The Best Summer Skincare Routine For Oily and Acne-Prone Skin

For the oily and acne-prone girlies like me, you’re probably all too familiar with the challenges it brings. Your skin tends to produce excess sebum, which gives it a shiny appearance and often leads to clogged pores and breakouts. Oily skin can feel like a constant battle, especially during the hot and humid summer months when sweat and oil production go overdrive.

In this post, we will explore a simple but effective skincare routine for oily and acne-prone skin that is sure to keep your pores clear and free of build-up. If this is your jam, then please grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and let’s get started.

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Summer Skincare Routine For Oily and Acne-prone Skin

Having a tailored skincare routine is essential, especially during the summer. The heat and humidity can make oily skin feel even oilier and more prone to acne. A good skincare routine helps manage oil production, keeps pores clear, and prevents breakouts, ensuring your skin stays healthy and balanced.

First, Determine Your Skin Type

Understanding your skin type is the first step towards effective skincare. Recognizing that you have oily and acne-prone skin allows you to choose products and routines that specifically address your skin’s needs.

If you are brand new to skincare and you don’t know your skin type, don’t worry; you can click on this post HERE, where I share three straightforward ways to determine your skin type.

Oily skin is characterized by an overproduction of sebum, the natural oils produced by your skin. While sebum is essential for keeping your skin hydrated and protected, too much of it can lead to several issues.

Oily skin often appears shiny, particularly in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). This excess oil can clog pores, resulting in blackheads, whiteheads, and acne breakouts. The combination of oil and sweat during the summer can worsen these problems, leaving your skin feeling greasy and looking less than its best.

Summer Morning Skincare Routine For Oily and Acne Prone Skin

1. Gentle Cleansing

Starting your day with a clean face is essential, especially if you have oily and acne-prone skin. The goal of cleansing is to remove the buildup of oil, sweat, and dirt from your skin, but it’s important not to overdo it. Over-cleansing can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and triggering your skin to produce even more oil to compensate.

Choose a gentle, low pH, foaming cleanser designed for oily skin. This type of cleanser effectively removes excess oil and impurities that can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. Also, look for products that are sulfate-free so they don’t dry out your skin.

With acne-prone skin, using cleansers that keep the pores clear and prevent breakouts is an option. My go-to cleansers contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. You want to aim to cleanse your face twice daily, morning and night.

Best gentle Cleansers

Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser

2. Toning

After cleansing, toning is an important step that helps to balance your skin’s pH, remove any leftover impurities, and prepare your skin for the next steps in your routine.

For oily and acne-prone skin, choosing an alcohol-free toner is essential. Alcohol can be too harsh and drying, which can actually cause your skin to produce more oil to compensate, and we don’t want that.

Like the cleansing step, you could use toners with ingredients that are beneficial for oily and acne-prone skin, such as Salicylic acid, niacinamide, witch hazel, and tea tree oil.

Best Toners

Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner

3. Lightweight Moisturizer

Hydrating your skin is essential, even if you have oily and acne-prone skin. When done right, it can maintain your skin’s balance, preventing it from overproducing oil in response to dryness.

The key is to find a moisturizer that provides the necessary hydration without making your skin feel greasy. So, look out for a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that can keep your skin hydrated while minimizing the risk of clogged pores and breakouts.

In the summer, you should mainly use oil-free moisturizers rich in humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. These play a key role in maintaining the skin barrier function by pulling moisture into the skin and keeping it hydrated, which is much needed during these times.

Best Lightweight Moisturizers

4. Sunscreen

Regardless of your skin type, protecting it from the sun is essential, especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher shields your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can cause premature aging, while UVB rays can lead to sunburn.

Both types of rays can increase the risk of skin cancer. Regular use of sunscreen not only prevents these harmful effects but also helps protect your skin from hyperpigmentation and acne scars. So, applying sunscreen daily is a must to keep your skin healthy and youthful.

Selecting the right sunscreen formula is crucial for oily and acne-prone skin. Look for matte or gel-based sunscreens that provide the necessary protection without adding extra shine or greasiness.

While matte sunscreens help absorb excess oil, leaving your skin with a smooth, matte finish, and can also double as a primer under makeup, controlling shine throughout the day, gel-based sunscreens are lightweight and feel refreshing on the skin, protecting without clogging pores or leaving a sticky residue, making them perfect for oily skin.

Apply sunscreen as the final step in your morning skincare routine before applying makeup. Use a generous amount (about a nickel-sized dollop) and ensure you cover all exposed areas, including your face, neck, and ears.

Best Lightweight Sunscreens

Summer Evening Skincare Routine For Oily and Acne Prone Skin

1. Double Cleansing

Cleansing your face at night is crucial, especially if you have oily and acne-prone skin. Your skin accumulates dirt, oil, sweat, and pollutants throughout the day. If you wear makeup, these products can also contribute to clogged pores and breakouts if not properly removed. Cleansing at night ensures that your skin is clean, allowing it to breathe and regenerate while you sleep.

For a thorough nighttime cleanse, consider the double cleansing method. This involves using two different types of cleansers to ensure all impurities are effectively removed.

First Cleanse: Oil-Based Cleanser

An oil-based cleanser or cleansing balm is excellent for breaking down makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil. It dissolves these substances, making them easier to remove. Don’t worry about using oil on oily skin—oil attracts oil, so this step helps remove the excess sebum without stripping your skin.

Apply an oil-based cleanser to dry skin. Massage it gently in circular motions, focusing on areas with makeup or excess oil. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Second Cleanse: Water-Based Cleanser

Follow up with a gentle, foaming water-based cleanser to remove any remaining impurities and oil residue. This step ensures your skin is completely clean and ready for the next steps in your skincare routine.

Apply a water-based cleanser to your damp skin. Gently massage it into a lather, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Best Oil Cleanser/Cleansing Balms

2. Toning

If your morning toner works well for you, feel free to use it in the evening, too. This simplifies your routine and ensures consistency. In the evening, your skin can benefit from a toner that provides additional soothing and hydrating effects. Look for toners with calming ingredients that help reduce redness and irritation and prepare your skin for overnight repairs, like aloe vera, chamomile, or green tea extract.

Incorporating a toner into your evening routine, whether it’s the same as your morning one or a specially chosen calming toner, can help maintain your skin’s balance and prepare it for the following restorative steps.

Best Calming Toners

Paula’s Choice Calm Milky Nourishing Toner

3. Exfoliation

Regular exfoliation is a crucial step in maintaining healthy, clear skin, especially if you have oily and acne-prone skin. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells that can clog pores and lead to breakouts.

Exfoliation can keep pores clear and reduce the occurrence of blackheads, whiteheads, and acne. Additionally, it helps other skincare products penetrate more effectively, maximizing their benefits.

Salicylic acid is a top choice for exfoliating oily and acne-prone skin. This beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) penetrates deep into the pores, helping to clear out excess oil and debris. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce redness and swelling associated with acne.

Exfoliating 2-3 times a week can keep your skin smooth, bright, and less prone to breakouts. However, it’s essential not to over-exfoliate, as this can irritate your skin and increase oil production and breakouts.

Best Salicylic Acid Exfoliants

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

4. Night Care Treatments

This is the step when you want to incorporate targeted acne treatments. At this point, you can introduce many helpful skincare ingredients to your routine. My absolute favorite skincare treatment to apply at night is a retinoid serum.

Retinoids are potent ingredients that promote cell turnover and help unclog pores. They can also reduce the appearance of acne and prevent new breakouts from forming. Additionally, retinoids have anti-aging benefits, as they help diminish fine lines and improve overall skin texture.

Niacinamide, azelaic acid, and tea tree oil are other ingredients that help prevent and treat oily and acne-prone skin.

The blog post below explains the best 15 skincare ingredients for oily and acne-prone skin.

Best Retinoid Serums

Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum

5. Moisturizer

You want to wrap up your evening skincare routine with a lightweight, oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer. You can always reuse your morning moisturizer for this step to avoid using too many products in your skincare routine.

The moisturizer will seal up all the previous steps without clogging your pores and leaving you even more acne-prone, which is what the whole skincare routine is all about.

Final Take Home

Caring for oily and acne-prone skin, especially in summer, requires a thoughtful and consistent skincare routine. By following the steps outlined—gentle cleansing, regular exfoliation, toning, lightweight moisturizing, sun protection, and incorporating night care treatments—you can manage oil production, prevent breakouts, and maintain a healthy, balanced complexion.

Remember, consistency and patience are key. Stick to your routine, set realistic expectations, and enjoy the journey to clearer, healthier skin. Embrace these habits, and your skin will thank you all summer long and beyond.