Viva’s Ultimate Summer Skin Care Guide

Summer is officially here! Time for lazy days at the pool, grilling for dinner, and frosé with (almost) every meal. In other words, total paradise, right?

Well, for the most part. With summer comes heat, and it’s especially fierce here in Austin where temperatures can spike to triple digits for months on end. All that heat and sun isn’t quite paradise for your skin. It’s not just the fact that every single pore on our bodies seems to be sweating at once. Powerful UVA and UVB rays are at an all-time high, with the potential to cause painful sunburns and damage your skin.

Unfortunately, UV rays aren’t the only culprit. Heat can wreak its own special havoc on your skin, causing rosacea flare-ups, aggravating hyperpigmentation, and worsening breakouts. That’s why it’s so important to show your skin some extra love during the summer. Think of it like a beach vacation for your epidermis. Here’s how to keep your skin glowing even when the weather is scorching.

Barton Springs Directional Sign in Austin, TX

Catch Some Rays (But Not the UV Kind!)

Let’s face it, lobster red is not a great look for anyone. Exposure to UV rays can cause long-term skin damage while undoing whatever progress you’ve made with your skin care regimen and facials. Wrinkles, acne, age spots, and rosacea — the list of damages goes on and on.

The best way to keep your face out of the burn ward is to invest in a quality sunblock. Viva Day Spa + Med Spa offers a variety of different sunscreens from SkinCeuticals and Eminence Organics to keep your face and body protected while you soak up the sun. These products come in a variety of different weights and are specially formulated for your skin so you can avoid that greasy feel and the pore-clogging effects of traditional sunblocks. When you book one of our facial services, our skin care experts will get you set up with a sunblock that will perfectly match your preferences and skin type. Or read the deep dive our estheticians put together: The Ultimate Sunscreen Guide: Texas Edition.

“C” Ya, Sun Damage

It’s what’s underneath that counts, whether you’re talking inner beauty or sunscreen. In the case of the latter, a little vitamin C can make a big difference while you’re soaking up that vitamin D. Applying a vitamin C serum like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic before you put on sunscreen can help minimize environmental damage and may even give your sunscreen a little bit more mileage. Of course, you’ll still want to slather on the sunblock and reapply periodically throughout the day. Viva’s estheticians know their stuff. They help you create an at-home product kit with all the sun-soothing tools you need to get you through to your next facial appointment.

Go for That Boho Desert Look

Summer is the season of swimsuits and spaghetti straps, but don’t be afraid to cover up sometimes too. The perfect summer hat, paired with a fashionable cotton coverup, can do wonders for your skin — and your beachside look. Plus, covering yourself with a light cotton material will actually keep you cooler than baring it all. Here’s to not being a sweaty mess!

Woman with sunburn on her face, neck and chest.

After Sun Care Is Clutch

Sunblock, sweat, chlorine — a day by the pool can be pretty brutal on your skin. And no matter how carefully you apply your sunscreen, we all miss a spot sometimes. (Or even forget altogether!) Spritzing yourself with a hydrating toner throughout the day and especially after sun can soothe your skin from heat-related reactions.

We love Eminence Organics’s Stone Crop Hydrating Mist. It’s made with the juice of stone crop, a cute little succulent that packs a powerful healing punch. It’s even more soothing for your skin than aloe vera, so it can calm inflammation and ease burns like a boss. Then come in for one of our curated seasonal facials, like our Organic Summer Refresh Facial Package for a little aftersun detox.

Phyto Corrective Masque by SkinCeuticals, jar sitting on sand next to sunglasses and a towel.

Make a Date with Your Favorite Face Mask

What with pool parties and beach dates and vacations, it’s easy to get burned out — both figuratively and literally.

Masks can go a long way to repair the damage from the summer sun. Go for a calming, cooling product like Eminence Organics’s Kale & Citrus C+E Vitamin C Masque or SkinCeuticals’s Phyto Corrective Mask. These soothing masks contain hydrating, healing ingredients, like cucumber, yogurt, thyme extract, and other botanicals that will help nurture your skin from irritation, inflammation, and drying. Prefer a mist? Try Phyto Corrective Essence Hydrating Mist from SkinCeuticals.

So go ahead, put on your favorite chill playlist, mask up, and give yourself some time to unwind and detox from the day.

Woman receiving a soothing SkinCeuticals face mask from an esthetician.

Facials, Facials, and More Facials

As if you needed a reason to book a facial, right? A summertime facial is not just an excuse for some warm-weather pampering. It’s also a way to hydrate and rejuvenate your skin. Estheticians can even help you prep for skin-triggering events like vacations. A full week of margaritas, sun exposure, and indulgent meals? Great for the soul, but not so great for your skin. Viva’s skin care experts can help also you plan ahead for more intensive treatments like Morpheus8 RF microneedling, chemical peels, or a deep pore cleansing, which are better saved for the fall.

Basically, summer skin care is all about fighting the elements and beating the sun at its game. However, you don’t have to do it alone! Our expert aestheticians will help you beat the heat with a personalized treatment plan built just for your beautiful face. In fact, Viva offers several custom facial services perfect for the hot days ahead:

Organic Summer Refresh Facial Package | 1 Hour 15 Minutes, $235

In our eyes, everyone is a natural beauty. But sometimes it just feels right to indulge in the more natural side of skincare. Our favorite summer facial in Austin (if we do say so ourselves) is our Organic Summer Refresh Facial Package, which will strip away the toxins and impurities to infuse your skin with a radiant glow from the inside out. Featuring products from our award winning Eminence Organics line, this facial package includes:

  • 60 Minute Custom Organic Designer Facial
  • Nourishing Citrus & Kale C+E Masque
  • Vitamin C Lime Fresh Tonique
  • Emollient Organic Eye Treatment
  • Exfoliating Organic Lip Treatment
  • Hand Hydration Treatment
  • Neck, Shoulder, and Arm Massage with Coconut Vanilla Body Lotion
  • Take-Home Gift Bag
  • Served with Lemon Ginger Tea
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Viva Custom Designer Facial | 1 Hour,

You can’t get better than a facial package built just for you. Our estis will give you a full facial analysis and develop and skin care plan to target problem areas, like acne, uneven texture, lines and wrinkles. Then we’ll attack them with a unique blend of cleansers, masks and serums that are just right for your skin type. To top it all off, we include steam, exfoliation, extractions, hydration, sun protection and a relaxing arm, neck and shoulder massage. Can you think of a better way to beat the heat than a day of pampering at the spa than the Viva Custom Designer Facial? This custom package includes:

  • 60 Minute Custom Designer Facial
  • Expert Skin Analysis
  • Warm Neck Pillow
  • Extractions
  • Relaxing Arm, Neck and Shoulder Massage
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Glow & Go HydraFacial | 30 Minutes, $185

This treatment has us so hyped, and for good reason: it’s a gentler alternative to microdermabrasion with results that really go the distance. Our estis can customize your HydraFacial to address all kinds of skin issues, extracting impurities, applying targeted serums and deep hydration to get you ready for all those vacation selfies!

HydraFacial treatments come with:

  • Cleansing and exfoliation to remove dead skin cells
  • Gentle superficial peel (glycolic and salicylic acids) to loosen dirt and debris from pores
  • Painless, automated extractions via vortex suction
  • Hydration with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid to nourish and protect
  • HydraFacial daily essentials to help maintain and protect your results

If you live in Texas, a Deluxe HydraFacial takes things to the next level. It includes a detoxifying lymphatic drainage, LED light therapy for acne and wrinkles, and your choice of Specialty Booster Serum based on your unique skin care needs.

Still not enough facial for you? Kick it up a notch with our Platinum HydraFacial, with beauty-boosting lip treatment to exfoliate, hydrate and plump and soothing eye treatment to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
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Don’t wait for a special occasion — or season —  to treat yourself to a relaxing and nurturing treat. Self-care is a form of healthcare, and you deserve to look and feel your best, always. Come visit us at any of our Viva Day Spa + Med Spa locations in Austin and Round Rock.

Our Favorite Summer Treatments

You might also love reading about our Top 5 Spa Treatments for Summer!

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