How to Manage Acne in the Summer Without Over-Drying or Overthinking
Summer is here—bringing sunshine, heat, and unfortunately for a lot of us breakouts. With higher temps, more sweating, and increased oil production, acne-prone skin can struggle this time of year. But don’t worry—you can enjoy clear, glowing skin all summer long with the right skincare strategy.
Whether you’re battling hormonal acne, stress breakouts, or clogged pores from sweat and sunscreen, these expert-backed tips will help you stay ahead of the flare-ups.
1. Choose a Summer-Friendly Cleanser
Summer heat and humidity lead to more oil and sweat on the skin. It might be tempting to reach for harsh cleansers or scrub your face multiple times a day, but that can disrupt your skin barrier and trigger more acne.
What to do instead:
Use a gentle gel-based cleanser with ingredients like green tea/cucumber/aloe or mandelic acid (great for sensitive or melanated skin). Avoid over-washing—morning and night is enough.
Product Recommendations:
Ultra Gentle Cleanser by Face Reality
Cleansing gel by Skinbetter
Idylic Cleanser Glymed
2. Don’t Skip Moisturizer
Yes, even in the heat! Skipping moisturizer can actually cause your skin to overproduce oil to compensate, worsening breakouts.
Look for:
Oil-free, non-comedogenic formulas
Gel or water-based moisturizers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe, or beta glucan
Product Recommendations:
Hydrabalance by Face Reality
Dew Drop Serum by Mixi
Mixilite by Mixi
Clearderma by Face Reality
Comfort Cream by Glymed
Oxygen Treatment Cream by Glymed
3. Use Sunscreen Every. Single. Day.
Sun exposure can cause inflammation, worsen hyperpigmentation from old acne, plus damage your skin barrier—leading to more breakouts/problems.
Opt for:
Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
Oil-free, non-comedogenic formulas download the acne safe app and check formulas or tizo is a great option that estheticians love.
Apply every morning and reapply every 2 hours when sweating or in direct sun.
Product Recommendations:
Spf 28 by Face Reality
Tizo3
Colorescience Flex
Colorescience matte powder
4. Wipe Off Sweat Promptly
Letting sweat sit on your skin, especially if mixed with makeup or SPF, can clog pores fast. Use a clean towel, facial wipe, or rinse off after workouts and long sun exposure. Cleanskin club towels are great for this!
5. Be Smart About Makeup
Increased oil/sweat + heavy foundation = breakouts waiting to happen.
Instead of full-coverage foundation:
Try a tinted SPF or mineral powder. Embrace your natural beauty and glow. Colorescience is a beautiful medium coverage tinted SPF
Always remove makeup/tinted SPF thoroughly with a double cleanse
6. Adjust Your Routine for Summer
Your winter skincare routine might not work in the heat. This season is a good time to cut back on heavy occlusives, and add in light exfoliation (like a daily gentle mandelic serum, weekly masks, or a refreshing toner pad). We love the Oxygen Deep Pore Mask by Glymed as a weekly summer option, the Dermathod Peel Pads are gentle enough for summertime, the Skin Clarifying Mask by Glymed, and the Sulfur Mattifying Mask are all great summer options!
7. Book Regular Professional Treatments
Summer doesn’t mean you have to pause your treatments. Talk to your esthetician about acne-safe summer facials, LED light therapy, oxygenation, and enzyme treatments to keep breakouts in check without harsh downtime.
8. Prioritize Hydration (Inside and Out!)
Staying hydrated helps flush out toxins and keeps skin plump. Add in water-rich foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and leafy greens. Make sure to be drinking your electrolytes. Redmond Re-Lyte by Redmond Life are my FAVE! Be sure to use code glistenandglow for 15% off your entire purchase.
Bonus Tip: Change Your Pillowcases and Towels Often
Bacteria and oil build up fast in summer. Swap your pillowcase every 2–3 days and use a Clean Skin Club Towel daily if you’re breaking out along the jawline or cheeks or a new towel daily.
Ready to Get Your Glow Back?
If you're dealing with stubborn summer breakouts, let's work together to calm inflammation, treat acne at the root, and build a personalized routine that actually works.
