When we think of summer, the word hot comes to mind; memories of satin dresses to beat the heat and all things water, whether you're swimming in it or splashing it on your face after a long day with your trusty mask. Dry doesn't come to mind, yet for those with dry skin and most of us spending more time than usual indoors blasting our A/C's, the summer isn't as forgiving as we all thought.

Summer can be extra drying for all skin types. While dry skin is typically associated with the cold, harsher months, it can also be annoying in hot weather - mostly because we don't associate dry skin with the summer's cure-all feeling. 

We've compiled the major causes for dry skin this season that you should look out, including little things that we tend to forget, which hijack all the hard work put in by your hydrating skincare routine.  

Some of the best summer moments involve sun worshiping, but it can break down your skin's natural layers of fats and oils, making it feel tight and itchy for hours after. What's more, dry skin caused by sunbathing can lead to your body producing more oils to compensate and make acne breakouts more likely. 

Shaving using hot water can reduce the oils naturally occurring on your skin, and we often shave the most in the summer because, honestly, it's just too hot to wear pants. Although shaving itself won't drastically increase your skin's dryness, it can irritate problems already there. 

Suncream isn't perfect, but it's essential, and our lineup of mineral sunscreens are what we're wearing most right now. If not appropriately removed, suncream can trap sweat, dirt, and oil under its layer and cause even non-sensitive skin to flare up and break out. Also, if you're covering your skin with spray-on or lotion protectants, the alcohol present in some not so clean formulas could be contributing to the problem. That's why our sunscreen MVP's can mean a lot for your skin both in the sun damage department and when it comes to dryness and breakouts.

A/C is a godsend… end of discussion. There's nothing better than walking back into your cold apartment after running errands with your mask on in the blistering heat. However, the effects on your skin can be less than desirable, and the dryness of the air can cause further damage to problem areas. Investing in a portable humidifier can be extremely beneficial when you feel dryer than usual, complimenting your skincare routine tenfold.  

Hydration is key, but a summer rosé doesn't qualify as water, I know, we can't catch a break. Sometimes those fizzy drinks and summer cocktails can do more harm than good for our hydration and its impact on our skin. Not to say you should only drink plain water - up your game by adding chia seeds to your juice and try snacking on hydrating fruits and veggies throughout the day like cucumber, celery, watermelon. 

These sneaky drying culprits are easy to tackle when you genuinely don't have time for another extra dry skin mid-summer. Try looking at your shower routine: lowering the temperature, gently exfoliating before shaving, and changing your razor blade out can drastically improve dry skin. Afterward, moisturize your body and consider a hydrating face mask before applying SPF, even if you don't plan on going out much. Our summer looks a little different from years before, but our skin doesn't have to suffer through it.

What are your thoughts on dry skin?