What is your definition of healthy summer skin? When I think of gorgeous summer skin I typically envision matte, skin with just a splash of highlight kissing the cheekbones. I’m willing to bet that you are similar to me and are over the dewy skin craze. At least for right now that is. Let’s see, you probably live in a hot humid climate like me (San Antonio, Texas holla!) and know that looking like a sweaty greasy mess isn’t cool. So, I want to share with you some basics that I’ve learned from YEARS of living in the hot, sticky south. As well as what I’ve learned works from my experience as a professional esthetician.
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Oily & Breakout Prone Summer Skin Issues
You may find that during the summer months you struggle with one or more of these skin issues:
- Oily, shiny skin.
- Breakouts, pimples, and acne.
- Make-up melting off your face.
- Clogged, enlarged pores
Luckily, there are tweaks you can make to your skincare regimen that will help you maintain healthy summer skin during the hot, and humid summer months.
Overcome Oily Summer Skin
If you find that you have an oily or combo-oily skin type you probably dread this time of year. Especially if you live in an area that is hot and humid. These conditions can actually increase the presence of oil on the skin and give you a greasy, wet appearance. As a result, this makes wearing makeup an absolute nightmare since it tends to melt and slide off the face.
The combination of these issues may make you opt to skip wearing a moisturizer or feel as though you need to increase how often you wash and exfoliate your face. But both of these habits are wrong. Your overall goal should be to find and use products that help control oil production, mattify the skin and provide light comfortable hydration.
Cleanse Your Skin
When it comes to cleansing oily skin types foam cleansers or gel cleansers are the best option. These types of cleansers are designed to dissolve oil and leave the surface of the skin squeaky clean. For example, the Clarity RX Cleanse Daily Vitamin Infused Cleanser is a gentle and effective gel cleanser that doesn’t contain harsh detergents, such as sulfates, that can dry out the skin. Whereas the Burt’s Bee’s Skin Nourishment Foaming Cleanser provides a soft, cushiony lather to help dirt, impurities and oil slide off the skin. Whether you choose a gel-based cleanser or an airy foam cleanser will depend on which texture and feel you prefer. Bear in mind that you should avoid over-cleansing the face since this will increase oil production. Stick to cleansing the face in the morning and in the evening before bed.
Absorb & Balance Excess Oil
The next step in your summer skin routine includes using a lightweight moisturizer that hydrates and absorbs excess oil. During the summer months, you will find that light gel-based moisturizers and oil-free lotions will feel the best on your skin. The Versed Dew Point gel-cream provides light hydration in an easy to absorb gel that doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. As for the Aveda Botanical Kinetics Oil Control Lotion, this product is designed to absorb oil and minimize its appearance.
If you’re choosing to wear make-up priming and setting your make-up can help to prevent the 3 pm meltdown. The E.L.F Oil Control Primer Mist provides a lightweight infusion of ingredients designed to mattify and prime the skin for makeup application. To preserve your make-up look using a setting spray such as the Milani Make It Last Matte Charcoal Setting Spray can lock your make-up look in place for up to 16 hours. So you can remain fresh, matte and flawless.
Defeat Summer Skin Breakouts
Regardless if you find yourself managing hormonal acne or inflammatory acne it can be embarrassing and frustrating. Unfortunately, the hot, humid summer months serve to increase issues with acne and breakouts. The main things you should focus on are using quality skincare for acne-prone skin, avoid pore-clogging ingredients, and make skin treatments a regular practice.
Ease Into Medicated Skincare
While it may be tempting to purchase a skincare kit that is full of medicated skin care products it could actually be counterproductive. Using nothing but medicated skincare products can dry out your skin and contribute to irritation and inflammation. Rather infusing medicated products into your regimen is much more effective and decreases adverse reactions. In other words, stick to a basic skincare routine that includes key products that address your skin type and integrate key targeted products into your regimen.
This could mean using a medicated cleanser in the evening after you remove your makeup for the day. The Image Clear Cell Salicylic Gel Cleanser contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate pores and decrease oil production. It is also beneficial because it can help heal existing breakouts while preventing future breakouts from developing. You may also opt to use a treatment serum after you use your skin appropriate cleanser. The Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum is designed to treat breakouts, decrease inflammation and unclog pores. These are just examples of what you could do to treat your breakout-prone skin without overwhelming it. The trick is to find medicated products that work and infuse them into your routine. This will help improve the condition of your skin over time without increasing irritation.
Don’t Crowd Your Pores
Wearing makeup when you have problem skin is quite common. But you want to make sure that you’re choosing makeup products that don’t clog your pores and contribute to breakouts. Lightweight foundations infused with acne-fighting medication are going to be your best friends. The ELF Acne Fighting Foundation contains a combination of salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and witch hazel. As a result, the combination of these ingredients works to treat current breakouts and prevent future ones. But if you have oilier skin the feel of a liquid during the summer may not feel comfortable. You can opt to use a powder foundation such as the Bare Minerals Loose Powder Matte Foundation. This product allows you to customize your coverage from light to full and provides a flawless matte finish.
In addition to choosing lightweight, beneficial makeup make sure you allow your skin to breathe. Set aside days during the week where you don’t wear makeup and just give your skin a break. Doing so will be super beneficial when it comes to healing and preventing breakouts.
More Lazy Skin Care Days
Similar to what I just mentioned in regards to giving your skin a break from various makeup products. Utilizing this time to prioritize skin health and taking the time to properly exfoliate and mask your skin can be beneficial. Using proper exfoliating treatments help to remove dead skin cell buildup, decrease bacteria on the surface of the skin, and treat blemishes.
However, you want to avoid using harsh exfoliants since they can cause irritation and inflammation. Choose instead to use chemical exfoliating products that contain salicylic acid. An example of a beneficial exfoliating product is the Aveda Outer Peace Acne Relief Pads. They are mess-free treatment pads that you can easily massage over the skin making sure to concentrate on problem areas.
Nourishing the skin with a mask will ensure that excess oil is absorbed, pores are detoxified, and skin is refined. Key ingredients to look for in masks are kaolin and bentonite clay. These two clays help purify pores and absorb excess oil. The Clarity RX Rehab Mediterranean Detoxifying Mud Mask is perfect for decongesting clogged pores and healing active blemishes without drying out the skin.
Stay Consistent
Above all, it’s important to create a skincare routine that you can stick to daily. The more consistent you are in regards to your skin health the better your skin will look and feel. Which means no more obnoxious breakouts or oily skin to cramp your style this summer.
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