Oily Skin & Solstice

This year we’re back to the PDX summers of yore—it feels like we won’t see consistent summer until after July 4—but that gives us plenty of time to prepare for Oily Skin Summer! Oil production accelerates in our skin with temperatures and humidity rising. Add sweat, make up, and the wrong sunscreen ingredients, and oily skin can sing the summer blues!

All that vitamin D from the sun is a nice bonus, it’s great for our skin, hair and nails but we’re also sweating more, making more oils, and shaving potentially more often. When there’s higher humidity our sweat doesn’t evaporate as effectively which just layers on the potential for clogged pores.

And we still want you to wear sunscreen every day! Does your sunscreen have coconut oil as an ingredient? If you have oily, acneic or combination skin types, coconut oil is comedogenic, it clogs your pores and can increase blackheads . And be aware tinted sunscreen may tip the scales if you’re wearing a full face of makeup on top. Try replacing your sunscreen with Daily Brightening UV Defense SPF 30 or Light Moisture UV Defense SPF 50 from SkinCeuticals.

What’s an oily skin type to do?

Now is the time for full spectrum sun protection and there are some great options for oily skin types! SkinCeuticals’ Silymarin CF is made with salicylic acid to reduce oils and lightly exfoliate while protecting from UVA (aging) rays. Phloretin CF is also a great choice for sensitive skin types or for evening out hyperpigmentation from sun damage or picking. Use your antioxidant once a day in the morning for UVA protection.

If you’ve tossed toner as an inessential step in your skin care routine, think again! A great exfoliating toner is light enough to hydrate and strong enough to remove excess makeup, oils or dead skin cells. We suggest the Nutrient Toner or Smoothing Toner from PCA once or twice a day.

Go easy on Retin A, retinols, heavy alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids in the summer! They will make you more prone to burning. This is also not the time for intense peeling, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning. You can resume those in the fall!

And for happy, healthy skin year round—drink water, get sleep, and remember you are what you eat!