Growing up, my parents have always told me I’ve had a rather expressive face, warning me that it might get me into trouble in the future (e.g. my face’s inability to hide my dislike for someone). While I can say I have improved in that area, my skin, on the other hand, still deals with a common problem that exposes me at times: redness. Whether I’m embarrassed, giddy from laughter or have had a little too much to drink, I feel my cheeks warm up and can already tell that my face is on its way to resembling a tomato.
It doesn’t help that this summer is as humid as ever. A lot of us may love the sun, but unfortunately for those of us with sensitive skin, the sun doesn’t always love us back in the way we want it to. Thankfully, there are ways to lessen redness and inflammation in the summer.
Here are our top 5 tips:
1. Moisturize
When it is warm and humid, it is important not to skip this step, no matter what skin type you have. When skin is dry and stripped of moisture, it can get more irritated. A good tip for those of you who want something lightweight is to try a gel moisturizer.
2. SPF
If you’re prone to redness, you will need to take your skin protection to the next level. Get an SPF of at least 30 and don’t forget to re-apply every couple of hours!
3. Workout at the right time
While it is bikini season and many of us are working towards our beach bods, you have to consider the time of day that you’re working out. If you tend to get flushed fast, it is recommended to try exercising early morning or late at night when it’s cooler.
4. Look for specific ingredients
If you want to battle redness in the long run, research is essential. Look for things that are soothing and anti-inflammatory for example. A good example would be THE BODY SHOP Aloe Calming Foaming Wash and AZTEC SECRET Indian Healing Clay.
5. Keep your products cool
Putting something cool on your skin can instantly relieve redness, so why not keep some of your favorite beauty products in the fridge? Products such as moisturizers, masks and serums will do well with this.
Frequently Asked Questions
MEGA’s five tips for reducing redness and inflammation in summer are to moisturize, wear SPF, work out at the right time, look for soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, and keep beauty products cool. The writer says her own skin is prone to redness and that humidity does not help.
Yes. MEGA says not to skip moisturizer in warm, humid weather, whatever your skin type, because dry skin stripped of moisture can become more irritated. For those who prefer something lightweight, it suggests trying a gel moisturizer. It lists moisturizing first among its five tips for lessening redness and inflammation.
MEGA recommends an SPF of at least 30 for those prone to redness and says to reapply every couple of hours. It frames sun protection as taking skin protection to the next level for sensitive skin in the summer sun.
MEGA says people who flush easily should exercise in the early morning or late at night, when it is cooler. It notes that bikini season motivates many people to work toward their goals, so timing matters for skin prone to redness.
MEGA suggests soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients, naming THE BODY SHOP Aloe Calming Foaming Wash and AZTEC SECRET Indian Healing Clay as examples. It also suggests storing moisturizers, masks and serums in the fridge, since putting something cool on skin can instantly relieve redness.
