Summer’s here—and if you’re still using the same skincare routine from June, girl, switch it up. That spring lineup is probably clogging your pores right now and dimming your glow. It doesn’t belong in your summer bag.
You see, hot weather hits differently. The heat, humidity, and stronger UV rays cause your skin to react in new ways, and your routine has to match that energy.
Whether your skin is dry, oily, or a little bit of both, giving it what it needs this summer will make all the difference.
So, today I’ll be sharing simple yet effective glow-up hacks to keep your skin thriving all season. Let’s get into it.
1. Ditch the Heavy Foundation
Girl, it’s 92 degrees outside, and your foundation is fighting for its life. If your base is sliding off by noon, it’s time to switch things up. Hot girl skin starts with lightweight, breathable foundation, and skin tints are where it’s at.
Unlike full-coverage foundations that feel (and look) cakey in heat, skin tints even out your tone while letting your freckles and real texture shine through. They’re breathable, glow-enhancing, and won’t suffocate your pores.
Plus, many of them come with skincare benefits, such as niacinamide for oil control, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and SPF for sun protection, which is a major bonus for summer days when you’re out and about.
Using a skin tint foundation can also help prevent heat-triggered breakouts and gives you that fresh, no-makeup makeup look.
Apply with clean fingers or a damp sponge, blend it in, and set with a light dusting of translucent powder if you get oily. You’ll be glowing all day, not greasy.
Hot Picks:
- Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop—Blurs like magic
- Glossier Skin Tint—For that dewy, hydrated look
- Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer—Lightweight with SPF 20
2. Exfoliate Like a Pro
You know that dull, flaky, meh skin that clings to your makeup? That’s your sign to exfoliate, babe. But before you reach for that gritty scrub from 2015, pause. Summer skin is sensitive, and over-exfoliating can mess up your barrier fast.
When your skin is already battling sun, sweat, and environmental stressors, it’s even more important to exfoliate gently.
Dead skin cells build up faster in warm weather due to increased oil production and more time spent outdoors. This results in more clogged pores, more breakouts, and less glow.
So, chemical exfoliants, like glycolic acid and lactic acid, are your besties this season. They gently exfoliate dead skin without the harsh scrubbing that can cause microtears and inflammation.
They also make your skin absorb all that goodness your skincare offers and give you smooth skin. And let’s not forget: the smoother the skin, the better the makeup.
Here are some exfoliation tips for glowing skin:
- Use exfoliating toner or pads after cleansing at night
- Follow up with a hydrating serum (snail mucin is elite)
- Always wear sunscreen the next day (or your fresh new skin might get sunburned)
3. Hydration > Everything
If you want dewy, juicy, bouncier skin this summer, hydration isn’t optional.
Summer heat, UV exposure, chlorine from pools, and saltwater from the beach all mess with your skin barrier. That’s why your skin may suddenly feel tight or irritated, even if it’s oily.
Constantly hydrating your skin helps keep your skin soft and resilient, allowing you to lock in moisture and keep it from getting irritated.
Start with a hydrating toner or essence to lay the groundwork. Follow it up with a humectant serum like hyaluronic acid or polyglutamic acid, which actually holds 4x more moisture than hyaluronic acid.
Here’s how to layer your skincare for summer:
- Step 1: Toner or mist (Haruharu Black Rice Toner is elite)
- Step 2: Serum with HA, polyglutamic acid, or panthenol
- Step 3: Moisturizer with ceramides to lock it down
- Bonus: Use mist throughout the day to top up moisture if you’re outside or in A/C
4. Use Your Sunscreen
In summer, the UV rays are harsher and more direct, which puts your skin at risk of sunburn, dark spots, premature aging, and even skin cancer.
But let’s keep it 100—nobody wants a sunscreen that’s greasy, heavy, or leaves a chalky cast.
Luckily, this new generation of SPF is totally lightweight. They’re invisible, hydrating, and double as primers.
You just need to apply at least two fingers’ worth to your face and neck and reapply every 2 hours when outdoors.
And if you’re using exfoliants or acne treatments, you need SPF to protect your skin barrier. Since you’re outdoors more, sweating more, and possibly swimming, reapplication is very important.
If you’re wearing makeup, use a powder SPF or setting spray like Coola or Habit SPF mist.
Some SPFs That Don’t Miss:
- Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40—Silky, clear, and pore-blurring
- Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 – Moisturizing with zero white cast
- Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50+ – Korean skincare fave (lightweight, no flashback)
5. Ice Facials
TikTok wasn’t lying—ice facials are that girl. In just two minutes, they reduce puffiness, calm redness, and tighten your skin for a snatched, lifted effect.
During summer, the temperature rises, and so does facial puffiness. The heat dilates blood vessels, making your face look more swollen and red. Ice brings that inflammation down fast.
Rolling an ice cube across your skin not only de-puffs but also tightens pores, reduces oiliness, and gives your skin an instant refreshed look. It also boosts blood circulation, making your complexion look brighter and more awake.
It’s an affordable, easy way to reduce swelling, calm breakouts, and prep your face for a smoother makeup application.
You can either:
- Freeze green tea for extra antioxidants or cucumber slices for skin-soothing, and apply them on your face.
- Store a facial roller in the fridge and use it every morning to combat heat-triggered puffiness and inflammation.
- Wrap an ice cube in a soft towel and gently roll it across your face (focus on jawline, under eyes, and forehead) every morning.
6. Don’t Sleep on Your Diet
What you put on your face matters, but what you put in your body is way more important. In summer, your body is constantly sweating out minerals and dealing with more UV exposure, both of which can lead to dehydration and inflammation if you’re not replenishing properly.
Eating antioxidant-rich foods helps combat free radical damage from the sun. Hydrating fruits like watermelon, cucumber, and citrus can help you stay hydrated.
Foods like salmon or chia seeds are rich in omega-3s, which can help regulate oil production and strengthen your skin’s barrier.
You can layer all the serums in Sephora, but if your diet is all sugar and zero nutrients, your skin will show it.
Good skin starts with good gut health. Summer is the perfect time to eat fresh, colorful, skin-loving foods, like big salads, smoothie bowls, and hydrating drinks.
Also, if you tend to get breakouts (like acne or pimples), be mindful of how much sugar and dairy you’re consuming, especially in hot weather, because both can increase inflammation in the body, which can make your breakouts even worse.
7. Glow Drops + Highlighter for That Instant Radiance
Sometimes your skin just needs a little extra boost, and that’s where glow drops and cream highlighters come in. Summer is all about sun-kissed skin, and applying glow drops makes you look lit from within, a total sun goddess.
Unlike chunky glitter or heavy shimmer powders, glow drops give you a subtle sheen that mimics naturally healthy skin. Cream highlighters, on the other hand, melt into your skin and give you that soft, sun-kissed glow, like you’re always in perfect lighting.
They’re perfect for days when you want to skip the full-face makeup but still turn heads. A touch of glow drops in the right places can also make your features pop and your skin look healthier instantly.
Here’s how to get that glow:
- Mix 1–2 drops of glow serum into your moisturizer or base
- Apply cream highlighter on cheekbones, brow bone, and collarbone
- Use your fingers to blend—heat equals a melt-in finish
8. Have Some Sleep
You can’t fake the kind of glow that comes from legit, deep rest. When you sleep, your skin goes into full repair mode—boosting collagen, speeding up cell turnover, and calming inflammation. This means nighttime is prime time for your skin’s glow-up.
But here’s the catch: summer can seriously mess with your sleep. Longer days, late-night plans, and all that heat throw your skin off balance.
And when you don’t get enough rest, your cortisol levels increase, resulting in more oil production, stress breakouts, and those dreaded under-eye bags.
Your skin does its best regenerating between 10 PM and 2 AM. So if you’re skipping those golden hours too often, it’ll show in texture, uneven tone, and that tired look you can’t blend out. So if you want that skin that’s smooth, bouncy, and fresh, you need to prioritize your sleep, babe.
Set the vibe: keep your room cool and blackout-level dark. Switch to silk pillowcases to reduce hair friction and skin irritation. And seal it all in with a rich night cream or overnight mask.
If you’re like me and have trouble sleeping, you can try a pillow sleep spray mist for a sound sleep or a soothing tea to help you wind down, even after a chaotic summer day.
So if you want to serve skin that turns heads this summer, don’t just wing it. Be intentional. Hydrate like crazy, slay the SPF game, exfoliate responsibly, and for the love of glow—let your skin breathe.
Every girl’s skin is different, so feel free to tweak these hacks to fit your vibe. But remember: glowing skin isn’t about perfection. It’s about confidence and knowing how to care for your skin when it needs it most.
Got your own hot girl skin hack? Drop it in the comments. And don’t gatekeep your glow-up tips—send this to your BFFs too.
