So summer may not have officially started as yet, but here in The Bahamas the sun and heat say otherwise. IT. IS. HOT!!!! If there’s anything I’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that with each new season I have to tweak my skincare regimen to maintain that glowy, smooth, blemish-free complexion I worked so hard to obtain last year.

Around this time in 2018 my skin completely betrayed me. I was in the midst of planning my wedding and everyday I looked in the mirror, I cried! I shared this story of how I developed hormonal cystic acne that left me depressed and with the worst skin I’ve ever had in my life. Thanks to meds my doctor put me on, my very first chemical peel and a consistent morning and nighttime regimen, I was able to get back to the skin I loved…kind of! I still can’t believe my chemical peel video got more than 240K views on YouTube!

I’m still battling hyperpigmentation and recently I had a few breakouts, but the good Lord knows we’ve come a long way! It’s been a year since I’ve seen any cystic acne and for the most part my skin is behaving.

As the weather’s now changing and it’s nearing time to soak up some sun and flaunt my glow, I’m adding some new favorites to my skincare routine!

Youth To The People Kale + Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Superfood Cleanser

I randomly came across the Youth to the People brand one day and instantly fell in love with their products. The packaging was clean and sleek, the products seem to tackle all skin issues and types and I loved that they’re a vegan skincare line. The first thing I was drawn to was this delicious sounding face wash that I know I needed to have. I recently copped a bottle and so far I love it! It’s a foamy, light wash that really cleanses my skin without stripping away any moisture; my skin feels refreshed and supple after using this. Find it here!

Youth To The People Kale + Spinach Hyaluronic Acid Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream

As you can see, I fell in love with this brand. Just as much as I love me a good cleanser, I love a good moisturizer and this one is the bomb! It’s so light and airy and has a semi-gel; semi-cream feel to it. I love how it melts into my skin, leaving it moisturized but not oily. I was a tad bit afraid to use it during the day for fear that it would be too thick, but once you work the cream into your skin it absorbs perfectly and provides the perfect base. I got this at Sephora!

L’Oreal PURE-CLAY Clarify & Smooth Face Mask

I’m a sucker for making my own face masks at home; they’re all natural and all the ingredients are usually already in the kitchen. But, girl, sometimes life happens and time flies. I always keep a jar of L’Oreal Pure Clay in my cabinet for the days I’m out of my homemade masks. I’ve tried four of the five masks in this line and I love them all. Right now I’m using the clarify and smooth one which works as an exfoliant, helping to scrub away dead cells to reveal a smoother, brighter face. They all smell so good and after a long day of work, running errands or travelling it’s great for reviving my skin. These are sold at Walmart.

Black Girl Sunscreen

Yes, Black people do need to wear sunscreen! I’m always reminded of how easily I burn and tan after long day out in the sun; e.g. my recent 8-hour trek at the Bahamas Carnival road march. My husband burns badly too. We recently went on a boat cruise; I forgot the sunscreen and he forgot his hat at home. Being the baldy that he is, his head was exposed to that unforgiving Bahamas sunshine for nearly six straight hours and, whew…he burned! A lot of our skin issues begin and persist due to unprotected exposure to the sun; as much as I love the sun, I must protect my skin at all costs. I got this tube of sunscreen on my trip to Barbados with Black Girls Travel Too and I’m in love, especially since it doesn’t leave that chalky white residue like other creams! This product was made by a Black woman for Black women and I’m all in!

Equate Charcoal Spot Corrector

I’m forever on a mission to rid my skin of dark spots and marks. Unfortunately, it seems this will be a longtime battle. I was reading up on these new charcoal based products that are great for spot removal. I wasn’t so sure how my skin would react so I opted for this inexpensive Walmart brand and according to some reviews, it’s just as good as the high end brands. I’ve only used this once so far and can’t really say if it’s working or not but I’m giving it a try and I’ll keep you posted!

What does your summertime skincare routine look like? What products are you using? Tell me in the comments below!