6 Ways To Prevent Acne In Summer

The last thing you want to do in summer is to worry about uninvited acne…

Researched, written by Amber & The Team
Updated on December 16, 2022

Found in Healthful Beauty • Healthy Skin

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What is one thing everyone hates but ends up dealing with sooner or later? Acne! It always seems to pop out of nowhere (literally).

While acne is never welcomed (in any season), it has a specific tendency to invite itself over during summer.

There are a lot of reasons why you might be having acne. In summer, though, it is intensified due to increased exposure to UV rays as well as increased sweating. If you want to take precautions, below are 6 helpful ways to prevent summer acne and look your best.

Change Your Sunscreen & Moisturizer

It goes without saying – your skin will definitely sweat more during the summer due to increased sun exposure and higher temperatures. However, sun exposure is not the only reason why you will have increased breakouts. Most of the time, summer acne is related to increased oil production, and thus clogging of pores.

If your skincare routine has layering, such as applying serum or toner first, then moisturizer + sunscreen, watch out for your products’ consistency. If they are thick in consistency, then clogging of pores might easily occur and cause summer acne. We advise you to keep the layering routine but switch to water or gel-based sunscreen and a lightweight moisturizer.

Bye-bye Sugary Drinks, Hello Water

The easiest step you can follow this summer is to remove sugary and high-glycemic foods from your diet. These cause your insulin levels to increase leading to sebum production which can make your skin oily and cause more acne issues.

The best solution is to hydrate yourself regularly by drinking a lot of water or non-sugary drinks. Always remember that the foods and drinks you consume will reflect on your skin.

Pop Champagne, Not Pimples!

We all know that feeling.

You are preparing for your outing, sitting in front of your dressing table, applying your makeup, then you zoom in the mirror just to find a pimple that sits there and tempts you to pop it right now!

No matter how tempting it feels, stay away from squeezing and digging, as this might lead to inflammation and infection. Besides, your hands contain a lot of contaminated bacteria which will thus transfer to your face and cause more summer acne problems.

Wash Often

In summer, due to increased sweating, it is recommended to wash your face using a foaming cleanser at least twice a day, so do it before going to work and right after coming back. If you are heading out directly after work (and yes, we are aware that it is like going an extra extra mile), use your work’s toilet to remove and reapply your makeup. This way you will look fresh and an extra cleansing session will help you avoid acne.

On your beach days, do not forget to shower every time you come out of the pool/beach. Neither chlorine nor salt water should stay on your face.

Say YES! To Vitamin C In The Morning

After washing your face in the morning, apply a vitamin C serum that has antioxidants that protect your skin from environmental irritants and triggers. When used topically, a form of vitamin C (also known as sodium ascorbic acid) will help decrease acne-induced inflammation and redness. Extra antioxidants never hurt – they will protect your skin during the summer.

Choose Retinoids In The Evening

Finally, for your evening routine, incorporate retinoids twice a week to help exfoliate the outer top layer of your skin and thus unclog your pores. Clogged pores are the recipe for acne, so if you do not have time during the day for exfoliation, this is an easy and quick fix that will keep your skin protected this summer.

Summertime is precious and needed – the last thing you want to do is worry about uninvited summer acne. Follow the above tips to keep your face free of summer acne and enjoy your beautiful skin!