Effortless Beauty 101: Oily Skin and Acne Summer Basics

It’s summer! Time to head outdoors, enjoy the beautiful weather and soak up the sun. The heat can make taking care of your complexion even more challenging than usual. That’s because the higher temperatures can mean higher levels of oil production in the body’s sebaceous glands, which can lead to shiny, acne-prone skin. You can still enjoy summertime and clear skin, however, with some simple skin care strategies.

Use a Gentle Cleansing Regimen

You want to keep moisture in your skin, because if a strong cleanser ends up stripping away that moisture, it may send your oil glands into overdrive to make up for it. If you want to avoid ending up with oily skin and acne, look for a cleanser with salicylic acid to rid impurities from the surface of the skin that could lead to breakouts. DERMA E’s Very Clear Acne Cleanser has salicylic acid, as well as natural antiseptic and antibacterial ingredients, to promote a healthy-looking complexion. Use it morning and night to keep your skin looking in top shape. Another good ingredient for summer skin care is glycolic acid—try it in the Essentials Radiance Toner to help remove dead skin cells. Use the toner after cleansing and before moisturizing the skin.

Exfoliate Regularly

Keeping pores clean and unclogged may help prevent buildup that can cause acne. Use a gentle exfoliator such as DERMA E’s Very Clear Acne Scrub at least once a week to clean away the surface layer of the skin. It has a gentle formulation with calming ingredients such as lavender and chamomile that work well to soothe skin and help maintain a fresh-looking appearance. Just remember: no harsh scrubbing necessary.

Take It Easy on the Salsa and Margaritas

Whether it’s a Fourth of July barbecue or a summer picnic, there are plenty of opportunities to feast on food and drink this season. Choose wisely, though—too much alcohol or spicy foods can make you sweat too much, which can be a problem if you have oily skin. You can still enjoy summer celebrations—indulge in one drink, and then switch to sparkling or infused water if you still want something festive.

Don’t Skip Sunblock

You may be tempted to swear off putting sunscreen on your face during the summer in fear that it will clog your pores, but that would be a mistake. Protection from the sun’s UV rays is a necessity year-round, but even more so during warm weather days when you’re more likely to spend time outdoors. With cutting-edge advances made in sunscreens, you don’t have to settle on a thick, chalky sunscreen that would make pimples pop out. Look for a formula designed for skin that doesn’t have any extra oil, such as DERMA E’s Natural Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Oil-Free Face. It’s a lightweight lotion perfect for oily complexions, and because the active ingredient is chemical-free zinc oxide, it’s not harmful to the environment.

Change Up Your Makeup

You may love your foundation, but you may not love how heavy it can feel during the heat and humidity of summer. To prevent buildup and breakouts, you may want to think about lighter formulations for your summer makeup routine. You can look for tinted moisturizers, which aren’t as thick as regular foundations, or even one of the newer foundation serums.Or instead, try using athe Sun Protection Mineral Powder SPF 30 in lieu of a foundation to help control shine and add a natural finish.

Indulge in a Mask

Summer is the season to unwind, so carve out some self-care time and treat yourself to a clay mask that will help control excess oil production while refreshing the look of your skin. DERMA E’s Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask uses Kaolin and Bentonite clays to help skin look less congested, as well as charcoal to clear up impurities and apricot seed powder for surface exfoliation.

Cool Down After a Workout

Exercise can give your skin a healthy, natural glow, and that’s always good. What’s not so good is when excess sweat-- especially during a heated workout--can spur acne breakouts. You can help prevent breakouts by working out in the early morning or in the evening when it’s not as hot (and that offers you the added benefit of avoiding heatstroke from overexertion). Post-workout, you should always wash your face with your cleanser to wipe away oil, sweat and impurities from your skin.

Blot a Lot

On those hot, humid days outdoors, it can be tough to control oily shine on your face. Carry oil-blotting papers in your purse or beach bag for times when your skin needs a quick touch-up.

Don’t Be Hard on Your Skin

Oily skin needs TLC and the best way to do that is by using products that have natural ingredients that are effective but not harsh. DERMA E products are created to nourish and nurture your skin with vegan, cruelty-free formulas that don’t contain parabens, petrolatum, sodium laurel sulfates or other harmful chemicals.

What’s your summer skin care secret to preventing oily skin and acne? Let us know in the comments.