How to Prep Your Skin for the Sun: 3 Summer-Ready Tips

The sun is calling! With patio chats, picnics, and beach days on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to make sure your skin is ready to enjoy it all.

Spending time in the sun does more than lift your mood—it supports your body’s natural production of vitamin D. But to fully enjoy the sunshine, it’s essential to know how to prep your skin for the sun. A combination of smart habits and daily sun care will help keep your skin looking radiant and healthy, all season long.

How can I get my skin “ready” for the sun?

After the cooler months, skin tends to be more sensitive and less used to sun exposure. Understandably so—it’s been mostly in “rest mode,” shielded from UV rays. So when it’s suddenly exposed again, it might respond with redness, tightness, or sunburn. Totally normal—but also mostly preventable.

As you start spending more time in the sun, your skin kicks in its natural defense system: melanin production—the pigment responsible for that sun-kissed glow. But this doesn’t happen instantly. In the meantime, your skin is more vulnerable to sun damage, especially if you have a lighter skin tone.

That’s why it’s important to start prepping your skin early: reinforce the skin barrier, keep it well hydrated, add antioxidants through diet or supplements, and most importantly, use sunscreen—whether it’s grey skies or blue.

Let’s take a look at three top tips:

1. Stay hydrated

Notice your skin feeling drier after a beach day? That’s no coincidence. Sun exposure dehydrates—inside and out. UV rays can upset the skin’s balance of water and lipids, leading to tightness, flaking, and reduced elasticity.

Moisturizers are key, yes—but they’re just part of the solution. To really nourish your skin, start from within. Drinking enough water is the simplest way to support healthy, supple, radiant skin.

Here are some tips to make hydration easier:

• Carry water with you everywhere (keys, phone…water bottle!).
• Build a habit: take a few sips every hour.
• Add fruit slices or fresh mint if plain water isn’t your thing.

Proper hydration really makes a difference. One study found that drinking an extra two liters of water a day tended to result in more hydrated skin.

2. Add antioxidants to your diet

Did you know that what you eat can influence how your skin ages? You look great just as you are, but if you’re focused on a youthful look, take note: diets rich in antioxidants can help minimize the visible signs of aging.

Load up on fresh produce like berries, citrus fruits, peppers, and leafy greens. These antioxidant-rich foods deliver vitamins like C and E, which help combat oxidative stress. Not to mention, adding your favorite seasonal ingredients to meals is one delicious way to take care of yourself.

Want to go the extra mile? Add a skin supplement to your diet for an extra boost of nutrients. SUNISDIN is packed with antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, selenium, and powerful plant extracts. These work together to help protect your skin from daily stressors, making it more resilient for sunny summer days.

3. Ease into the sunshine with daily protection

After a long winter, we get it—you just want to be outside soaking up the sun. That first coffee on the deck, a jacket-free stroll, a spontaneous hike… everything feels better with a little sunshine. But before you dive in, remember: your skin still isn’t fully ready

Take extra care with newly-exposed areas like your chest, shoulders, and the back of your neck—especially if you’re prone to common skin reactions like sun allergies.

Here are a few sun safety tips for spring, summer, and all year round:

• Apply sunscreen every morning, whether heading out or staying in. Then, do your best to reapply at least every two hours.
• Seek shade during the peak hours of the day. Tip: The smaller your shadow is, the stronger the sun’s rays.
• Take it slow. Increase your time spent out in the sun little by little.

FAQ: If I don’t burn, do I still need to wear sunscreen? Definitely! Using daily sun protection is essential in combating photoaging and keeping your skin safe and healthy, no matter your skin tone.

Enter Fusion Water MAGIC

Enjoy 360° protection, 365 days a year. With a lightweight texture that melts into the skin, it provides 12-hour hydration¹ and a non-greasy finish with no white cast.

It’s formulated with high SPF broad spectrum protection and helps defend against blue light, pollution, infrared, and free radical damage from heat—all without compromising comfort.

Let the sunshine in

Summer starts way before your toes touch the sand. It’s in the longer days, backyard get-togethers, your first sleeveless outfit, and how you prep your skin for sun exposure.

Hydrate from the inside, nourish with antioxidants, and protect wisely—these aren’t just tips, they’re tiny rituals that help your skin thrive in the sunshine.

One final tip? After your shower, especially post-sun, apply a hydrating body lotion while your skin’s still damp. It helps seal in moisture and leaves your skin soft, supple, and radiant. Because loving your skin doesn’t mean avoiding the sun—it means teaming up with it.

Your summer starts with your skin. Now, go on and make the most of it.

References:

1. Purba, Martalena & Kouris-Blazos, Antigone & Wattanapenpaiboon, Naiyana & Lukito, Widjaja & Rothenberg, Elisabet & Steen, Bertil & Wahlqvist, Mark. (2001). Skin Wrinkling: Can Food Make a Difference?. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 20. 71-80. 10.1080/07315724.2001.10719017.
2. Jean Krutmann, Anne Bouloc, Gabrielle Sore, Bruno A. Bernard, Thierry Passeron, The skin aging exposome, Journal of Dermatological Science, Volume 85, Issue 3, 2017,Pages 152-161
3. Granger, C., Aladren, S., Delgado, J. et al. Prospective Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Food Supplement in Increasing Photoprotection and Improving Selective Markers Related to Skin Photo-Ageing. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 10, 163–178 (2020).