As temperatures start to heat up for the hot Australian summer, tradies need to be mindful of their skin as exposure to harsh UV rays can do untold damage and cause serious health problems. Emily Buckwell outlines some tips to keep your face looking fresh this summer.

It probably won’t shock you to learn that spending hours in the elements exposes your skin to more opportunities for wrinkles, and serious health issues such as melanoma, to develop. It also probably won’t shock you to hear that the Aussie sun is one of the harshest in the world (thanks hole in the Ozone layer…), which increases those risks even further.

By pure nature of the job, many tradies are exposed to the sun, wind, and even rain, more often than most – and that means that you should be thinking about your skin and how to look after it more than most.

Tradies are hard workers, often working very different timetables to the rest of the workforce. And with early starts and many in the industry subject to long daily commutes, it’s understandable that getting into a skincare (and general self-care) routine in the morning probably isn’t high on the agenda. But looking after yourself, and your skin, in particular, is vital to your long-term health, and there are a few easy things that you can add to your mornings that will make a big difference.

A morning routine

The first tips might not sound appealing to many, if any, but adding a cold blast to the end of your shower has been shown to actually warm you up, helps you burn fat, and supplies a dopamine boost to get your day off to a great start.

Another incredibly helpful and important addition to your morning routine is to actually have a skincare routine – and this doesn’t need to take a lot of time. You don’t need dozens of products, but as men reach their 30s and above, it becomes more obvious who has been taking care of their skin and who hasn’t – which again, is often accelerated for those who spend their days working in the sun.

Skincare is not the enemy – nor just the territory of your partner or female flatmate – and stealing her SPF inclusive moisturiser doesn’t count as looking after your skin properly. Plenty of high-profile men such as David Beckham and Pharrell Williams (who looks about 35 when he’s actually 48, just saying…) have openly discussed the importance and benefits of having a skincare routine.

Interestingly, men’s skin is usually thicker than women’s skin due to the testosterone levels present, meaning more oil is produced, and that also means that products designed for females aren’t actually going to work properly on your skin, so you do need to invest in your own.

Prevention is better than cure…

Preventing skin damage rather than trying to reverse it is so important when it comes to skincare, particularly for men who spend their days in the sun, so applying the highest possible SPF (50+) is undeniably the most important step to any routine. About 80% of UV rays travel through clouds, so no matter what the forecast, applying SPF is still a must.

It sounds basic but using a quality and specifically formulated shower gel or even soap will not just make you smell better but will help you keep your skin clear and clean. Whilst it’s our faces that the world sees most of the time, the skin on your chest and back also need to be paid attention to, to avoid irritation and that summer-ruining condition we like to call “bacne”.

Everyone benefits from clean skin, but for tradies especially, daily exfoliation and cleansing are incredibly important due to the build-up of sweat, general grime/dust/dirt from worksites, and SPF that should be applied every day – multiple times for those working outdoors. But all of those remnants of the day sitting on your skin need to be thoroughly washed away every night to ensure your skin doesn’t become clogged, leading to breakouts or adding to premature aging.

Grooming for men has come a long way, and big brands such as Clarisonic have launched devices that are designed specifically for men. These devices can clear pores, and can eliminate dirt, sweat, and pollution – including under facial hair – basically taking any of the guesswork out of your routine. After using it, throw on a moisturiser designed for male skin and a high factor SPF, and you’re basically done.

Of course, the likes of hydration and covering skin up with a hat, and long sleeves remain crucial steps in protecting your skin on the job and will also ultimately help your skin.

Emily Buckwell is the head of product & brand at CurrentBody.com, a global leader in beauty tech and beauty LED. The company’s growing focus on in-home use LED is at the forefront of industry and it has a growing suite of LED products.