5 tips to Slay the Summer

Warm weather is finally upon us! That usually means beaches, BBQs, vacations, music festivals, flower crowns, and sadly, oily skin. Oilier skin types have a rough time navigating warm temperatures; especially in humid environments. Excess oil can cause anything from irritation to acne to blackheads. All those annoying skin conditions can put a damper on anyone's summer plans. So, I am going to share five quick and easy tips to help minimize excess oil and avoid those irritating skin conditions that can come with.

1. Drink water: Drinking water can do so much for the skin; water clears out impurities, hydrates, balances, and adds plumpness. Try coconut or fruit infused water for added vitamins and nutrients.  
2. Use a foam cleanser: Using a gentle foaming cleanser is a great way to wash away excess oil, dirt, impurities, and makeup. Should be used twice daily. Avoid cleansers that have harsh ingredients like alcohol and/or sulfates. Dermalogica's Clearing Skin Wash, Juice Beauty's Blemish Clearing Cleanser, La Roshe-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser, and Pur Minerals In the Clear Clarifying Cleanser are all great options.
3. Use a charcoal based product to remove impurities: Charcoal not only neutralizes oil but, it also reduces the amount of pollution in the skin. Dermalogica's charcoal rescue masque or Dermalogica's Daily Superfoliant are amazing products that feature charcoal. Other options are Origins' Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores and Michael Todd Charcoal Detox Deep Pore Gel Cleanser.  
4. Use a gentle clarifying toner: Using an alcohol-free toner to balance the pH levels in the skin as well as remove excess dirt, oil, and makeup can be a quick and effective way to minimize oil based skin concerns.  Awesome options for gentle toners are Murad Clarifying Toner and Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner.
5. Antioxidants are MAJOR KEY: Antioxidants protect the skin from environmental assaults such as smog, cigarette smoke, sun damage, makeup, sweat, and dirt. You can eat antioxidants in foods such as pomegranates, blueberries, dark chocolate, cranberries, and pinto beans. You can find them in vitamin form; look for ingredients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea extract, grape seed extract, and selenium. And you can of course take them topically. They can be found in oil form, serum form, mask form, toner form, sunscreen form and/or moisturizer form. Dermalogica's Antioxidant Hydramist, Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum, Mario Badescu Hydro Moisturizer with Vitamin C, and La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Tinted Ultra-Light Sunscreen Fluid.

Now go forth and slay the summer!