Summer is fast approaching and with all the festive craziness we can forget that we need to change up our skincare routine for the warmer months. So we asked dermatologist Kathleen May Eusebio-Alpapara for her expert recommendations to ensure you have healthy skin during Summer.
Knowing your skin type is essential to keeping your skin healthy. Why? Dermatologist Kathleen May Eusebio-Alpapara explains how to adapt your skincare routine based on your skin's needs.
Dr Eusebio-Alpapara explains the top four things to consider when figuring out your skin type - hydration, inflammation, pigmentation, and skin ageing.
A big misconception is that oily skin is the opposite of dry skin. Nope, that's a big MYTH!
There's excess oil production from the oil glands when you have oily skin. This can make your skin look shiny or oily and may seem to have larger pores. Aside from the face, more oiliness is also seen on the chest, back, and shoulders, that's because these areas also have many sebaceous glands.
Dry skin on the other hand is dull, tight, and may have scaling, flaking, or even cracking. When you have dry skin, the natural moisturising factors (NMFs), which hold the skin cells together on the outermost layer of the skin, are reduced. The outermost layer of the skin is also a barrier, and with low NMFs comes a damaged skin barrier. That's why moisture can evaporate, making the skin dry.
Combination skin is when areas like the forehead, nose, and chin (T-zone) produce more oil compared to the rest of your face, at the same time it can have a damaged skin barrier, making other parts of your face like the cheeks dry. People with combination skin types have dry and oily skin, the T-zone being oily and the cheeks appearing dry.
You have sensitive skin when you have acne-prone skin, rosacea, eczema, allergies, or irritation from some products; otherwise, your skin is resistant.
Environmental factors and your lifestyle affect ageing. Wrinkled skin is common the older we get and for those who spent a little too much time in the sun.
Dark spots and uneven skin tone depends on genetics and your level of sun exposure and UV light.
Normal skin is the most 'desirable' skin type. It is the skin type that is oily, resistant, tight, with even tone.
Usually, your face feels oily during hot and humid weather since your sebaceous glands produce more oil during this time. Your facial skin care routine should have the following:
1. An exfoliator.
According to Dr. Doris Day, a leading board-certified dermatologist in New York City, exfoliation can be done more often during Summer.
2. A gentle foaming face wash.
You can also use an alcohol-free toner to remove excess sebum and impurities. Try our cleanse dust enzyme cleanser.
3. An oil free moisturiser
You can use products with retinol which can help control oil and blocked pores. If you experience acne breakouts in oily areas with lots of white and blackheads, you can use oil free products with salicylic acid (SA), and glycolic acid (GA), which, can help you unclog pores and keep skin balanced. These ingredients exfoliate the skin and remove the extra oil, making those large pores look less visible. Our hydrate hero thirsty skin serum is the perfect oil free moisturiser for the job!
4. Lightweight broad-spectrum Sunscreen.
Sunscreen protects the skin and prevents pigmentation, freckles, and dark spots.
Dry skin benefits the most from a humid and warm climate. A skin care routine with increased sebum production will prevent further skin dehydration because our natural oils can occlude the skin and prevent water loss. So, how to maintain healthy skin during Summer when your skin is dry?
1. Use a gentle cleanser.
We recommend our double cleansing kit.
2. Exfoliate your skin gently.
And, please don't overdo it. You can also use a hydrating mask before the next step. Take a pick, whatever floats your boat, our cactus clay face mask, rose pink clay face mask or our signature BNB hemp clay face mask.
3. Apply moisturiser.
Look at the label and be sure to use moisturisers with humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid will suck moisture into the skin, trap it there (by oils), and repair the natural skin barrier, BNB prickly pear hair and face oil will be your best friend for this!
You can also apply a product rich in vitamin C, such as eye illuminate, a good anti-oxidant that will help fight sun damage on the skin. These make your skin feels smooth and supple.
4. Use a broad spectrum Sunscreen in the morning.
5. Avoid skincare products with harsh ingredients.
Having combination skin means that your skin is still dry but areas like the T-zone are oily. If you have combination skin, here's a skincare routine that's suitable for your combination skin.
1. Use a gentle face wash.
We recommend our double cleansing kit.
2. Exfoliate gently.
When exfoliating combination skin, concentrate on exfoliating areas of the face with excess oil, not the dry areas.
3. Moisturise
You may still use a moisturiser on the entire face, not just dry areas.
4. Use combination skin-friendly Skincare products.
Use products with ingredients that can help remove extra oil on the T-zone, like SA. You can also use serums that are rich in vitamin C. Give our prickly pear hair and face oil and hemp blemish face oil a whirl!
5. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
The best skin routine when you have sensitive skin depends on your condition. The general idea is to have a facial skin routine that uses skincare products that will not aggravate your skin condition.
1.Ingredients
Avoid skin care products with ingredients that can cause further irritation on the face. (eg. products with alcohol when you have rosacea and eczema.)
2.Be cautious with exfoliation.
Especially for rosacea, active pimples, and apparent eczema flares presenting with red, itchy, dry patches on the face.
3.For acne-prone skin avoid comedogenic products. Otherwise, use ingredients that can dry out acne lesions and excess oil, like witch hazel, SA, and GA. Our fresh face complexion toner and hydrate hero thirsty skin serum
4.Use mineral sunscreens.
They are less irritating than chemical sunscreens. Look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in the ingredients list.
Clinical research shows that increased water intake improves skin hydration reducing skin dryness. The outermost layer of the skin, is a barrier between the moisture underneath and the external environment, preventing the skin from drying out. Many factors such as genes, ethnicity, humidity, temperature, UV exposure, chemicals, or mechanical damage, can affect skin hydration.
Aside from the application of moisturisers, one of the strategies in improving and maintaining skin hydration is an adequate fluid intake. How much? According to some studies, you need to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day to help maintain skin health and hydration.
There is a high chance that your skin feels congested during this Summer. During this season, we will sweat more. Due to humid surroundings, sweat won't evaporate and just stays on the skin. Furthermore, there is increased oil production by the sebaceous glands at this time. Sweat and sebum build-up will make dirt or impurities stick on the skin, aggravating clogged pores, leading to inflamed zits!
What should you do?
You may double cleanse to avoid rubbing your face too much while washing it. Start with a cleansing oil to remove makeup and impurities, then wash with a foaming cleanser.
If you have dry skin and once to twice a week when you have oily skin. Avoid areas with visible bumps, cuts, and irritation.
Such as hydroxy acids, like glycolic acid and lactic acid, which will help exfoliate the skin and remove the dead skin cells. Our cleanse dust enzyme cleanser and fresh face complexion toner will be your besties.
The choice of makeup depends on your skin type. You go for a dewy look if your skin is dry, while a matte look when oily. Apply your makeup on top of your sunscreen and choose an oil-based foundation if you have dry skin and a water-based foundation with matte-finish for oily skin.
Some foundations have salicylic acid which is also good for acne-prone skin. For sensitive skin, stick with mineral-based products to avoid irritation. After the sunscreens and foundation, you may apply the concealers if you need them, then the dry stuff like the powders, eyeshadows, and blush. You may finish it with a makeup setting spray and you're good to go! When you have excess oil, blotting is an incredibly effective way to remove extra oil without ruining your makeup.
Kathleen May Eusebio-Alpapara is a board certified dermatologist who practices both medical and cosmetic dermatology at VE Eusebio Skin Centre.
References: Kang S, & Amagai M, & Bruckner A.L., & Enk A.H., & Margolis D.J., & McMichael A.J., & Orringer J.S.(Eds.), (2019). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology, 9e. McGraw Hill.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459156/
https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2570§ionid=210413306
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23205538/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2671032/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32230973/
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-phototype
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15892719/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605218/
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