From eye creams to face wash, we reveal the beauty products you should swap out of your routine as the mercury rises

THE beauty products that kept your skin soft and stopped your eyes from getting puffy during the winter isn't going to give your the skin the same treatment as the temperature begins to rise.

We've ditched thick creams and foaming cleansers to hydrating lotions and SPF moisturisers.

Hydrate Mate

Ditch: heavy serums

Why? Keeping skin hydrated in a heatwave is key – and according to Pixi’s global director of education and artistry Amanda Bell, the best way is with lots of light layers.

“Replace serum with an essence and opt for gel products that won’t be too heavy on the skin.”

Switch For: B Skincare Essence Lotion, £6.99, contains hyaluronic acid and algae extract to hydrate and soothe.

Got super-thirsty skin? You’ll love Time Bomb Powerball Intensive Moisturiser, £37. It has a gel consistency, feels super-light when applied and contains 21 hydrating ingredients, including watermelon and apple extract.

Clean Slate

Ditch: Foaming cleansers

Why? Oily skin sufferers may shudder at the thought of warmer weather as excess sweat and SPF can block pores and cause breakouts.

However, dry and normal skin types aren’t safe either, as strong sunlight can dehydrate skin, triggering excess sebum production and blemishes.

It can be tempting to go in all guns blazing with harsh cleansers, but Time Bomb skincare expert Michaella Bolder advises the opposite.

“Be gentle with your skin and use balancing milky formulas instead of foaming or exfoliating products that can end up causing over-production of sebum.”

Switch For: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, £16.50.

This classic formula is the perfect one-stop cleanser come the summer, as it removes all make-up, grime and SPF without the need for a double cleanse, and contains calming camomile and eucalyptus.

Using a cotton cloth to remove your cleanser means it’ll gently exfoliate without stripping skin.

If your skin is extra-dry or dehydrated, try a balm cleanser like Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, £41, which banishes build-up but also nourishes parched skin cells with elderberry oil.

Face Off

Ditch: SPF shortcuts

Why? SPF needs to be topped up every two hours. Fact. That’s why you can’t depend on your daily moisturiser to protect you come the summer months.

In winter, it might be OK to multitask, but as the sun gets stronger it’s essential to up your protection levels with a broad spectrum SPF.

And while any added SPF in your foundation may be great as an additional base layer, in reality a flawless finish takes about half the recommended amount of product than standalone sun cream – which means an SPF25 is more like wearing SPF5, eek.   

Switch For: Our fave? No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced BB Facial Sun Protection SPF50, £15, has high SPF protection with a tinted moisturiser to boot.

Summer’s high UV levels also increase pollution that can harm your skin, so pre-make-up spritz Dermalogica Age Smart Antioxidant Hydramist, £40, as it contains protective vitamin C, E and green tea extracts.

No Scrubs

Ditch: Exfoliating Acid Toner

Why? When skin is exposed to heat and strong UV rays, it’s more prone to damage.

Throw your much-loved acid-based exfoliator into the mix and it’s a recipe for a skin SOS. “Chemical exfoliators can be too harsh to use during the daytime as they work to peel the top layer of skin away, exposing newer, more sensitive skin to the elements,” Amanda explains.

“Opt for a rose-based toner instead, as this will hydrate the skin and also soothe any sun-caused irritation.”

Switch For: We love Garnier Skin Active Soothing Botanical Toner With Rose Water, £3.49, which contains calming plant extracts and restores balance in the skin to keep oil production under control.

If you really can’t resist a deeply exfoliating treatment, go for a 10-minute mask once a week, like Pixi Glow Mud Mask, £18, which contains kaolin clay to clear pores.