Summer in the mountains brings longer days, outdoor adventures, and plenty of sun, and your skin notices all of it. Increased UV exposure, heat, and humidity affect your skin differently than the cooler months, and the treatments that deliver the most dramatic improvements often need to be scheduled before the season begins, not after.
The Mountain Radiance team put together this guide to help you get ahead of summer with a targeted plan that leaves your skin refreshed, even-toned, and ready for everything ahead.
1. Exfoliate and Brighten with a VI Peel
Winter and early spring tend to leave skin looking dull, with congested pores, uneven texture, and lingering pigmentation from months of dry indoor air and inconsistent sun exposure. A series of VI Peels is one of the most effective ways to reset your complexion before summer arrives.
The VI Peel is a medical-grade chemical peel that exfoliates the outer layers of skin while targeting melanin production, making it effective for sunspots, post-acne dark marks, melasma, and general uneven tone.
The VI Peel Precision Plus formula is our most popular option for pigmentation concerns, suppressing melanin production while significantly increasing cell renewal. Patients dealing with active breakouts and the dark marks they leave behind benefit most from the Purify with Precision Plus formula, which addresses both concerns at once.
We typically recommend a series of treatments for optimal results. Most patients see clearer, more radiant skin within a week of their treatment, and the formula is safe for all skin types and tones. Because the peel involves a few days of light peeling, scheduling it at least four to six weeks before peak summer activities gives your skin time to fully reveal its results.
A series of three chemical peels is one of the most effective ways to see real, lasting improvement in skin tone and texture!
2. Hydrate and Plump with a Deluxe HydraFacial
Healthy summer skin is hydrated skin. Sun exposure, heat, and humidity all draw moisture from the skin, and a depleted skin barrier is more prone to redness, sensitivity, and uneven texture. A Deluxe HydraFacial with custom boosters is one of the most effective ways to rebuild that foundation before the season shifts.
The HydraFacial uses a multi-step process to cleanse, exfoliate, and extract impurities while infusing the skin with serums customized to your specific concerns. Boosters can target hydration, brightening, or firming depending on what your skin needs most heading into summer. Patients leave with smoother texture, refined pores, and a well-hydrated, dewy glow that holds up through warm weather.
A HydraFacial also works well as a monthly maintenance treatment throughout the season, keeping your skin balanced as it faces more UV exposure and environmental stress.
3. Target Sun Damage and Texture with Microneedling and Microchanneling
If last summer left behind sunspots, uneven tone, or texture you have been wanting to address, now is the time to treat it before adding more sun exposure on top. Two of our most effective options for improving tone, texture, and fine lines are RF microneedling and ProCell Microchanneling, and both are best scheduled in the weeks before summer activities are in full swing.
RF Microneedling
RF Microneedling combines radiofrequency energy with microneedling to tighten skin and stimulate significant new collagen production. The treatment addresses uneven texture, enlarged pores, fine lines, and mild skin laxity, with results that continue to develop over several months as new collagen forms. Most patients need two to three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. We also offer Benev exosome therapy as an add-on to amplify results and support faster recovery.
Procell Microchanneling
ProCell Microchanneling uses microfilaments to create hundreds of thousands of tiny channels in the upper layers of skin, stimulating your body’s natural healing process to encourage cell turnover and collagen production. The result is thicker, firmer, more resilient skin that looks even better in the weeks following treatment. It can soften fine lines and wrinkles, even out discoloration and sun damage, improve the look of acne scars, and lift and tighten facial tissue.
Because both treatments increase photosensitivity during the healing period, completing your sessions before consistent sun exposure begins is essential for safe, lasting results.
4. Plan Ahead for Smooth Skin with Injectables
Summer events have a way of sneaking up, and injectables reward a little advance planning. Botox® and Dysport® soften the fine lines and wrinkles that come from years of squinting in the sun and animated expressions, while dermal fillers restore volume to areas that have lost fullness over time. Because results settle in over a week or two and any minor swelling or bruising fades within days, scheduling these treatments a few weeks ahead of a big event or vacation gives everything time to look its most natural.
If hydration is your priority heading into the warmer months, SkinVive® is worth a conversation. This is an injectable hydrator that improves skin smoothness and gives the cheeks a subtle, lasting glow—a nice complement to the surface-level treatments in this guide. We believe injectables work best as part of a thoughtful plan rather than a last-minute fix, which is why Dr. Mark Chandler and our injectors take the time during your consultation to map out the right timing and combination of treatments for your goals.
The treatments that deliver the most dramatic improvements need to be scheduled before the season begins, not after.
5. Protect and Maintain with SPF and Medical-Grade Skincare
Professional treatments produce real improvements, and daily SPF is what protects those improvements all summer long. UV exposure triggers melanin production, which can darken existing spots and create new ones, and it accelerates collagen breakdown over time. SPF 30 or higher applied every morning, rain or shine, is the single most important step in any summer skincare routine.
At Mountain Radiance, we carry medical-grade sunscreens from SkinMedica that provide broad-spectrum protection with a lightweight feel. Pairing sun protection with the right supportive skincare keeps your treatment results intact throughout the season. For patients who have completed a VI Peel or laser treatment, vitamin C serums and targeted brightening products help maintain an even tone between visits. For patients focused on hydration and texture, our team can recommend specific SkinMedica or Alastin products suited to your skin’s individual needs.
Build Your Personalized Summer Skin Plan
The most effective approach to summer skin prep combines treatments strategically, based on your skin’s specific concerns and your timeline before the season peaks. Many patients see excellent results pairing a VI Peel with monthly HydraFacials, or combining RF microneedling with a targeted medical-grade skincare regimen to maintain results between sessions.
During your consultation at our Asheville med spa, our experienced team will assess your skin, discuss your goals, and build a treatment plan timed to get you to summer with your best skin yet. Dr. Mark Chandler oversees all treatments at Mountain Radiance, so you can feel confident you are receiving the highest standard of care with the most precise, effective technology available.
Call our Asheville office at (828) 627-2711 or book your consultation online to get started.
