A fringe benefit of breaking a sweat at the gym? Besides cooling and detoxifying the body, sweat cleanses pores of dirt, dead skin cells, and excess oil. (Just be sure that a towel is within arm’s reach; allowing these released toxins to sit on your face too long can result in reclogging and breakouts.) But what happens when your sweaty brow is due to hot weather—and not a hot workout? Here, five ways to keep shine in check.
1. Maintain a Balanced Complexion
It’s only natural that you want to splash your face with cool water and cleanser more often during summer. But too much suds and H20 can strip skin of moisture and cause sebaceous glands to work overtime, resulting in a rebound effect (read shinier, oilier skin). Stick to deep cleansing twice daily and for midday touch-ups use a gentle toner like Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic or pre-moistened facial wipes.
Other skin care don’ts that can cause irritation and imbalance: using overly intense acne treatments and exfoliating improperly. “It’s important not to use products aimed at teenage acne,” dermatologist Howard Murad, MD, told ELLE’s Johanna Cox for her article on how to get clear skin. “Those products target violent hormonal acne, which is a very different condition from what women in their twenties through forties have. What you need are calming agents with anti-inflammatory ingredients.” A great blemish-buster to try: Votre Vu Au Revoir! Trouble Spot Treatment. Disinfecting, healing, and anti-inflammatory, the powdery mixture visibly reduces pimples overnight.
In terms of exfoliating, dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, recommends using a glycolic cleanser daily and doing mechanical exfoliation around four times a week (sensitive skin types can do less often; oilier skin types can do more often). “To avoid irritation, look for exfoliators that contain spherical, pliable microbeads versus grains with rough, scratchy edges,” she says.
2. Switch to a Lighter Moisturizer
The thick, emollient face cream you use during winter isn’t necessary for summer since the outside elements aren’t as harsh and drying. Though a more nourishing antiaging formula is fair game for overnight—it can enhance the skin cell regeneration and collagen production that naturally occur during REM sleep—your daytime lotion should be light. After applying moisturizer in the morning, makeup artist Angela Levin recommends laying a tissue flat on your face and gently tapping (“the tissue will pick up any excess moisture”).
3. Use a Non-Drying Foundation Primer
To make skin stay smoother and shine-free longer, Levin says to apply a primer prior to foundation. The ideal primer should be oil-free and oil-absorbing yet nourishing and non-drying. Ones to try: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light, Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Primer, and Cargo Blu Ray High Definition Mattifier.
4. Wear the Right Makeup
As with primers, an oil-free yet non-drying formula is key when choosing the perfect foundation. Those with oily skin might try CoverGirl Clean Oil Control Makeup, which contains oil absorbers and conditioning ingredients. Combination and sensitive skin types can dab on Revlon PhotoReady Makeup which in addition to being oil-free also contains SPF 20. For the best sweat-proof eye makeup, invest in a long-wearing cream eye shadow and water-resistant eyeliner.
5. Carry Blotting Papers
If in spite of your best efforts, oil and sweat still seep through your flawless finish, always have a pack of blotting papers tucked away in your purse. Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Paper contains a touch of powder, while Sephora and Boscia versions come powder-free.
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Controlling oily skin is an ongoing battle, but you don’t need to spend a fortune on exotic skincare products. Many natural home remedies for controlling oily skin call for ingredients you already have in your home.