July 25, 2010

Sweltering Summer Skin Care

I meant to post this before going on vacation in early July but time got the better of me.  Now I'm back in the hottest and muggiest part of the year and am thankful I have these products on me. What I've learned through the years of testing summertime products is that there's no silver bullet that "feels like nothing at all".  When you're hot and sweaty, the last thing you want to do is put something on top of that.  Even so, if you want to prevent burning and aging, you've just got to.  And remember, if you don't moisturize your skin, your body will produce its own moisturizer and the only kind it can make is oil.  That's why you'll wake up with an oily sheen on your face even if you didn't put anything on.  Moisturizing will tell the skin there's no need to produce oil. Sometimes there is an initial breakout with a new product regime as your skin adjusts to everything.  This is quite normal so give things a good two weeks before you make up your mind.  Here are my top summer picks:
DAYTIME FACE - DDF (Doctor's Dermatologic Formula) Mattifying Oil Control UV Moisturizer SPF 15.  I had been using their Ultra-Lite Oil Free Moisturizing Dew in SPF 15 for about seven years but I saw they had a new similar product and decided to give it a try.  I could find very little difference between the two and recommend them both.  Using these in a humid climate still feels like product on the face, but still they're the lightest feeling ones I've found.  I was surprised to find the mattifying one actually felt matte when I was on vacation in a drier climate.  No weird perfume-y smells either.  Two thumbs up!



NIGHTTIME FACE - Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion.  Back in the day my only summertime concern was keeping breakouts at bay,  but now that I'm getting older I need something that also combats aging.  My go-to product for years was a sheer coat of Murad's Skin Perfecting Lotion, an oil-free super light moisturizer that did amazing things to my face overnight.  But a sample of the Dr. Brandt led me astray and I decided to give it a try.  It feels a little more matte on the skin and is producing great results.  It has an earthy smell which might be from the alpine extract used to control the oil.  I hate flowery scents but this seems doable. I highly recommend both of these.


NIGHTTIME HELPER - Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment.  I always have a little tube of gel that contains 2% salicylic acid on me.  It dries up little breakouts in a day or two and is great for prevention.  I often trace it along my hairline and dab it on my nose before I go to bed when I feel a breakout coming on.  I've tried several brands and they all seem basically the same to me so I've just resorted to buying the cheaper ones.  Clean & Clear has reformulated and repackaged theirs and it seems to blend into the skin better.  However, it now has more of an alcohol-y feeling.  I don't want to use the word "burn" but you definitely feel it on the skin at first. 

DAYTIME BODY - Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF.  I love this whole line and have the SPF 30, 70, and 100.  What's amazing about this line is that it is thicker and more "hard core" than anything I've ever used but once it's dry it is truly dry to the touch.  Kudos to the chemists who came up with this.  My mommy duties take me to many outdoor parks where I'm basically baking in the sun and these have really been a savior.  When I worked in an office and spent very little time outside in the summer, I always used my beloved fragrance free hypoallergenic Coppertone Oil Free Lotion SPF 15.  

Experts say you need at least an SPF 25 if you are spending much time in the sun but I have yet to find one for the face that is bearable.  Not giving up hope on it though.  Last but not least, don't forget your lips - any lip balm with SPF will do!