2026 Summer Skin Survival Guide: Tips for Expecting Moms
After reading about staying healthy and comfortable during pregnancy this summer, let's turn our attention to another part of your body that deserves extra care—your skin.
Longer days and warmer weather mean more time outside enjoying sunshine, vacations, swimming, hiking, and family activities. While summer brings plenty of opportunities to make memories, it also brings increased sun exposure, heat, and dehydration, all of which can take a toll on your skin.
The good news? A few simple habits can go a long way in keeping your skin healthy, protected, and glowing all season long.
This guide isn't just for the beach. It applies to your daily commute, your walks in the park, and even sitting near a bright window. The goal is to keep your moisture barrier intact so that your skin remains supple and elastic, which is especially important as your belly grows and your skin stretches. We have teamed up with various experts at Our Partners to ensure these tips align with total body wellness.
What is the Best Summer Skin Survival Guide?
You've probably heard that drinking water is important for your overall health, but it's also essential for healthy skin.
Your skin is your body's largest organ, and it relies on proper hydration to maintain its protective barrier. When you're dehydrated, your skin may feel tight, appear dull, become flaky, or make fine lines look more noticeable.
While water is your best source of hydration, many fruits and vegetables can also help replenish fluids while providing vitamins and minerals that support healthy skin. Summer favorites like watermelon, cucumbers, oranges, strawberries, and leafy greens are excellent choices.
Healthy, hydrated skin starts from the inside out.
Sunscreen: Your Best Anti-Aging Product
If there is one skincare product everyone should wear every day, it's sunscreen.
Many people think sunscreen is only necessary on beach days, but ultraviolet (UV) rays are present every day—even when it's cloudy. In fact, up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate through clouds, and UVA rays can even pass through windows while you're driving or sitting near natural light.
UVA vs. UVB: What's the Difference?
An easy way to remember the difference is:
- UVA = Aging ("A" for Aging)
- UVB = Burning ("B" for Burning)
UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and contribute to wrinkles, collagen breakdown, and uneven pigmentation. UVB rays primarily affect the skin's surface and are responsible for sunburns.
Both types of UV rays damage your skin and increase your risk of developing skin cancer, which is why choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen is so important.
Research has shown that up to 90% of visible skin aging is caused by cumulative sun exposure, not simply getting older. Daily sun protection helps preserve your skin's health today while reducing damage that builds up over time.
Even more importantly, ultraviolet radiation is the leading preventable cause of skin cancer. About one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, making it the most common cancer in the United States.
There Is No Such Thing as a "Healthy Tan"
Many people associate a tan with looking healthy, but from a skin health perspective, a tan is actually your body's response to DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation.
When your skin detects damage, it produces more melanin (pigment) in an attempt to protect itself. Although a tan may fade, the damage remains and accumulates over time, increasing the risk of premature aging and skin cancer.
Understanding SPF
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. While higher SPF numbers offer slightly more protection, no sunscreen blocks 100% of UV rays.
For example, SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks about 98%. The biggest difference isn't choosing the highest SPF—it's applying enough sunscreen and remembering to reapply every two hours when spending time outdoors.
Top tips for selecting your summer sunscreen:
- Look for "Broad Spectrum" to protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Choose a formula with at least SPF 30 for daily use.
- Opt for fragrance-free versions to avoid triggering pregnancy-related nausea.
- Select mineral-based active ingredients like Zinc Oxide.
- Ensure the product is non-comedogenic so it doesn't clog your pores.
Don't Forget These Often-Missed Areas
Even the best sunscreen won't protect the areas you forget to cover.
Some of the most commonly missed spots include:
- Ears
- Eyelids
- Lips (use a lip balm with SPF)
- Neck
- Chest (décolletage)
- Back of the hands
- Tops of the feet
- Along the hairline and scalp
These areas receive more sun exposure than many people realize and are common places for sun damage and skin cancers to develop.
Antioxidants: Your Skin's Second Line of Defense
While sunscreen helps protect your skin from UV rays, antioxidants help defend against the damage caused by free radicals—unstable molecules created by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors.
Think of sunscreen as your first line of defense and antioxidants as your skin's support team. Together, they help protect your skin and support a healthier, brighter complexion.
Feed Your Skin From Within
Eating a colorful diet naturally provides antioxidants that help support healthy skin.
Some great summer choices include:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Citrus fruits
- Tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Spinach
- Kale
- Green tea
- Walnuts and almonds
These foods contain nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and polyphenols, which help support collagen and protect healthy skin cells from oxidative stress.
Protect Your Skin From the Outside
Topical antioxidants can be an excellent addition to your morning skincare routine.
Look for ingredients such as:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Niacinamide
- Green Tea Extract
- Ferulic Acid
- Resveratrol
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Applied before your sunscreen, these ingredients help brighten the skin and provide additional protection against environmental damage.
🌼 Pregnancy Corner
Pregnancy hormones can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and increase the likelihood of developing melasma, often called the "mask of pregnancy." This harmless condition causes darker patches of pigmentation, usually on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, or chin.
Daily sunscreen, seeking shade when possible, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat can help reduce additional pigmentation and protect your skin throughout your pregnancy.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, remember that not every skincare ingredient is recommended during this stage of life. If you're unsure which products are right for you, talk with your healthcare provider and your licensed esthetician before starting a new skincare routine.
💛 Bex's Pro Tip
As a Master Esthetician, one of the most common things I hear is, "I know I should wear sunscreen more often."
Here's my advice: Don't chase perfection—build consistency.
Find a sunscreen that feels comfortable on your skin and that you'll actually enjoy wearing every day. Keep it somewhere you'll see it, whether that's by your toothbrush, next to your moisturizer, or in your purse.
Don't forget often-overlooked areas like your ears, neck, lips, chest, and the backs of your hands. These areas receive daily sun exposure and are often among the first to show signs of aging.
The best sunscreen isn't the most expensive one—it's the one you'll use consistently.
Healthy Skin Is Protected Skin
Summer is meant to be enjoyed, and taking care of your skin doesn't have to be complicated.
By staying hydrated, nourishing your body with antioxidant-rich foods, wearing sunscreen every day, and practicing simple sun-safe habits, you're investing in the long-term health of your skin.
Healthy skin isn't about perfection—it's about consistency. The small choices you make today can help protect your skin for years to come.
If you have questions about your skin or would like help creating a personalized skincare routine, we'd love to help. Our licensed estheticians are here to recommend products and treatments tailored to your skin type, lifestyle, and stage of life, so you can enjoy healthy, glowing skin all summer long.
Final Takeaways for Your Summer Routine:
- Always use a mineral-based, broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and seek shade between 10 AM and 4 PM.
- Incorporate Vitamin C to fight free radicals and brighten your complexion.
- Hydrate your body with extra water and your skin with hyaluronic acid.
- Check in with professionals at our Locations if you notice unusual skin changes.
By taking these simple steps, you ensure that your pregnancy glow remains the star of the show all summer long. Your skin is your body's largest organ; treating it with care today will pay off for years to come.
