Summer Skincare Forecast: Bright & Clear
Summer is in full swing! Which brings with it a bevy of different things. The weather is warmer (or on some days, totally too hot for its own good), the days are longer, and the sun is shining brighter than ever! And while I do love me some good summer heat, one thing it can also bring with it is blemishes and dark spots. SO, if you can relate to that, keep reading! The summer skincare forecast is bright & clear, and I want to share some of my favorite tips and products for achieving a clear and bright summer complexion!
Tip #1: Find an Effective Anti-Acne Serum!
A little piece of good news: so many products on the market today, like PRP for Acne Scars, offer not only anti-acne benefits, but skin brightening and anti-aging benefits as well! The reason a serum is so important is because serums penetrate deeper into your skin than a moisturizer can. Meaning they will be your ticket to seeing more powerful results, in a timelier fashion.
Pro Tip: If dark spots, sun burn, and skin cancer were not reason enough to slather on the SPF, let this one be an extra motivator. Ingredients that help to fight acne and brighten your complexion (such as salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, and more) often cause your skin to be more sensitive to the sun, meaning sunscreen is absolutely key to keeping your skin looking beautiful.
Applying and reapplying sunscreen when you are using these types of products is an absolute must.
Some of my Favorite Anti-Acne Serums: Rhonda Allison Blemish Serum, iS Clinical Active Serum, DermaQuest DermaClear Serum
Tip #2: Lock it in w/ a Brightening Moisturizer.
Most of my oily/acneic clients have one thing in common: they don’t like to use a serum and moisturizer together. I am always happy to inform them that just because they haven’t found a combination that they like yet, doesn’t mean they should write off a two-step hydrating process.
As I mentioned above, serums are wonderful for delivering targeted ingredients to the deeper layers of your skin. But moisturizers are the topper that will not only help to lock those ingredients in, but to hydrate and firm the outer layers.
Of course, since oily skin and acne are a concern, finding the perfect pair is important! You are definitely going to want to try something that leans more on the lightweight side.
Tip #3: Exfoliate!
This is one of those tips I am always stressing – namely because people always treat it like a luxury, and not like a necessity. If you haven’t hopped on-board the exfoliation train, there is no time like the present.
Exfoliation does so many wonderful things for your skin, the most obvious of which is removing dead skin cells. This helps to reveal the radiant, fresh skin underneath and preps your skin so it more effectively absorbs your follow up products.
An added bonus – if you find your anti-acne products are causing your skin to be a little dry and flakey, a good physical exfoliant can help to whisk that dry, flakey skin away to reveal smooth, beautiful skin!
Tip #4: Find the perfect sunscreen!
If there’s any one excuse for not wearing sunscreen that I hear the most, it’s that it has the tendency to make one’s skin greasy, thus resulting in a breakout. The good news? There are totally options out there that won’t do this.
My first tip: try a physical sunscreen that uses zinc oxide only. I’m not hating on titanium dioxide by any means! It’s just that zinc oxide has been known to not only deliver excellent protection from the sun, it also happens to be an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, making it a great option for those who deal with acne, breakouts, rosacea, and more!
Next up, you need to find a formula that works for your unique skin! Just because one zinc oxide product wasn’t your cup of tea doesn’t mean all zinc oxide products are out.
Some products that are making waves here at my office are…
Lucrece Clear Zinc Solar Protection SPF 30 w/ Light Tint Silicon. This sunscreen is seriously amazing, and many of the girls in my office swear by it! Why? It delivers a generous, yet lightweight tint, makes your skin look so smooth, and delivers SPF protection while remaining lightweight and not greasy. (Note, this product line does require you to call in if you want to get your hands on it!).
A tip from one of my oily-skin employees: “If you tend to get oily throughout the day, dust a layer of setting powder over this tinted sunscreen! This pairing is a favorite of mine, and delivers the perfect amount of coverage.”
Eminence Organics Sun Defense Minerals. This product is for anyone who (1) does not like greasy SPF, and (2) is willing to commit to reapplying their SPF throughout the day. It comes in an easy, pre-filled brush that you can just toss in your purse and use whenever is convenient. Bonus: it delivers lightweight coverage and SPF 32 level protection.
Epicuren Zinc Oxide Skin Perfecting Sunscreen SPF 27. If you prefer something that isn’t tinted, this is the pick. It contains enzymes, antioxidants and absolutely zero chemicals or harmful parabens. Bonus: it reduces dark spots and promotes a more even complexion while it protects.
Tip #5: Get Yourself a Good Eye Cream.
Okay, okay… So this has nothing to do with clear and bright skin all around. But dark circles can seriously put a damper on anyone’s day, which is why you mustn’t forget to keep a trusted eye cream on-hand.
Those who know me know that eye cream is a MUST for me.
My current favorite is HydroPeptide’s Eye Authority, but 100% Pure’s Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream (which smells amazing, by the way) has had some of my office mates buzzing for the past couple of months!