Every time the good weather rolls around, my mind screams yes, my body is ready, but my skin says, “ACNE SEASON!” I struggled with adult acne, and I still do, especially when it’s summer. To preface, my skin is normal to combination and sensitive. Everything I am sharing is from that perspective. Because skincare is so unique, if something is working for you, keep doing it! However, if you find yourself struggling with seasonal acne as I do, this post can hopefully help give you some ideas for ways to combat summer acne.
Tip 1: Find the right sunscreenthat won’t clog pores
Sunscreen is important all year round, but it’s a no-brainer that we’re all a little more conscious of sun care during the hottest months. Many sunscreens are much too heavy and will clog your pores. You want to avoid body sunscreens (creams and sprays), especially if you have sensitive skin.
Pore-clogging (non-comedogenic) ingredients differ, and there’s no regulation on how brands are using the term non-comedogenic when describing their products. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a sunscreen:
- Choose mineral sunscreens (these are more natural)
- Choose a sunscreen that is reef-safe (especially if you are swimming)
- Choose broad spectrum to guard against UVA and UVB
- Avoid any and all fragrances
- Avoid oils
Always apply sunscreen last, after your moisturizer. I personally love the Tatcha sunscreen because it doubles as a base for applying makeup. I personally also love to carry around a sunscreen spray to apply all over my face if I am wearing makeup and can’t reapply a cream sunscreen.
Lastly, the great thing about choosing a mineral sunscreen that uses ingredients such as zinc oxide as physical protection between your skin and the sun is that it is also reef-safe. The traditional chemicals are what are killing the coral reefs and likely causing your acne to flare up!
Tip 2: You might be using the wrong moisturizer and serums
Yes, there is such thing as a winter skincare routine and a summer skincare routine. If you live somewhere that is sunny and pretty much the same weather all year round, this may not apply to you. However, if you live anywhere like NYC where it is 20 degrees during the winter and 90 degrees in the summer, then this tip is for you.
During the winter, you need more hydration. A combination of heavy winds and cold air will dehydrate your skin, and you need to take extra care to keep it plump and moisturized.
During the summer, you want to avoid extra hydration, especially when you’re sweating profusely. The extra hydration during the summer will only contribute to your acne flare-up.
That is why I like to use a lighter moisturizer during the summer to avoid summer acne. I have tried my winter moisturizer during summer, and that is when summer acne hit me. I also change the type of serum I am using. During the winter, I will go with a combination of a hydration serum. During the summer, I prefer a pure, lightweight Vitamin C serum.
The key thing to remember is that you are not lacking the hydration your skin is during the winter. Summer acne flare-ups are quite common when using incorrect moisturizers and products.
Tip 3: Use less of everything in your skincare routine
All year round, I will always use an essence, eye cream, serum, moisturizer, face oil, and sunscreen. However, during the winter, I will use different products and apply more of a particular product. During the summer, less is more to avoid summer acne. By using a light layer of every single product, I ensure that I still get the benefits from the different product types without needing to succumb to acne.
For example, I love to apply any leftover eye cream to my upper lip. During the summer, I find that doing this actually will give me acne. To still get the anti-aging benefits, I discovered that using less eye cream overall will still allow me to maximize anti-aging on my upper lip while avoiding summer acne.
Face oil is another product that I like to still apply during the summer. Especially for those of us who don’t struggle with needing hydration during the summer, it seems silly to still apply. However, I still apply 1/4 of a dropper’s amount of face oil while lessening all my other products. This allows me to get the right amount of hydration while still being able to benefit from my face oil’s ingredients.
Summer acne comes around because we are not adjusting to the seasonal changes.
No matter whether you have dry skin, combo skin, or oily skin, environmental factors play a huge role in finding the right skincare routine. I like to even consider environmental factors when I am going on vacation. For example, if it is more humid where I am going on vacation, I may opt for more exfoliation. If it is dryer, then I will bring a hydration mask with me to use. Skincare is so dependent on the world around us; the best thing we can do for our skin is to ensure that it is getting nourished the right way.
