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Your dermatologist-approved guide to summer skin care

Combat the elements of summer with these dermatologist tips and finds.

Summer is officially here! While the season brings its fair share of sunny days, all of that sun exposure can wreak havoc on our skin and hair. Not to mention exposure to pool chemicals, salt water or even flying on an airplane to your summer vacation.

While we should all be applying (and reapplying) our sunscreen, there are plenty of other ways that we should be taking care of our skin and hair during the warmer months. Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Debra Wattenberg stopped by TODAY for "Wellness Wednesday" to share her top skin care essentials to help combat the summer the heat, from head to toe.

From a foot mask to SPF broad spectrum lip balms, keep reading to see all of Dr, Wattenberg's skin and hair care recommendations — and tips.

Summer skin care essentials as seen on TODAY

Summer skin essentials for lips

Aquaphor Lip Repair Lip Balm with SPF 30

Dr. Wattenberg says skin on the lips is thin with many everyday elements that can dry them out, including lip gloss, toothpaste, etc. She says having a hydrating lip product with SPF is important for a summer routine, like this broad spectrum and fragrance free lip balm from Aquaphor. According to the brand, it contains vitamins and shea butter and helps protect your lips from the summer sun.

Alba Botanica Lipcare SPF 25

This hypo-allergenic lip balm contains those moisturizing ingredients that Wattenberg loves, like aloe vera, cocoa butter and Vitamin E. Plus this SPF 25 balm is cruelty free and doesn’t contain harmful parabens, says the brand.

EltaMD UV Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 36

Wattenberg says most lipsticks and lip glosses don’t provide any sun protection, but this lip balm from Elta is perfect to wear under your favorite lip stick or alone, according to the brand. One Amazon reviewer wrote. “For a while I was looking for a lip balm that could do both: moisturize and protect my lips from the sun. I was hesitant in trying a new one as I wasn’t sure how my lips would react but since I’ve used Elta MD sunscreen I decided to give it a try. I’m so happy I did!"

MDSolarSciences Hydrating Sheer Tinted Lip Balm SPF 30

If you’re looking for a lip balm that offers both sunscreen and a pop of color, then this could be your next go-to summer product. Coming in three different colors, it is SPF 30 and formulated with hydrating ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil and olive butter.

Summer skin essentials for feet

CeraVe Renewing SA Foot Cream with Salicylic Acid

Wattenberg says feet are often forgotten about until summer and it’s important to protect them before they start to crack and peel. To keep them smooth and exfoliated, she likes this Cerave salicylic acid foot cream. This fragrance free cream not only exfoliates the dead skin cells but also is packed with ceramides to help restore moisture.

AmLactin Foot Repair Foot Cream Therapy

Wattenberg says sandals often cause blisters and if your feet are prone to them (or callouses), this foot repair cream contains 15 percent lactic acid and acts as a much-needed exfoliant.

Aveeno Cica Repairing Foot Mask

To keep your feet smoother and softer, Wattenberg says to soak your feet in warm water, exfoliate and follow with a thick moisturizer. This deep-moisturizing foot mask is infused with rich ingredients like oat and shea butter. According to the brand, it will leave skin feeling soft and visibly smoother after just 10 minutes of wearing.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy Skin Protectant

Wattenberg also loves Aquaphor for your feet as a thick moisturizer. According to the brand, this healing ointment contains pantheon and glycerin to help alleviate and sooth extremely dry and chapped skin.

Summer hair treatment essentials

It's A 10 Haircare Miracle Hair Mask

Summertime can be drying and damaging to your hair, from over styling to chlorine and the sun, says Wattenberg. According to the dermatologist, you’ll want to condition regularly. This deep conditioning hair mask offers many moisturizing benefits, like smoothing, detangling, restoring elasticity and more!

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Hair Treatment

You've heard of hyaluronic acid for the skin but this hair serum is infused with the popular skin care ingredient to offer moisture, reduce frizziness and treat brittle hair.

Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Wattenberg says during the summer you'll want to reduce your frequency of shampooing but when it is time to wash, you'll want to opt for one that is sulfate-free. This apple cider vinegar-infused shampoo is meant to sooth the scalp and restore the hair with moisturizing oat ingredients.

Redken Detox Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo

This cleansing shampoo will remove buildup and dirt without stripping your hair of natural oils, which Wattenberg says is important to keep in mind. One Amazon verified reviewer wrote, "Wow! What a difference this makes! My hair took the color more evenly and it took the color to a lighter shade, which is optimal. Hair is shiny and soft. I'm in love."

Summer skin essentials for dry and peeling skin

Eucerin Skin Calming Cream

If you end up sunburnt and are experiencing dry and peeling skin, Wattenberg says you should never peel the skin and instead, use a soothing oatmeal-based moisturizer. The company says this calming cream contains oatmeal and will provide up to 24 hours of moisture for dry and itchy skin.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

Another oatmeal-infused option is this intense hydration cream which contains shea butter to provide moisture while alleviating itching and skin irritation.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish Scrub

"If the skin is just dry and flaky from too much salt and sun and not applying enough moisturizer try an exfoliating scrub and then hydrate the skin with a creamy moisturizer," said Wattenberg.

She picked this exfoliating body polish that not only removes dead skin cells with its exfoliant properties but also moisturizes with its rich rice milk formula.

Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish Exfoliator

The brand says this beauty award-winning scrub is gentle and that 94 percent of users said their skin felt softer after one use. It contains real brown sugar crystals and is infused with ginseng root and peppermint. If you do use a body scrub, Wattenberg says to avoid using it more than two times a week.

Summer skin essentials for oily skin and breakouts

"Oil production in the skin increases as the heat and humidity rises," said Wattenberg. "A sunburn will actually cause your skin to break out."

So If you struggle with breakouts in the summer you're not alone. According to the dermatologist you'll want to look for ingredients that contain AHA's, glycolic acids, salicylic acids and retinol to control summer acne.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser

The brand says this daily facial cleanser is perfect for acne prone skin. Containing salicylic acid, it gently removes dirt and oil without leaving the skin overly dry.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser

This purifying cleanser contains glycolic acid and glycerin that will gently cleanse your skin while giving even the most dehydrated skin a boost of moisture, says the brand.

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Wattenberg says a retinol will help tighten and clear pores, but to make sure you are using an SPF with it since it will likely increase skin sensitivity. According to the brand, this retinoid by The Ordinary is perfect for all types of skin and will reduce fine line and wrinkles, as well as alleviate dullness and uneven texture.

Differin Gel Retinoid Treatment

Since a benefit of a retinol is to help control acne, the company says this product will target acne from deep within the pores. Not to mention, it has almost 64,000 Amazon ratings and one verified reviewer wrote, "this is the only product that has ever cleared up my acne and I have tried many, including prescriptions."

EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 Face Sunscreen

If you have sensitive and acne prone skin, this mineral-based facial sunscreen is perfect for those skin challenges. According to the brand, it's formulated with zinc, niacinamide and won't clog your pores.

More summer skin care essentials

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marnie Nussbaum previously stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to share all of her do's and don'ts when it comes to summer skin scare.

Babo Botanicals After Sun Soothing Hydrating Gel

Nussbaum says you should apply sunscreen every two hours, but reapply even sooner if you are sweating or get wet. "More than five sunburns in a lifetime can double your risk of melanoma, the deadly form of skin cancer," Nussbaum said.

If you get sunburn, she recommends taking an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or aspirin to treat it, taking a cool bath and then applying a moisturizing gel or lotion like this one. This cooling gel is formulated with aloe vera, witch hazel and cucumber, which the brand says are safe for sensitive skin.

Nussbaum says you should stay away from using lidocaine or benzocaine and drink lots of water.

Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub

Whether you need to apply self-tanner or simply want smoother, softer skin for the season, you'll need to exfoliate in order to get it done. However, Nussbaum warns that "over-exfoliation can lead to further inflammation and micro-tears in the skin; therefore use a gentle exfoliator once or twice a week only!"

This scrub from Cetaphil is gentle enough for daily use and can be used on all skin types, according to the brand, but Nussbaum recommends using it only once or twice a week.

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

The sun can dry out of your skin, so Nussbaum says you should switch to a lighter moisturizer if you use lotion during the other months of the year (if you've been using a cream, switch to a gel; if you've been using a gel, switch to a serum).

You can apply this facial lotion at night as the last step in your skin care routine to help hydrate your skin while you sleep. Not only is it packed with hyaluronic acid, but it also contains CeraVe's signature ceramides, which help to restore and maintain your skin barrier.

Supergoop! Poof Mineral Part Powder SPF 35

Don't forget about your scalp! This broad spectrum sunscreen powder has an SPF rating of 35 and can help protect your scalp from sunburn. All you'll have to do is spray it on as the final step of your styling routine and then blend with your hairbrush or fingertips.

More summer skin care solutions

Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman previously stopped by TODAY with Hoda & Jenna to share some of her summer skin care tips. Keep reading to shop more expert-approved picks for summer skin care woes.

Problem: Aging

Hoda pointed out that some of us may not be keeping up with our skin care routines, leading to fine lines and wrinkles.

Engelman recommends using an over-the-counter retinoid, a night cream that targets deep wrinkles and skin-soothing face roller.

Differin Gel

Engelman's first recommendation is a popular prescription-strength retinoid that's just $15.

Differin Gel is formulated to fight acne, but the formula also helps with fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone. The main ingredient, Adapalene, is a prescription-strength retinoid that combats oily skin, acne and regulates cell turnover, which can result in smoother skin.

Engelman advises rubbing a pearl-sized drop over your entire face before you go to bed.

Roc Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

“This is a deep wrinkle night cream. It helps with fine lines, wrinkles, builds collagen and reverses sun damage," said Engelman of her favorite nighttime wrinkle cream.

According to the brand, it's clinically proven to reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles with continued use and can result in smoother, firmer and more radiant-looking skin. You can also use it under your eyes or on your neck to target specific areas.

Yeamon Facial Roller

This unique-looking tool is the finishing touch every skin care routine could use, says Engelman.

She says it vibrates to improve skin's circulation and contour face muscles thanks to two attachments: a thin, T-shaped one and one with two balls to sculpt areas larger areas like the jawline and neck.

Problem: Chafing

While a lot of people are currently dealing with friction around their face, the heat and humidity can also irritate your arms, breasts and inner thighs. Engelman says the simple solution for this common issue is a little bit of anti-fungal powder and an anti-chafing balm.

Zeasorb Prevention Super Absorbent Powder

Engelman advises using this powder in areas where you experience pain from skin-to-skin irritation. Though this product is made to treat athlete's foot, it can be used to help absorb moisture on any surface of your skin.

She likes this powder because it is very absorbent, which is beneficial if you're spending more time outside (this can lead to more sweat and friction).

Zone Naturals Chub Rub

This anti-chafe stick comes in a convenient stick and is designed to prevent chafing when you're working out or walking around on a hot day.

“It’s like a little deodorant," said Engelman. "You put it on in the areas (where you experience) friction and it minimizes that skin breakdown."

Problem: Bug bites

Instead of using a sticky spray to ward off mosquitos, Engelman recommends using these towelettes.

Dickinson's Witch Hazel Towelettes

These Dickinson's witch hazel wipes are infused with skin-calming botanical extracts and are incredibly versatile. Use one to refresh your skin on the go or to soothe itchy bug bites.

“I love these because they’re naturally antiseptic, they’re anti-inflammatory and they're single-use wipes that you can keep in your bag and then throw away,” said Engelman of her go-to bug bite solution.

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