I don’t know about where you live, but in New York City, it’s been so hot and humid lately. Like those type of humid days where you step outside and you immediately start sweating and it seems like no matter what you do, your skin feels gross and congested. The good news is, there are things you can do to make the heat a little more bearable for your skin. Here, we’ve compiled the best ways to treat your skin when you’ve been sweating all day long.
Double Cleanse
High humidity equals constant sweating and increased oil production. This is where double cleansing becomes even more essential. This will help to balance sebum production and keep acne at bay. One of my favorite oil cleansers right now is the Hanskin Cleansing Oil and Blackhead PHA. This oil cleanser contains PHA, a gentle chemical exfoliant, and tea tree leaf oil to deep clean pores. It leaves skin feeling refreshed. I love that this is an easy way to gently exfoliate the skin without causing any irritation. Plus, it removes makeup and other impurities quickly and efficiently.
A great water-based cleanser to follow up with is the Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser. This contains tea tree leaf oil and purifying botanical ingredients that deep clean pores and absorb excess sebum. Sticking with gentle, low pH cleansers like this one will help to clean the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.
Exfoliate
In this weather, there’s nothing better than the feeling of smooth, cleansed skin. Just don’t go overboard with exfoliating as it can actually dehydrate the skin and cause more acne. Instead, stick with daily exfoliators that soothe and hydrate the skin like the Neogen Dermalogy Real Cica Pads. I have become absolutely obsessed with these. I have super sensitive skin so increasing my use of chemical exfoliators can cause irritation. These pads, however, contain PHA which is a gentle chemical exfoliator. The combination of PHA and madecassoside, a derivative of centella asiatica, calms and soothes inflammation so I can use them every day.
For those times when you want a deeper exfoliation, try the Dr. Oracle A-Thera Tea Tree Peeling Sticks. These easy-to-use cotton swabs are pre-soaked with AHA and BHA, powerful exfoliants, that target acne and deep clean pores. The handy sticks balance sebum production and keep your summer skin in check.
Treat
Summer equals constant sun exposure and this means you need an antioxidant to help protect against free radical damage. The Cosrx Triple C Lightning Liquid is packed with 20.5% of pure ascorbic acid aka vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. This serum works to brighten and fade acne scars, even out your skin and leave it glowing. Plus, vitamin C improves your skin’s ability to hold onto moisture and fight against the dry, summer heat.
Hydrate
When you’ve been sweating all day, the last thing you want to do is suffocate your skin with a heavy moisturizer. This is why something like the Enature Squeeze Watery Gel Cream is an excellent summer addition. The lightweight gel-cream contains avocado oil capsules that provide skin with just enough moisture to hydrate, but not too much to make skin feel greasy.
Bottom Line
Don’t get me wrong, summer is the best, but it’s not always kind to our skin. If you have a soothing and exfoliating routine in place, you can help alleviate those issues and spend more time enjoying endless sunny days and outdoor fun. Just remember that everyone’s skin is different so you might want to tailor your routine to your specific skin type while keeping the steps listed above in mind.
