With summer weather in full swing, Emma — our very own Marketing Coordinator — shares her daily summer skincare routine and the HSA eligible products that she relies on.
I don’t know about you, but it’s taken me quite some time to find the right skincare routine to meet the unique needs of my skin. And during my journey of curating the right products and ways to use them, I’ve discovered that depending on the season, sometimes my routine and products need a little tweaking.
Sun, heat, and humidity can cause changes in our skin, so it’s important to try and cover all the bases with a range of products. Keep reading to learn about my customized skin care and get a peek into what’s in my medicine cabinet.
Morning Skincare: Cleanse and Anti-acne Treatment
Some of us are trying to manage dry skin in the summer while others are working to get a handle on oily skin. And if you’re dealing with acne-prone skin (like many of us) you need to handle it with a little extra TLC. That’s why I start my day using a cleanser designed to help heal breakouts. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Daily Face Scrub gets deep into pores and is gentle enough for daily use. It’s formulated with Salicylic Acid which helps kill acne-causing bacteria, which is especially helpful during these hot months when sweat can clog your pores. The exfoliating beads don’t contain plastic, so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your face as well as the impact it has on the environment.
After cleansing, I turn to Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner for help in reducing irritation and redness that’s associated with breakouts. It uses naturally-derived skin-soothers that are especially good for acne-prone skin and leaves a soft and clean feeling.
Another great treatment is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Astringent Face Toner for Oily Skin. This toner is made specifically for oily, acne-prone skin. It acts as a pore minimizer and heals by helping unblock and reduce the size of pores. With regular use you’ll notice more refined skin texture and tighter pores.
Next, I turn to an acne treatment to help clear up any existing breakouts. Mighty Patch Original is an easy (and fun) way to shrink whiteheads. You can use these patches overnight or during the day if you’re working from home. The clear color with a matte finish allows them to blend in with your skin for a discrete look. They feature a natural, fluid-absorbing gel pad that gently extracts from inside the pimple. (Which is cool to see!) Just stick them on as many spots as needed and get ready for clearer skin in just a matter of hours.
Summer Skincare: SPF for Face and Body
Summer skincare needs a product (or 2) that contains a sun protection factor (SPF). Most dermatologists and skincare experts will suggest wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen — blocks UVA and UVB rays — with an SPF of 15+ all year-round, but it’s an absolute must during spring and summer. Even when you aren’t going to the beach or pool, helps protect the skin on your face and body from sun damage. Daily activities such as taking your dog for a walk, sitting outside to have morning coffee, and grabbing lunch with a friend outside can lead to sun damage and sunburns without the protection of broad-spectrum sunscreen. I’ve had to learn this the hard way, so using sunscreen daily has become a non-negotiable part of my routine.
Sun damage can also cause premature aging such as fine lines, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. If you’re dedicated to keeping your skin healthy, finding a great sunscreen should be high on your list of priorities.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 60 is a highly effective facial moisturizing sunscreen that’s great for the skin on your face, neck, and chest. This sunscreen has a lot of features that users love (including me):
- Broad-spectrum protection protects against UVA and UVB rays
- Shine-free, matte finish
- Helps absorb excess oil
- Decreases the risk of skin cancer and early signs of skin aging
- Water resistant (up to 80 minutes)
- Dermatologist tested on sensitive skin
- Allergy-tested
- Non-comedogenic
One user wrote, “This is a great sunscreen, I am a woman of color with oily skin so this works perfectly for me. It does not leave a white cast on my skin and it is an oil-controlling sunscreen; which is great because some sunscreens can be a bit greasy.”
We’ve all experienced that white cast from mineral sunscreen, so this is a great option if you find you need something with a lighter formula.
If you’re looking for SPF for your body, check out Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Body Lotion, SPF 60. This is a body moisturizer with SPF that will protect your skin from the sun and also hydrate it. It’s lightweight with a non-greasy feel and has prebiotic oat that leaves skin soft and moisturized all day. It’s really a great option for sun protection and hydration.
So you have your body and face protected from the sun, but we can’t forget our lips! The lips have only a thin layer of skin and very little melanin, which is the pigment that helps protect against the sun. This makes our lips very sensitive to the sun’s UV rays. They are always exposed to the sun when we are outside, and this makes them particularly vulnerable to sunburn.
Sun Bum Lip Balm SPF 30 protects your lips from sun and wind, so this is a great product to keep in your bag all year. Aloe vera soothes dry, chapped lips while cocoa butter softens, repairs, and enhances skin renewal. This SPF lip balm comes in 7 different tropical scents, so you can protect your lips and enjoy the feel and smell of doing it.
Compare to Active Ingredient in Australian Gold Aloe Freeze Gel with Lidocaine
Evening Skincare: Treating Dry and Combination Skin
Many of us have combination skin, with some areas that are a bit dry and other spots more oily. Finding the right nighttime moisturizer that heals dry or irritated skin, and prevents excess oil will be a game changer in the health and vitality of your skin.
Formulated for all skin types, Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Face Moisturizer helps prevent acne breakouts, improves complexion, and allows for healthier skin. It’s fast-absorbing and also oil-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and gentle enough for sensitive skin, making it a great option for day or night.
If you’re looking for a little extra glow, OXY Total Care Vitamin C Serum brightens and smooths with Vitamin C and deeply penetrates to even skin tone and to fade acne marks. Plus, it features Hyaluronic Acid hydrates, a clear and light serum that absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling hydrated, clear, and glowing.
Summer Skin, Suncare, and More
While summer finally means more time outside, it also means we need to switch up our skincare routine to ensure we keep our skin healthy and protected.
You can find the best lotions for dry skin and best face sunscreen when you visit HSAstore.com. Plus you’ll find a wide variety of other personal care products that will support your skin all year-round.
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