STYLE

Get ready, spring and summer girlies. The best months of the year are here! April is basically your invite to start dreaming about fun spring fits, pool parties and the end of school. But with all those warm-weather activities comes a less welcome guest—acne.

First things first: Why do we get more breakouts in the summer? There are a couple of factors at play here. If you're a summer jog-in-the-morning kind of girl, you know that the heat makes you sweat more than ever. Combine that with the extra SPF (which you def should be wearing *and* reapplying!) and makeup, and it's no surprise when you spot some new pimples popping up.

Luckily, there are plenty of strategies out there to combat your sunny szn skin sitches. Keep reading for our tips for a clear, glowy complexion all spring and summer long...

Tip #1: Make sure your SPF won't clog your pores

@supergoop

Make your that your daily sun protection won't clog your pores (aka won't make you break out). When picking a new product, be sure that your sunscreen says either "non-comedogenic," "won't clog pores" or "oil-free" on the bottle or packaging—and steer clear of ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa butter or wheatgerm oil.

Most sunscreens are non-comedogenic to begin with, so if you have a fave brand, you can probably keep using it. Looking for a rec? Try Trader Joe's oil-free Daily Facial Sunscreen.

Tip #2: Double cleanse at night

@stivesskin

If you haven't tried double cleansing yet, give it a go to give your skin some spring cleaning! Basically, double cleansing is a method of washing your face twice: First with micellar water or an oil-based cleanser (like The INKEY List Oat Makeup Removing Cleanser, $13) and second with a gentle water-based one (we heart Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, $12).

Hours-old sunscreen residue + makeup + sweat can linger after that first wash, so double cleansing ensures that your face is completely clean overnight—giving acne less of a chance to develop.

One word of warning for the sensitive skin babes: Make sure you're using uber-gentle products for both rounds of cleansing, and stay away from exfoliators or cleansers with benzoyl peroxide. Otherwise, double cleansing can strip skin of its natural oils (which gets your skin to produce even *more* oil, leading to, you guessed it, acne).

Tip #3: Shower right after you work out

@itsjennaraine

This is the *best* time of year for hot girl walks, beach volleyball tourneys and pickleball practices galore. The only catch: If you like to sweat in the summer, you're probably no stranger to bacne, chestne or, yep, even buttne.

Washing off right after a workout is a simple fix—and keeping your body clean is one of the easiest ways to stay acne-free in the warmer months. Reach for a medicated cleanser like Naturium The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash, $16, for extra pore-unclogging power. Also, make sure you're changing into fresh clothes (especially a clean bra and underwear!) after you towel off.

Tip #4: Incorporate preventative ingredients into your skincare routine

@neutrogena

What's even better than clearing up current acne? Stopping it before it starts, ofc!

Skin-saver adapalene is a great ingredient to try. We're loving Neutrogena's Adapalene Acne Treatment ($30), which clears existing acne while preventing new breakouts and fading acne marks. How does it work? Adapalene promotes skin-cell turnover, which keeps pores from clogging in the first place.

If you're trying *any* new preventative product or acne treatment, start small by applying a thin layer at night after cleansing and before putting on your moisturizer. And since many acne products can make your skin more susceptible to sun damage, make sure to stay on top of it with the SPF in the morning.

(P.S. And for acne you already have, try Neutrogena's Ultra-Thin Blemish Patches ($10) overnight. These hydrocolloid patches draw out fluids from blemishes, so you can see smoother skin ASAP.)

Follow us on IG for more beauty tips @girlslifemag!

Keep reading for more warm-weather beauty content:
☀️ The best K-beauty sunscreens you *need* to try
☀️ 5 ways to protect your hair this summer
☀️ Here's the simplest skincare routine for the busiest girls

Slider: @niasioux
Top image: @haileybieber

GIF via GIPHY

by Ava Slocum | 4/20/2024