Skin You Can Bare; Advise for hot, humid climate
It’s that magical time of year again. Makeup melts off our faces, we can’t bear to have clothing touch us—and, paradoxically, clogged pores make us want to cover up as much as possible.
Adjust your regimen with the seasons.
Shed Extra Layers
Heat and humidity lead to excess production of sebum—your skin’s natural oil. This can clog pores, to keep skin clear, find an exfoliating product that works for you. These days, exfoliants range from mechanical (mitts and buffing beads) to chemical (Vitamin A and glycolic acid), and from mild to intense strength. “If your skin is not sensitive or tends to be oily, switch to a medium- or high-strength chemical exfoliant during hot weather.”
Mask Your Imperfections
“A mask with sulfur or another astringent can remove the excess oil from summer skin, as well as the dead skin cells that can trap oil and create breakouts,” advises Baranda. “Toners are also great but take care not to strip too much—your skin may overcompensate by producing more sebum. Be sure to use a light moisturizer or moisturizing sunscreen after you tone.”
Drink. A Lot
Nothing clears skin like lots of purifying water. Water keeps the skin healthy and working the way it should eliminate oil and toxins without clogging. “I always drink a full glass of water before any meal,” Baranda says. “Not only does this help me get in my eight glasses a day; it makes me feel full so I don’t overeat.” Flavored waters (with no added sugar) are also making hydration a little more palatable. Be Cool “Ice is clinically proven to reduce the inflammation of breakouts and increase the penetration of skin care products,” says Baranda. Needless to say, it can also provide general relief from the stupefying heat. To avoid making acne-mountains out of congested molehills, apply a frozen compress or ice cube to inflamed skin twice daily for 2–5 minutes.
Protect Yourself
“The best way to reduce the signs of aging is to limit your sun exposure,” advises Baranda. Take extra care if you are using an exfoliating solution with Vitamin A or acid. Baranda suggests wearing a hat outdoors and applying sunscreen the night before sun exposure to allow the product time to penetrate.“SPF 30 is sufficient to block out 95 percent of the sun’s harmful rays,” she adds. “Choose a non-comedogenic, moisturizing sunscreen for a simple finish to your summer routine.”
Dead skin cells fall into your skin pores, mix with excess oil and bacteria grows. The skin then becomes inflamed causing blemishes or acne.
Avoid clogged pores by controlling your skins oil production
The use of toners not only clears the skin of contaminates and dead skin cells, they also contain astringents. Astringents have a "shrinkage property" which stops the discharge of oil and coagulates the skin's proteins and causes drying.
The additional benefit of toners includes preparing the skin for precise absorption of skin conditioners by removing residual contaminants and dead skin cells. Dead skin cells and contaminates block your way to healthy skin. Toners leave your skin feeling tight, clean and fresh.
Recommended toners:
Normalizing Tonic is formulated for normal to combination skin with little to no oil production however it has the same benefits of toning.
Oily Skin Tonic is formulated for oily skin types and for those who have acclimated to the Normalizing Tonic.
It is important to use a toner before applying skin conditioners.
Using skin conditioners to rejuvenate the skin
The use of skin conditioners such as vitamin A products accelerates the exfoliation process and stimulates the growth of new skin cells - thus the rejuvenation process begins and fresh, healthy skin is revealed.
Skin conditioners also bring blemishes to the surface and help loosen impacted pores and comedones so they are more easily extracted. The Vivant vitamin A skin conditioners have a short molecular chain - thus the product is able to penetrate the skin quickly.
Mask your imperfections
Masks help combat complexion problems by exfoliating the skin, flushing impacted pores and reduce oil production. When skin becomes oily and comedones evolve; a quick and simple solution is often a mask.
Clinical Formula Therapeutic Mask This medicated mask with 10 percent sulfur, is specially formulated from a natural clay base with oil absorbing Sulfur for the treatment of acne and pimples. Ideal for oily, acne-prone skin, this clay action draws out impurities and control excess oil. Also used for soothing and calming minor skin conditions.
When inflammation occurs
Inflammation is a side effect of impacted pours. It can be common and very uncomfortable; however, a very simple solution to this side effect is Ice.
An ice pack can deliver ice-cold compression to reduce inflammation giving way to treating impactions, reducing the pain associated with inflammation and assist with the penetration of skin conditioners.
