Shiny Skin?
There’s no real need for foundation on the beach, but a dab of shine-free base over the entire T-zone, once you come off the beach, helps leave skin matte for hours. Try a hydrating base, with a hint of colour and loads of SPF. Our beauty editor recommends Dermeden’s DD Crème Universelle Daily Defense SPF50, R520 for 30ml, thanks to its vitamin D-like-enriched formula that magically blends to match all skin tones perfectly as well its high SPF factor.
w&h fast summer fix: Oil blotting paper like this NYX Professional Makeup Green Tea Blotting Paper, R99,99 for 100 sheets, are a beach bag must-have in summer to blot shiny nose throughout the day.
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Getting Spotty
If you find that your skin gets even oilier in the heat, you might be over-cleansing. The temptation in summer is to wash spotty, oily skin even more, but this in fact encourages your skin to produce more oil. Instead we say, stay gentle. Avoid over-aggressive cleansers and simply be regular about your skin care. It’s not how often you cleanse, but how you cleanse. The trick is to live an ‘oily skin lifestyle’: take your hair off your face (especially while you sleep) and wash your face every morning and evening with an oily skin cleanser. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, R859 for 500ml, is a soap-free, foaming gel that keeps the calms, soothes and keeps skin’s moisture barrier intact with balm mint and lavender plus cleanses of toxins and impurities a bark extract. Also great to try is gentle but effective, Eucerin Dermo Purifyer Oil Control Cleansing Gel, R178 for 200ml.
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w&h fast summer fix: We like to keep a bottle of The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, R140 for 20ml on hand to dab red marks or spots the moment they appear. Tea tree is super antibacterial and anti-inflammatory so will reduce redness and infection fast.
Can I Skip My Moisturiser?
No. The truth is, whether your skin is drier or oilier, it still needs moisture in summer as much as winter. A new favourite moisturiser that’s light on the skin is with SPF is Uriage Age Protect Multi Action Cream, R585 for 40ml that also ingeniously protects against blue light damage from computer and cell phone screens.
ALSO SEE: Top 6 Summer Body Prep Tips
If skin is oily, simply try switching to an oil-free lotion that’s light but still hydrating. Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil-free Moisturiser R111 for 50ml, or tried-and tested, Clinique Dramatically Moisturizing Gel R295 for 50ml.
And don’t forget the delicate eye zone; it’s extremely prone to sun damage, as skin is much finer and drier around the eyes. Pop on your shades at every opportunity, and use your eye cream: great to try is Nivea Cellular Anti-Age Skin Rejuvenation Eye Cream, R239,95 for 15ml.
