If you have acne, summer might not be your favourite time of year. Heat, humidity and sweat can wreak havoc on your skin.
But a few simple tweaks to your daily skincare routine can stop the warmer weather from exacerbating your acne.
This post contains affiliate links.
Sunscreen
Most of us pack sunscreen in our suitcase when we’re off on holiday, but we need sun protection all year round. Sunshine on your skin throughout the year helps your body to make Vitamin D, but it also makes your skin age. And while ageing is a privilege, you want your skin to age naturally, not prematurely.
Look for broad-spectrum sun protection. This means it protects against both UVA and UVB light.
Choose a product specifically designed for facial use, and one that’s non-comedogenic, meaning it’s less likely to block your pores. Remember that less likely doesn’t mean it won’t. If you find one sunscreen is causing you to break out, stop using it and try a different one.
I prefer a mineral-based sunscreen. This is not the same as mineral oils such as petroleum, which commonly block pores. Chemical-based sunscreens make my skin more congested. You can read more about different types of sunscreen in my book, Skincare for Acne-Prone Skin.
Don’t rely on your moisturiser for your sun protection
When SPF is added to your moisturiser, it’s hard to know what you’re getting. Does it protect against UVA and UVB rays? Are you getting the full SPF protection claimed or does the moisturiser dilute it? Are you applying enough moisturiser to get the right SPF coverage? Is your skin benefitting from the added antioxidants in your moisturiser, or is the SPF overpowering them?
The answer to these questions is I don’t know. Choose a good quality moisturiser and a separate SPF, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Seek shade
Avoid sitting in the sun during the hottest part of the day. Wear a hat and sunglasses to shelter your skin as much as possible. Baking yourself in the sun will not heal your acne, it’s only going to age your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer.
Lighten up your skincare
Summer is a good time to switch to a lighter moisturiser. If you find your skin is getting too oily throughout the day, opt for a lighter moisturiser. But definitely don’t skip moisturising. Even dry skin can benefit from a lighter moisturiser.
Just be sure the extra oil is coming from too-rich products rather than your skin overcompensating for products that are too harsh and are stripping your skin of its natural oils, common with astringent based products and those containing sulfates.
You can read more about skincare ingredients to avoid for acne-prone skin here.
I use the same cleanser year round but some people benefit from also switching to a lighter cleanser.
Exfoliating acne-prone skin
Summer is the time to slough away those dead skin cells to prevent them from clogging your pores when you sweat more. But gently does it. You cannot scrub your acne away. Exfoliating benefits the new skin cells beneath that top layer, so treat them kindly.
If you’re using a physical exfoliator, use a combination of small circular movements and deep sweeping movements across the skin working from the centre of the face outwards. This combination of movements will help to dislodge those dead skin cells, and the massaging action will stimulate circulation to bring nutrients to the skin.
If you’re using a chemical exfoliator, make sure you read and follow the directions on your products, particularly the section that tells you how frequently the product should be used. Chemical exfoliators can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is essential.
That’s my top 3 tweaks to your acne skincare routine for summer:
-
- Protect your skin from the sun
- Choose lighter skincare products if you find your skin is getting too oily throughout the day
- Exfoliate your skin regularly, but gently
Don’t forget to grab your copy of Skincare for Acne-Prone Skin.
