Summer in Canada is glorious — but it's not always kind to your skin.
Between sun exposure, humidity, air conditioning, and chlorine from the pool, your skin barrier takes a beating from June through August.
The good news? A few intentional swaps in your routine can make all the difference.
Here's your seasonal guide to keeping skin soft, nourished, and radiant — naturally.
1. Hydration Starts From Within (But Topicals Matter Too)
Heat and UV exposure accelerate transepidermal water loss (TEWL) — meaning your skin loses moisture faster than usual. What you put on your skin matters just as much as how much water you injest (fruit & veg sources preferrred!)
Plant-based body oils are one of the most underrated summer hydrators.
They absorb quickly, seal in moisture, and leave skin with a natural, healthy glow — without the greasy residue.
🌿 Try: Herbal Botanical Body Oil – Vanilla & Litsea — a lightweight, fast-absorbing oil with a warm, grounding scent that's perfect for post-shower skin sealing.
2. Rethink Your Shower Routine
Your cleanser sets the tone for everything that follows. Most commercial soaps strip the skin's natural oils — the last thing you want when your barrier is already under summer stress.
SOTE's bar soaps made with skin-loving botanicals cleanse gently while actually supporting your skin. Hyssop is a powerhouse herb known for its purifying and toning properties, while comfrey is celebrated for its ability to soothe, calm, and support skin cell renewal — making this combination ideal for sensitive or reactive summer skin.
🌿 Try: Hyssop & Comfrey Artisan Bar Soap for Sensitive Skin — a botanically rich bar that cleanses without stripping, leaving skin calm and balanced.
3. Exfoliate Smarter, Not Harder
Summer is actually a great time to exfoliate — skin cell turnover is naturally higher in warmer months. But over-exfoliating can compromise your barrier, especially with sun exposure in the mix.
The key is choosing an exfoliant that does double duty: sloughs away dead skin and nourishes at the same time.
Black soap — made with activated charcoal and turmeric — is a summer favourite for exactly this reason.
Activated charcoal draws out impurities and unclogs pores (hello, sweat and sunscreen buildup), while turmeric brightens and evens skin tone. Combined with a sugar, pumice and African black soap base, you get an amazingly satisfying physical exfoliation that leaves skin smooth, not raw.
🌿 Try: Black Soap Sugar Scrub – Turmeric & Activated Charcoal — ideal for body acne, post-shave care, and anyone who wants a deeper clean without harsh chemicals. Use 1–2x per week for best results.
4. Scrub → Soap → Oil → Butter
The most effective summer routine isn't about using more products — it's about layering the right ones in the right order:
- Exfoliate with the Black Soap Sugar Scrub to clear away dead skin and buildup.
- Cleanse with botanical Soap to purify without stripping your barrier.
- Apply body oil immediately after patting skin dry — while still slightly damp — to lock in moisture.
- Seal with a body butter on extra-dry areas like elbows, knees, and heels for lasting protection.
This four-step ritual takes under ten minutes and makes a noticeable difference within days.
5. Don't Skip Your Lips
Lips have no sebaceous glands — they can't self-moisturize.
Summer wind, sun, and dehydration make chapped lips almost inevitable unless you're proactive. Transfer your lip butters to your bags and beach totes this season!
6. Simplify and Streamline
Outside of your exfoliation days, keep it simple: a botanical bar, a body oil, and a targeted moisturizer.
Layering too many products in heat can be irritating.
A curated skincare gift set is also a beautiful way to reset your routine or introduce someone you love to cleaner, botanical alternatives. 🌿
The Bottom Line
Your skin works hard in summer.
Give it the botanical support it deserves — with ingredients you can have confidence in, from a brand that cares about what goes on your body as much as what goes in it!
Have a summer skincare question?
Drop it in the comments or reach out — we'd love to help.