School’s out, the weather’s warming up and we all feel a little more carefree come summertime. As the change of season brings with it new activities and opportunities to spend time outdoors, it’s worth the effort to make sure you’re keeping your skin safe and feeling its best. With the help of some must-have products from SkinCeuticals and advice from board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, we’ll help you do just that in this summer skin care guide. Let’s dig into 5 things to put on your summer skin care to-do list, including:

• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen

• Practice sun safety when outdoors

• Address insect bites and poison ivy

• Improve and defend against skin discoloration

• Switch to a lighter-weight moisturizer

Summer skin care tip #1: Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen

There’s a reason why wearing sunscreen daily is at the top of the list on our summer skin care guide. “Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or more is encouraged to help protect your skin from sun damage that can eventually lead to skin cancer,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “This is important to do no matter what time of year it is—though an SPF 15 is fine during the winter—but it’s especially crucial in the summer months when people tend to spend more time outside and UV rays are stronger because the sun is higher in the sky. Additionally, more time is spent outside during summer months, which particularly impacts the importance of a long-lasting sunscreen.” SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is a lightweight, pleasant-to-wear broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays with a blend of two mineral blockers, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. This formula is designated as reef-safe, making it a great choice for your next beach trip.

“Reapplying sunscreen throughout the day if you are out and about is just as important as that first application in the morning,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “If you are sweating, sunscreen can last even less than the bottle or tube says, so err on the side of caution if you are doing heavy outdoor activities.”

Summer skin care tip #2: Practice sun safety when outdoors

Support the protection you get from sunscreen with smart choices for sun safety while outdoors this summer. This includes seeking out the shade and staying out of direct sun during peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Of course, depending on your plans, that might not always be possible. If you must be out in the sun during peak times, cover up as much as possible with UPF clothing, sunglasses and a hat. “Your scalp and ears are especially vulnerable spots if left uncovered,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “A wide-brimmed hat does a great job protecting those areas from the sun. I particularly like the Tilley brand, which can be found in most sporting goods stores.”

Summer skin care tip #3: Soothe itching from summer skin woes

If your warm-weather plans involve hiking, gardening, camping or other outdoor escapades, you may get a few bug bites or end up with an itchy rash from a run-in with poison ivy, poison oak or sumac. FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm is a smart skin remedy to have on hand for such occasions. “My son Dr. Daniel Schlessinger and I created this medicated balm to heal irritated, itchy skin with a combination of hydrocortisone and shea and cocoa butters,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “We had to try 54 different formulations before we found a product that had the consistency and feel that we liked. It is difficult to create a product that’s portable, won’t melt in the summer heat and is easy to apply without getting your hands messy or greasy, but that is one reason why we love this product. I still wouldn’t put it out on your dashboard in 100-degree weather, but it does withstand a reasonable amount of heat.”

Summer skin care tip #4: Address skin discoloration

If you have hyperpigmentation on your face from past sun exposure in the form of freckles or sun spots, consider adding a corrective serum such as SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense to your skin care routine. This daily facial serum contains a lineup of active ingredients that are designed to work together to reduce the appearance of dark spots: 1% kojic acid, 3% tranexamic acid, 5% niacinamide and 5% HEPES. It also makes a great at-home companion to use between in-office procedures such as chemical peels. Preventing future skin discoloration is also important in the summer. SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF Antioxidant Vitamin C Discoloration Serum is formulated to help prevent skin discoloration from sun exposure by neutralizing free radicals with 1% pure vitamin C, 2% phloretin and 0.5% ferulic acid. These potent active ingredients can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Summer skin care tip #5: Switch to a lighter-weight moisturizer

If you like to use a rich moisturizer throughout the winter months, you might notice it can start to feel a bit heavy once warmer weather hits. Embrace the season change and switch to a lighter-weight formula for your daily moisturizer, such as SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture Lightweight Moisturizer. This non-comedogenic formula is suitable for normal to oily skin and dries to a natural, makeup-ready finish without any hint of greasiness. Plus, vitamin E and glycerin work together to hydrate skin, leaving it looking and feeling soft and smooth.

Have you ever wondered if you need to wear sunscreen indoors? Learn more about why you should wear SkinCeuticals sunscreen indoors on the LovelySkin Blog.