How to prep your skin in time for Pride!

With Pride month upon us, it's time to soak up the sunshine (and inclusivity) with your friends and family. However, it's just as important to care for your skin! At Poko, we've put together some ways to prep your skin for that perfect Pride look!

Whether you're going bare-faced or all-out at Pride this year, we're here to help you look your best. We also believe that serving great looks all comes down to one thing your skin. Therefore, by taking care of your skin, you're priming it to be the perfect canvas at Pride this year.

Pride skin prep starts with hydration!

Before partying it up at Pride this year, it's important to focus on hydration. Whether you're heading to a Pride parade, spending it with friends, or partying at home, prep your skin with an intense hydration routine. While this might sound cliche, it all comes down to drinking more water.

Plus, it doesn't have to be as boring or difficult as you might think. Simply replace one of your daily coffees with a tall glass of water a few days before your big celebrations. You could also try drinking more fruit teas, as they can be a tasty way to stay hydrated.

Additionally, focus on your skin itself. Re-evaluate your skincare routine a few days before Pride, and religiously moisturise during your AM and PM routines. While it might be tempting to stick to lightweight serums this summer, pre-Pride skin prep means that it's time to break out the heavy-hitters.

At Poko, we like prepping our skin before big events with our Light Hydrating Moisturiser. By using a heavy moisturiser twice a day, you reinforce your skin's natural moisture barrier. This can also stop it from drying out under a heavy layer of Pride makeup and glitter!

Listen to your skin, when it's calling for you

You may not know it, but by the time you're prepping for Pride, your skin is tired! For example, it's gone through the seasonal changes where cool spring breeze turns into hot summer months. It's also likely that you're spending more time outdoors, soaking up the sunshine.

Plus, it's likely that you've increased your alcohol or caffeine intake. After all, who doesn't love a frozen margarita on a warm evening? However, all these things can wreak havoc on your skin, resulting in dry patches, redness, increased sensitivity, and breakouts.

To combat this, it's important to listen to your skin especially in the weeks leading up to Pride. Take this time to really connect with your skin. To do this, we'd recommend gently massaging your face every day.

You can use a gua sha, a jade roller, or your fingertips. For this, we'd recommend our Luxury Facial Oil. A few drops will help your tool glide across your skin, while infusing your surface layers with a cocktail of vitamins.

There's really no better way to learn about your skin. With a daily massage, you'll be able to suss out dry patches, inflammation, and even sore sports that could turn into pimples. Plus, a pre-Pride face massage is a great way to prep your skin for the next step!

Protect your skin before and during Pride

We've all been there it's the morning after your Pride party, and your skin is a little worse for the wear. What if we told you there was a way to avoid this? In fact, good skin at Pride isn't all about prep; it's also about protection.

Your Pride looks can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. However, SPF should be an absolutely crucial part of your pre-Pride skincare routine. We'd recommend using at least SPF 30, and reapplying throughout the day.

Additionally, protect your skin with a zinc-infused cream. While this might not necessarily protect your skin on its own, it'll work in tandem with your SPF, reducing sun damage.

For this step, we'd recommend our Regenerating Collagen Moisturiser, which contains zinc oxide. This helps to reinforce your SPF's prowess, working overtime to protect your skin from sun damage.

If you're going all-out with Pride looks this year, remember to properly prep your skin, before putting on your makeup. Generally, makeup can dry out your skin and clog your pores. In the summer, the heat can only add to this combination leading to a serious breakout the morning after.

Therefore, apply a thin layer of serum under your foundation to calm and protect your skin before the big day. You could also opt for one of our favourite skincare hacks. Simply mix some foundation with our Soothing Serum, for smooth, even coverage.

Finish with the rest of your makeup routine, and get ready for sleek makeup coverage, for as long as you can celebrate!

Post-Pride skincare starts right after Pride!

We understand that the post-Pride exhaustion can set in pretty quickly. In fact, it's likely that you just want to drink a huge glass of water and go to bed. However, this could potentially undo all the prep you put into your skin before Pride!

Once you get home, it's important to double-cleanse. This will help remove traces of makeup, as well as any dirt and grime that could have accumulated on your skin throughout the day. After double-cleansing and removing your makeup, your skin might feel a little dry and dehydrated.

Take this opportunity to re-balance your skin's pH levels. A gentle toner, calming serum, or natural essence could all be great ways to do this. If you're not too tired, you could also pop on a face mask, to really calm and hydrate your skin.

Then, apply an occlusive moisturiser to your face and neck. If you're feeling fancy, you could also apply an overnight lip mask. This leaves your lips soft and smooth in the morning, without fear of cracking or dryness.

While this might seem like an endeavour at the time, a little bit of skincare goes a long way! You'll wake up feeling fresh, with dewy, calm skin even after a long night of celebrating Pride with your chosen family.

Celebrate Pride (and good skin!) with Poko

At Poko, we want to help you achieve that Pride month glow before, during, and after June. Therefore, we understand the importance of prepping your skin before Pride, and caring for it after the party's over.

However, we also know that the best glow is the one that comes from the inside out. This Pride month, let's all glow a little brighter. From all of us at Poko, have a safe, happy Pride!