We love this time of year! This is the time to start prepping your skin for summer. Through out winter our skin can become dull and dry. However we've got a wonderful selection of Leitrim and Irish made skin care products to help liven up your skin and get that summer glow back! Long summer days outdoors means more skin exposure. It’s time to prepare your skin for summer by protecting the skin barrier, preventing UV damage, and adjusting your skin care for heat, sweat, and humidity. Moving from colder weather into warmer weather can stress the skin barrier.

The goal is prevention, keeping skin healthy before problems start. A good routine doesn’t need to be complicated, just more season appropriate. Switch to a lighter cleanser. Heavy cream cleansers and moisturisers can feel too rich in warm weather. Using lighter but hydrating products helps maintain balance without feeling greasy.  Try a light local repairing moisturiser like Bedtime Face Mousse by Made in Lucy’s Soap Kitchen, carefully handmade in small batches with nourishing pomegranate oil and rosehip oil for dry sensitive or damaged skin.

Cleanse your skin til its squeaky clean with Emma’s So Naturals Handmade Soaps such as lemongrass handmade natural soap bar made with shea butter, coca butter and avocado oil. Lemongrass oil is a favourite to help deter those summer insects.

Deep breath work helps get the oxygen flowing  around your face and body and is a great way to de stress. Get into the summer flow with ‘Breathe Deep’ Body Scrub by Soak. Winter can leave skin dull or flaky, gentle exfoliation can make a noticeable difference over the season and is a great way to prep your skin whether its before sunbathing or before you apply your tan. Top it off with organic whipped body butter and you’ll feel like you’ve unwrapped a new body!

Glowing skin is not just about what you put on your face, feeling good matters too. Pop Mood Boost Pulse Point oil by Wizard & Grace into your bag this summer. The handy travel size is perfect for holidays, helping uplift your mood and bring a little calm and positivity to busy days.

Karuna’s got you covered top to toe! Enhance your summer pedicure with Lemon Meringue Foot Butter – it  sounds good enough to eat! Don’t forget to keep you lips in kissable condition for any summer romances that might occur! with Karuna’s Rosemary and Lemon Lip Balm. Containing calendula oil and shea butter, this lip balm feels lush and velvety to the touch. Very moisturising and brilliant for repair of dry chapped lips, it can also be used on cold sores!  Created with love using calendula oil, shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E, essential oils of may chang and rosemary.

Hot cloth Cleansing Balm from Karuna Essentials is a becoming a popular cleansing regime that still keeps your skin hydrated and invigorated. Natural, gentle products can help manage seasonal skin conditions and support long term skin health.

If you’re planning on travelling, have little emergencies covered with Sugar Loaf Botanics Herbal First Aid Kit its travel size helps soothe and heal for any unexpected irritations. A collection of 4 natural herbal salves, specially designed to ease any skin complaint and mild congestion like Healing and Bruise Balm, Skin Soothe, Relief Salve, Vapour. Harnessing the medicinal properties of our native plants, in handy 15ml containers. The perfect summer accompaniment for any travel bag.

Sugarloaf Botanics larger tin of Skin Soothe suitable size for all the family A soothing, cooling salve for irritation and itching particularly for eczema, psoriasis or dry sensitive skin. Made from organic olive oil, beeswax and infused oils of chickweed and marshmallow root.

Summer UV exposure is usually much higher, even on cloudy days. Prioritizing sunscreen (non-comedogenic) every day is a must. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 50 water-resistant formulas for outdoor activity and  remember to reapply every 2 hours. Don’t forget to support skin from the inside! Skin responds to lifestyle changes quickly in hot weather. Stay hydrated, eat colorful fruits and vegetables, sleep consistently and limit alcohol if you notice dehydration. Small habits in summer have cumulative effects over years.