Jennifer Aniston’s facialist shares her 7 best summer skin hacks

With a star-studded clientele that includes Jennifer Aniston, Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Alba, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and a skincare line that’s taken the beauty world by storm, Shani Darden is the aesthetician the A-list trust with their faces. They all head to her Los Angeles studio for one reason: to get the best skin of their lives.  

While Darden’s signature facials are famously high-tech, her advice is refreshingly straightforward, especially when it comes to dealing with summer skin. Humidity, the threat of UV damage, blocked pores and arctic blasts of air-conditioning all affect how it holds up so you may have to rethink your beauty arsenal.

Here Jennifer Aniston’s facialist reveals her top summer skincare tips, from SPF to doubling down on your sun protection and the only product swaps you really need to make in a heat wave.

Be diligent with your sunscreen application

“Sun exposure is the number one cause of ageing so you want to make sure that you’re protecting your skin! All of the things that people complain about like dark spots, loss of elasticity and wrinkles can be prevented by wearing sunscreen and staying out of the sun as much as possible. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, it’s essential that you’re wearing sunscreen. Find a formula that you love, that works great for your skin type and that you’re going to wear daily. You also want to make sure that you’re reapplying it every two hours.  I love Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion with SPF 50 because it’s lightly hydrating yet won’t cause congestion. Whenever I plan to be out at the beach or at the pool all day, I make sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and to sit underneath an umbrella if possible. I’ve been known to wear a UV Sun Shield Visor, too!”

Don’t forget your lips and hands

“Your lips and hands are often some of the first body parts that show signs of ageing. Whenever you’re applying sunscreen, make sure to cover your hands and to reapply after washing them. Remember to also protect your lips with an SPF lip balm or gloss. I love the Supergoop! Lip Screen with SPF 40 as it’s a non-sticky gloss that helps to protect. I usually keep a couple of these on hand at all times.”

It’s a myth that you can’t use retinol or acids in summer

“If you’re someone who spends a lot of time in the sun, I recommend not using a retinol product. However, if you generally don’t spend a tonne of time outside in summer, it’s completely fine to use retinol or acids. Retinol Reform, as well as my Lactic Acid Serum, are both safe to use as long as you’re wearing sunscreen during the day and limiting the amount of time you spend in the sun.”

Look to vitamin C for an added layer of protection

“Use an antioxidant-rich vitamin C serum to further protect your skin from environmental stressors and sun damage. I love iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum, especially if you’re looking to calm the skin and even out tone.”