How to Keep Your Skin Looking Fresh in the Summer Heat

Struggling to keep your skin looking fresh during the hot summer months? Join the club. There’s no doubt that high temps and humidity levels can take a toll on the appearance of our skin and makeup, but that doesn’t mean we should throw our hands up in defeat! Read on for helpful tips on how to counteract these elements and reveal gorgeous-looking skin even on the hottest of summer days.

It’s a scorcher out there. As if the intense heat itself weren’t bad enough, we have to deal with the consequences it creates for our skin, too. Between excess sweat and humidity, it’s no easy feat to keep makeup in place and shine under control. If you need a helping hand, read on for foolproof ways to keep your complexion looking fresh all day long—no matter how hot it may be outside.

CLEANSE YOUR SKIN THOROUGHLY

Excess heat means sweat and dirt can accumulate on the skin’s surface quickly. Instead of allowing impurities to linger and clog your pores, reach for a gentle cleanser that can whisk away all traces of grime, like SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser. Formulated for dry or sensitive skin, this gentle cleanser removes excess impurities and oil from the skin’s surface without causing over-drying. Use it up to twice daily to condition, soothe, cleanse, and calm sensitive skin. Apply a small amount to a wet face and neck using light, circular motions and then rinse thoroughly with water. 

MOISTURIZE OFTEN

Believe it or not, moisturizing is an effective way to keep the skin balanced, even if yours is oily! Since cleansing can remove some of the skin’s natural oils, it’s important to reintroduce lost moisture with a hydrating moisturizer. Skipping this step can cause the skin to over-produce oil in order to compensate for what’s believed to be a loss of moisture post-cleansing. During the hot summer months when excess shine is already a concern, you definitely wouldn’t want MORE oil to deal with!

In the summer, we like to moisturize with a lightweight gel or face serum. One of our favorites? Vichy Mineral 89, a fortifying skin-booster formulated with hyaluronic acid. If you didn’t know, hyaluronic acid is a hydration powerhouse with the ability to hold up to 1000x its weight in water. How’s that for instant hydration?

DON’T FORGET TO PRIME

If you find your skin looking shiny and oily by mid-day on hot summer days, consider incorporating an oil-control primer into your routine, like Urban Decay De-Slick Complexion Primer. Formulated to be effective in even the most extreme conditions— think: a summer day or hot studio lighting—this primer helps keeps oil under control for a long-lasting makeup look. To use, simply smooth on after your skin care routine and before makeup. You can also opt to wear it on its own too!

SET YOUR LOOK

Once you’ve mastered your makeup look, grab a setting spray to help keep it all in place. Setting sprays are a great option for achieving either a matte or a dewy finish, and lucky for you NYX Professional Makeup offers both options. If you’re craving a dewy finish, try NYX Professional Makeup’s Makeup Setting Spray Dewy, or the brand’s Makeup Setting Spray Matte for a shine-free look. These simple mists help set any makeup look while keeping things put.

Prefer a setting powder? Don’t you worry—NYX Professional Makeup has an option for you, too! The brand’s HD Studio Finishing Powder is a loose setting powder that helps keep makeup in place. Although it’s white, this powder works well on all skin tones and leaves your skin looking radiant and luminous, while absorbing oil for a flawless matte finish. To use, grab a fluffy powder brush, and pour a bit of powder into the lid. Swirl your brush, tap off any excess, and smooth over face, focusing on areas where shine appears throughout the day.