exposure make your complexion susceptible to moisture loss in the warm-weather months. To ward off flakiness, use a gold-standard hydrator, such as hyaluronic acid (found in Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer), on the reg. If skin needs some TLC, Dr. Shah suggests a product containing reparative ceramides, which are a main ingredient in Make P:rem Micro Tension Cream.

Banish Brown Spots

Once again, you can thank UV rays for any excess pigment patches. Daily application of
sunscreen is a must to ward off new formation of spots. According to Dr. Shah, some topical antioxidants, such as vitamin C, may also help to lighten existing marks. Alpha-hydroxy acids can help with this as well. Find both in the Glow Recipe Pineapple-C Bright Serum — a powerful brightener that fades dark spots and post-pimple marks.

Clear Out Clogged Pores

“In the summer, the skin tends to produce more oil,” Dr. Shah says. “This extra oil combines with dead skin cells, impurities, and other debris to plug pores.” And create breakouts. To prevent pimples from getting a chance to take hold, Dr. Shah recommends using ingredients that increase cell turnover, such as retinoids and exfoliating acids. Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask is rich in poly-hydroxy acids, the most gentle chemical exfoliator, plus pore- clearing kaolin clay and anti-bacterial honey. It works overnight to resurface, restore, and revive dull, congested complexions.

Stop Swelling

“Puffiness in the summer is due to heat,” Dr. Shah says. “As the body temperature rises, blood vessels in the skin will dilate, and this increased flow will cause some fluid to leak into the surrounding tissue and lead to swelling.” Obviously, the key is to avoid the high temps, but that’s not always possible. If you feel as though your face is retaining fluid, try a cooling, depuffing mask, such as Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Jelly Sheet Mask, which uses watermelon and hyaluronic acid to soothe and hydrate.