Dealing With Oily Skin When It's Hot Is All About Balance — Here’s How to Do It

For us oily-skinned folk, once temps start soaring, we tend to think we need to mattify and dry out. But actually, the opposite may be true. Here, an oily skin expert shares how balancing our oily skin in the summer can actually help us to stop the overproduction of all that sebum.

Every day, I check my weather app before I get out of bed. Why? Well, I need to know what kind of skincare routine I’m going to do in the morning. Most of the time, my routine stays the same, but during the winter, some of the days were so cold, dry, and windy, that I’d take the time out to do a sheet mask, or I’d make sure to add in an oil.

These mornings though? I’ve been seeing temperatures in the mid- to high 80s. Summer is here, ladies and gents! And with any seasonal change comes a shift in skincare products.

Those with oily skin (hi family) are probably the ones who have to change their routines the most. Oily skin + summer = makeup sliding off of your face, looking like you’ve rubbed a pizza on your face, or ya know, in general just kinda being miserable about the state of affairs of your skin.

But have no fear for I am here to guide you with my tips on how to keep oily skin in the summer balanced and healthy.

Yes, you still need to use an oil

I have preached the good word over and over again about how much using an oil actually helps oily skin produce less oil. I am an oil queen, and I credit my habitual use of them with keeping my skin on track. In the winter, I slather oils on like my life depends on it; however, during the summer, I only use oils at night.

By using an oil, you help balance out your skin’s naturally produced oils. When you use an oil at night only, you can still get the benefits of using an oil, but you don’t have to deal with makeup sliding off of your face in the morning or having a too-shiny face. If you’re REALLY oily, switch to a more “dry” oil, such as watermelon seed oil or squalane. Both absorb insanely fast and won’t leave a greasy finish.

Buy the Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder by the caseload

You know how I survived two Korean summers (which are like … a summer in Florida x 3,054)? I bought the Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder and used it like my life depended on it. To this day, it is still my go-to setting powder for the summer. In a world where Korean beauty is changing at the speed of light, this powder has remained a staple and basically has legendary status at this point.

It has a translucent finish, so you don’t have to worry about that dreaded white cast. I even use it on days when I don’t wear makeup — I just apply it over my sunscreen to take a bit of the shine away. To apply, I take a beauty blender, press it into the oiliest parts of my face (nose, chin, middle of forehead), and BOOM. I’m good to go.

Mattifying skincare products are not that great

I know the general consensus is that when the temperatures start rising, the mattifying, oil control products come out. And I’m here to tell you: No. Don’t do it! Mattifying skincare products typically contain a lot of alcohol (which can dry out the skin). These products use alcohol or other drying ingredients to temporarily reduce the amount of oil the skin produces, but as a result, you end up producing more oil. I used to swear by oil-free, mattifying products and could not figure out for the life of me why my skin was oiler at the end of the day.

Water-based products will be your best friend

The most important thing to keep oily skin from overproducing oil is to keep it nice and hydrated. What’s the best hydrator known to man? Good ol’ H2O. Look for anything that has the name “water” in it — the entire Laneige Water Bank line is absolutely perfect for keeping oily skin hydrated and balanced.

 

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Gel creams; watery, hydrating toners; and lightweight serums are also perfect for layering on the hydration without leaving a heavy, greasy feel. My secret tip for ultra-hydrated skin during the warm weather months? The 7-skin method. Apply anywhere between four to seven layers of your favorite hydrating toner, throw on a lightweight gel cream and your favorite sunscreen, and BOOM. Hydration central!

What are your favorite tips for oily skin in the summer? Let me know in the comments!