Your Summer Skincare Routine for Oily Skin (Dermatologist-Approved)
If you find yourself constantly wiping away the sweat and oil off your face or battling acne and whiteheads during the hotter months, you are not alone. Oily skin is all about the sweat, extra oiliness, clogged pores, and oh-so-annoying breakouts that can really tank your confidence and self-esteem. This skin type can be extremely difficult to deal with, but it only gets worse when you don’t have a dedicated skincare routine to manage it.
This is your ultimate go-to guide to a dermatologist approved skincare routine tailored specifically for oily skin during the season of summer. So, read on!
Do You Have Oily Skin?
If you relate to any of the following, congratulations, you’ve got oily skin.
- You notice oil on your face just a few hours after cleansing
- Your pores are huge and more visible.
- You experience frequent acne and breakouts.
- Makeup doesn’t sit well on your face.
- Your face feels sticky and greasy with or without products.
Oily skin isn’t a curse; it can also be a blessing in disguise. You see, a major perk of having oily skin is slower aging. When your skin is naturally moisturized 24/7, it ages much slower than dry skin types. Isn’t that cool? So, cheers to that. And now let’s talk about the different needs of oily skin during summers.
Oily Skin’s Different Skin Needs In Summer
Oily skin and summer is a pair made in chaotic heaven. The intense 6heat triggers your oil glands to go into overdrive which is especially frustrating when you’re also dealing with acne-prone skin in heat. Sweat + oil means clogged pores which in turn means breakouts.
So, your skincare routine needs to control excess oil without stripping your skin, keep your pores clean, calm inflammation caused by heat, and protect from sun damage while being hydrate enough to not over-moisturize your skin. Sounds simple? Yes, it is. But it also boils down to using the right products and the right ingredients.
Your Dermatologist-Approved Summer Routine for Oily Skin
Oily skin doesn’t need fixing. It needs a routine tailored to work with, and not against it.
Here’s your oily skin summer routine from AM to PM and everything in between that will help you manage extra oil and prevent those pesky breakouts without over-drying or irritating your face.
1. Cleanser
Use a gentle cleanser that gets the job done without making your skin feel way too stripped off. Use it morning and night, not ten times a day. Over-washing will make your skin oilier.
2. Toner
You want a toner that cools the skin, tones it, balances pH, and gently refines pores.
Look for ingredients like:
- Cucumber: Soothes and refreshes
- Witch hazel: Tightens pores
- Green tea: Fights inflammation
3. Serum
Oily skin needs serums, especially lightweight and water-based ones. Try Vitamin C and Niacinamide serums. These fade pigmentation and acne marks, protects from UV damage, don’t clog pores, and can even help control oil production. Use 4-5 drops of your serum after applying toner and gently dab it until absorbed.
4. Moisturizer
By now you may know that skipping hydration can make your skin oilier. So, how to adequately hydrate without overly moisturizing your skin? With the right moisturizer for summer. Pick a gel-cream or water-based formula for your oily skin. Even better, you can also get a acne controlling moisturizer with breakouts-fighting properties.
5. Sunscreen
Sweating off your SPF in 30 minutes? Welcome to the struggles of having oily skin in summer. The trick here is to choose sunscreens made for oily skin. Always go for SPF 30 and above with PA+++ for broad-spectrum protection. For extremely oily skinned people, matte finish and lightweight formulas are a godsend. Apply at least 15 minutes before you go outside, and you are good to go.
6. Weekly D-Tan Face Pack
A good weekly d-tan face pack helps undo all the sun exposure during the week, oil overload, uneven texture and floods your skin with hydration as well. Talk about a multitasker! Use it once a week or twice if you’ve been outdoors a lot. Always follow with your moisturizer, without fail.
7. Weekly or Bi-Weekly Scrub
Exfoliation is great, but scrubbing daily is a crime against any type of skin, not just oily. Just don’t.
If physical exfoliation is your thing, reach out for:
- Scrubs with mild scrubbing particles
- Scrubs with gentle beads
One minute, once or twice a week as per your skin tolerance and requirement, and that’s all.
You Cannot Change Your Skin Type
Here’s the harsh truth no one will ever tell you: you cannot change your oily skin type but can only manage it. When going against the current isn’t an option, you embrace it. Likewise, learn and understand your skin better and follow a routine that’s designed for YOU. Do that, and your skin will pay you back with good results.
Wrapping up
Oily skin in summers is not just about sweating hard, but more about the ever-increasing oil production, frequent breakouts, icky feel of stickiness on face, and the sheer struggle of wanting to wipe your face without moving your sunscreen or makeup. Not having a proper oily skin-focused skincare routine can make the matter worse, and who wants that? Sometimes all you need is a dermatologist approved skincare routine that keeps your skin fresh and the excess oil under control, even on the hottest days. That’s how you get closer to the skin of your dreams!
