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Welp. It’s July, and we are in the thick of summer! When I think of summer, I think about barbecues, beaches, and the outdoors. But right after all that, I’m thinking of sweat, sticky clothes, and the need for multiple showers a day, thanks to the Texas heat. Unlike my mother and sister, who simply "glisten," I end up a hot, drippy mess. It’s not the cutest look, let's be honest! I'm the one in my family that has always been plagued with the most acne. Over the years, I've dealt with breakouts in various areas for different reasons, and now, as an esthetician, I want to share some tips to help you enjoy the season without the fear of unsightly and embarrassing pimples. Let's love our skin this season!
Tip #1: Clean Your Phone, You Filthy Animal!
Think about it. Your sweaty hands touch everything, then you swipe away on your phone. When someone calls, you put that same phone to your face. Gross, right? Most of my friends know they'll likely be on speaker if I don’t have my earbuds because I hate putting my phone to my face. I'm constantly disinfecting it with a napkin sprayed with alcohol. Remember, to effectively disinfect, your alcohol should be over 70%. (By the way, some experts say that 70% alcohol is better than 90% because it has more water and takes longer to dissolve and penetrate cells to kill bacteria.)
Tip #2: Wash Those Pillowcases!
If you have oily skin and don't wash your hair daily, give your pillowcases some extra attention. I throw pillowcases in almost every load of laundry. Simple, right? It wouldn’t hurt to have a second set lying around, too. (I've heard about pillowcases containing nanosilver that could be good for acne and killing bacteria. I haven't tried them yet, but I'll review them if I do!)
Tip #3: Do NOT Use Coconut Oil! I repeat, do NOT use coconut oil!
Or any oil with a rating above 2 on the comedogenic scale. What is a comedogenic scale? It is a list of natural carrier oils and butters that have been given a rating from 0 to 5 on how likely an oil is going to clog your pores. A 0 rating means it is highly unlikely that your pores will be clogged, while a rating of 5 means that an oil or butter is very highly likely to cause a breakout. For example, coconut oil scores a 4 out of 5 on the comedogenic scale, making it very likely to clog pores and that is the reason I will not use coconut oil on a face product. Check your labels! This is one of the reasons why our Dollface Face Scrub & Mask and our High5 Cream Serum work so effectively for acne-prone skin.
Tip #4: Stop Touching Your Face!
And wash your hands! It drives me insane when customers talk to me about their skin issues and the entire time they are touching their breakouts. You're irritating your skin and transferring germs. When was the last time you cleaned your steering wheel, doorknobs, or laptop? Keep germs out of your pores and wash your hands regularly.
Tip #5: If You’re Going to Pop, Don’t Pick!
While some say never to pop pimples, I disagree. Sometimes the pimple is causing painful pressure. Use cotton-wrapped fingertips, an extractor tool, or cotton swabs to apply pressure and extract. If it doesn't come out in two tries, leave it alone! It’s not ready. Don’t take this as a sign to start messing with it more.
Tip #6: Don’t Over-Wash.
I learned this the hard way! In high school, I showered up to three times a day with antibacterial soap after basketball practices. My shoulders and back broke out so much, I rarely showed them. Stripping your skin of its natural oils can lead to overproduction. Keep your skin balanced with natural, non-clogging oils. Our LOL Organic Sugar Body Scrub is fantastic for this, leaving a lotion-like layer on your skin.
Tip #7: The Cardinal Rule: Don’t Sleep with Your Makeup On!
No matter the circumstance, always wash your face. Use makeup removers or wipes that aren’t loaded with alcohol and maintain pH balance. Avoid artificial fragrances if you have sensitive skin. I highly recommend the ingredients in Hello Cider face wipes! Some studies have shown that not only can this clog pores, but it could age you years! When your skin is gorgeous, you don’t need a lot (or any) makeup!
Embrace these tips and enjoy a season of clear, beautiful skin!
About Us
In The Weeds creates handcrafted products that are 100% cruelty-free and made with premium all-natural botanicals, butters, and essential oils. Everything is packaged in eco-friendly, recyclable containers for health and planet-conscious consumers. We center the development of products for intimate spaces and places around the following pillars and the promise that our products will not contain parabens, sulfates, fragrances (aka EDCs), or aluminum. Our products are handcrafted and created by a Texas-licensed esthetician specializing in holistic remedies for those who suffer with sensitive skin or skin conditions.
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