I don’t know about you but summer means spf 50 and pimples brought on by oily based products better suited for the winter months. I also have some skin discoloration around my chin due to my thyroid disorder. But more on that later.
For the summer I do a few key things to avoid and treat breakouts as well as caring for my skin in a way that protects from the sun:
Aloe vera: I have been babying an aloe plant for a while now, but we had unexpected frost in May which killed my plant. Note to self, don't put plants outside too early! So my local drug store was selling them, so I just bought a new one for about $5. I use Aloe leaves for multiple things, to make a tea when my stomach is funny or to create a water base for a face mask, or just to use as a light moisturizer for my face after I’ve cleansed. Check out my previous post about how to use every part of the aloe leaf.
Detoxifying and exfoliating masks: I diy most masks at home, but you can find inexpensive masks in the drugstore. Just be sure to check out the ingredients and select what is best for your skin type. I have been using a mask of cinnamon and honey and salt as my go to scrub when things get out of control. Honey is an anti bacterial plus moisturizing. The cinnamon helps with color correction. The salt helps draw out the toxins and is a great exfoliant. I combine into a paste with a fork and apply with my hands. I leave it on for at least ten minutes so the ingredients have a bit of time to melt on the skin, then I rub gently on key areas like my chin and forehead. I let it sit again for a few more minutes before rinsing with warm water. Another mask I like to use has aloe vera, turmeric, salt and honey. This scrub is more moisturizing and these ingredients together help dry out acne without being too dry. If you don't know where to get aloe vera leaves, use a cooling get after the scrub. St. Ives makes a nice one, you can find it here on Amazon.
Always wear sunscreen! It is so important, and you can get skin cancer at any age. My uncle was a landscaper and he had to have part of his nose removed. If you are outdoors at all, just a short run or a trip to the store, make sure your foundation has a level of spf or layer it with a sheer spf. Neutrogena makes a nice one, but a lot of bb and cc creams have a level of spf in them already. I’ve been using Channel flawless foundation with spf 10 on top of my l’oreal skin luminizer which also has spf. If you can layer your skincare it’s best to make sure you don’t rub off your spf while working in other products. Otherwise, wear a cute hat.
Drink water! It is easy to forget, especially if you are out and about doing errands or at the beach. But if you don’t like drinking things without flavor, evian and poland spring make carbonated zero calorie flavored water options. I’ve been getting the ice brand sparkling waters, which are also zero calorie and they come in a large range of flavors.
Switch up your makeup routine: In the summer we get a little tan whether we like it or not. It can either cover up imperfections or amplify them if you have some skin discoloration in the first place. Either way, find some light moisturizing foundations that contain a spf or a tinted moisturizer that has salicylic acid. L’oreal and neutrogena make great products that glide on the skin without clogging pores. Better yet, they are both drugstore brands that don’t break the bank.
