Summer Skincare 101

Howdy! Welcome to The Regimen Company's first blog! I'm based out of Texas, where things are really heating up. With increased temperatures and humidity, I've noticed my skin is struggling to stay balanced. Since you may be having the same experience, I thought I'd share some summer skincare tips that can help get your skin back on track.

Summer Skincare Tips

As temperatures increase, so does humidity, which leads to an increase in your skin's natural oil production and sweating. This increase in oil production and sweat can cause your pores to clog more often, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive and blemishes to appear. The oils your skin produces (also known as sebum) are 100% natural and meant to help your skin protect itself, so you'll want to gently cleanse your skin without completely stripping it of these essential, protective oils. You also want to be sure to properly moisturize your skin and protect it with sunscreen. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Face Wash 

The first step is finding the right face wash to help remove excess dirt, oil and impurities. Look for face washes that can help remove excess sebum without drying your skin. Products like scrubs can be very harsh and cause damaging microtears in your skin. Try to avoid products that contain harsh products like coconut oil, alcohol, mineral oil, and artificial preservatives (like parabens and phthalates). For a gentle cleanser that can help retain moisture, I recommend the Anne's Apothecary Black Honey Facial Cleanser. Honey is a natural humectant. Humectants attract water, which can help keep skin moisturized. 

2. Toner

Toners are a great way to remove excess dead skin while penetrating your pores for a deeper cleanse. I've recently added this back to my routine because I was experiencing an increased production in sebum—due to increased heat and humidity—that was causing my pores to clog, leading to painful cystic acne. My skin has completely changed since! Some ingredients in toners that can assist with clearing and calming your skin are chamomile, rose water, aloe water, witch hazel, or cucumber. If you're prone to acne as a result of oily skin (like myself), try products with active ingredients like niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). AHAs and BHAs may cause increased sun sensitivity, so should be used in moderation to avoid sun damage. If your skin really needs to be toned with each wash, I recommend sticking to products with ingredients that will not affect your skin's sensitivity.

3. Moisturizer

While your goal may be to remove excess moisture (sebum and sweat) from your skin and not create an environment that encourages an increase in these natural fluids, it is important to find a proper moisturizer that will keep your skin hydrated without encouraging sebum production. Oils and products with added oils may lead to an increase in clogged pores, thus increasing breakouts (meaning they are comedogenic). Some common oils that can be found in skincare products (and cosmetics) are coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, palm oil, argan oil, or rosehip oil. If you're looking for a moisturizing face cream that is non-comedogenic, I recommend Nolaskinsentials Hyaluronic H20 Creme- also known as THE oily skin moisturizer, this hydrating face creme contains hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring humectant.

4. SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN

All the emphasis—I'm going to be a broken record about this one. Sunscreen is one of the most important skincare products you can add to your routine. Your sunscreen should be at least sun protection factor (SPF) 30. You should be picky about which sunscreen you use. Many sunscreens contain products that can not only be harmful to humans, but are harmful to sea life. When purchasing a sunscreen, or products containing sunscreen, some ingredients you should try to avoid are:

• Oxybenzone (a form of synthetic estrogen that can disrupt your hormones. It is also detrimental to the environment, causing harm to coral reefs)
• Octinoxate (known to cause skin allergies and harms coral reefs)
• Avobenzone (known to cause high levels of irritation)
• Retinyl Palmitate (a form of Vitamin A that is potentially cancerous and can increase sun sensitivity, leading to sun damage)

For those of you with oily, acne-prone skin, try choosing a sunscreen that clearly states it's oil free, or use the "added oils" list above to avoid those ingredients.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but I hope this information is a useful guide for helping you make changes to your skincare routine for the summer.

Let me know in the comments which skincare topics you'd like me to explore next!