Summer Suncare Tips With Beauty Director Erin Jahns

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Summer is in full swing, and our schedules are filling up fast with plans for picnics, beach days, and strolling Italy's cobblestone streets (okay, I don't actually have plans for an Italian vacation, but a girl can dream). But how do we spend time lounging by the pool while protecting our skin and hair long term? On this week's episode of Who What Wear with Hillary Kerr, Who What Wear Beauty Director Erin Jahns reveals her tips and tricks for having fun in the sun—without damaging your skin or hair.

She's sharing how to nail down a summer skincare routine, answering all our SPF questions, and in case we still manage to overdo our sun intake, she's filling us in on what restorative treatments we should book for fall. Consider this your summer beauty guide.

For excerpts from their conversation, scroll below.

What are some of your summer skincare tips? And let's start with tips for people who have dry skin.

Erin Jahns: I'm glad you brought it up for summer because I think people generally lump dry skin in with fall and winter because you think of heaters being on and less humidity, but it can be an issue in summer.

Honestly, the easiest thing you can do, especially if you don't want to [put in a lot of] effort, is to get a humidifier. There is a brand called Canopy that makes great ones that are as hygienic as they get. So I usually tell people to get that brand.

So what if you are the sort of person who has slightly more acne-prone skin? Is there an ideal routine during the summer to follow to keep your skin in balance?

I think people have the tendency to think they need to exfoliate if they have acne, bumps, or flakes. And that's kind of the last thing you want to be doing. You want to reach for something really gentle like another creamy or oil cleanser is great if you're acne prone. Again, I know that's counterintuitive, but if you have breakouts, you still need moisture and oil. And then after you cleanse, [apply] vitamin C.

There's only one vitamin C serum that I've ever been able to tolerate as someone who's acne prone, and it's the SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF.

So you're cleansing, [applying a] vitamin C serum, and then really you need an SPF. And if you're acne prone, you'll want to make sure you're getting one that's oil-free and noncomedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores. 

I really love the one from Versed. I love Elta MD... and then the French brand—I think it's pronounced Avéne. 

So let's say you took a trip this summer, and maybe you experienced some sun damage. What can you do to help combat the damage you have inflicted upon yourself, over-the-counter product-wise?

I think a lot of people stop using retinol or retinoids during the summer, which you have to be using SPF if you're using retinol, but retinol is one of the best things you can do to basically undo sun damage, stimulate cell turnover, retexturize the skin, prevent fine lines, brightening, all of it. It kind of does everything. So reincorporating that into your routine a few days a week, maybe don't go every day because it can cause irritation, and again, you want to slow build these products that are a little bit more active, a little bit more potent, so a few times a week to help correct sun damage.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Next, check out our interview with Ivana Primorac.