It's officially summer!
From seaside to poolside, it’s the season of sun-soaked fun and we can’t wait to spend more time outdoors!
While there’s much to love about the warmer weather, it could also mean more breakouts as our skin gets exposed to more sweat, heat, and humidity.
This means we need to give our skin extra TLC, especially if we have acne-prone skin.
Keep these top tips in mind to prevent breakouts and minimize sun damage for happy, healthy skin:
1. Go for a Lighter Moisturizer
If you’ve been using a heavier, creamier moisturizer during the colder months, you might want to switch to a more lightweight formula in the summer as your skin begins to produce more oil.
The Protective Moisturizer is light, non-comedogenic, and won't leave your skin feeling greasy. It is also packed with resveratrol, a potent antioxidant that relieves redness and protects the skin from damage caused by UV rays, pollution, and other harmful agents in the environment. That’s sure to come in handy as we spend more time outdoors this season.
Remember to moisturize daily, even if your skin already feels oily.
Not convinced? Check out these five reasons to moisturize every day this summer, even when you have oily, acne-prone skin.
2. Lock in Hydration
Being out in the sun or even chilling in the AC all day can strip your skin of much-needed moisture.
Use a facial mist to freshen your skin throughout the day and add humectants such as hyaluronic acid to lock in the moisture. Holding 1000x its weight in moisture, hyaluronic acid helps keep skin soft, plump, and dewy. It will also prevent dehydrated skin, which can lead to increased oil production and more acne.
The Matte Hydrator, formulated with the highest quality of 100% medical-grade ultra-low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, is perfect for summertime hydration. Fast-absorbing and oil-free, use it on its own as a moisturizer for oily skin types or under the Protective Moisturizer as a serum.
3. Apply (& Reapply) Sunscreen
We know, we know.
You’ve heard this a thousand times before.
But if it’ll get you to remember your sunscreen, we don’t mind repeating it a thousand times more.
Whether it’s lowering your risk of skin cancer or keeping premature aging at bay, sunscreen is a must to protect you from harmful UV rays.
Source: EltaMD
Choose a broad-spectrum, non-comedogenic sunscreen with at least SPF 35 and a PA+++ rating. Our favorite is the EltaMD UV Clear with SPF 46. Designed for acne-prone skin, it’s fragrance-free, oil-free, and goes on well under makeup.
Whichever sunscreen you decide on, be sure to reapply every 2 hours for maximum protection all day long.
4. Keep the Sweat in Check
When sweat mixes with the bacteria and oils on our skin, it can clog pores and cause breakouts. But truth is, from picnics at the park to walks by the beach, there’s no escaping sweat in the summer.
Still, we can take extra care to make sure it doesn't make our skin a playground for pimples. For one, hit the shower immediately after working out or sweating. If you’re out and about, gently blot sweat with a clean cloth to avoid irritation. You can also try wearing more breathable clothing to prevent excess heat and friction on your skin.
5. Give Skin a Thorough Cleanse
With all that your skin goes through in the day, it deserves an extra good cleanse in the evening to get rid of all the sweat, dirt, and excess oils.
However, be sure to choose a gentle cleanser suited to your skin type so it isn't overly drying and harsh. If you have oily or combination skin, we recommend the Balancing Cleanser, formulated with glycolic acid (an AHA) and salicylic acid (a BHA) to give skin a deep cleanse without stripping away its natural oils. You can also leave this cleanser on for 30 minutes in the evening to get a gentle peel! Just be sure to apply sunscreen in the day (as you would anyway) as acids can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
For all skin types, So Fresh is a great go-to as it has protective antioxidants and plant extracts that give skin a minty tingle to notify when you’ve washed off enough oil. This way, you can get the perfect level of cleansing, always!
You’ll also want to avoid cleansing too often as it can break down the skin's protective barrier. Twice daily, even during the summer, is enough.
6. Defend Your Skin Against Dark Spots
After active acne has cleared, you might find you’re left with red marks on the skin. These are caused by residual blood and dilated blood vessels. It is a must to fade these red marks quickly because they can collect melanin and become stubborn brown marks when exposed to the sun. This is an especially big risk during the summer months when we’re out in the sun more.
Use Lighten Up to fade the appearance of red marks before they become brown spots. If you already have brown acne marks, or even brown sun spots and age spots, Dark Mark Defense and its potent anti-pigmenting agents can help fade the look of them up to 4x faster!
7. Continue to Use Clear Out Every Evening
While there are certain changes you might want to make to your summer skincare routine, such as switching to a lighter moisturizer or adding a sun-spot-fighting product, one key step remains a constant – Clear Out.
Gentle enough to use on sensitive skin, even during the summer, the medical-grade retinol and AZA will continue to flush out clogged pores and help you prevent future breakouts.
Have questions for us?
We’re here to help! Get in touch with us via Messenger chat or Instagram DM (@clearlybasics).
Disclaimer: This article should not be interpreted as personal medical advice. For medical-related matters, please consult your dermatologist.
