Get better skin this summer – Part 1 – Sebum Control

Summer is the time when skincare is often neglected. When the weather is hot, the last thing you’ll want to do is to layer on a sticky serum or a moisturising cream that’s suffocating and giving you a breakout. But summer is actually the time that you should care for your skin, so problems like acne, enlarged pores and hyperpigmentation gets nipped in the bud.

Unlike in winter, when your skin becomes dry and rough, you’ll put on some cream. In summer, your skin is more likely to be dehydrated, oily and more prone to breakouts. You may want to cut down your skincare to “let your skin breath”. However, this would only make the problem worse. To counteract the dehydration, your skin will produce more oil which will end up clogging the pores and leading to breakouts. The correct way to end excessive oil production is to hydrate your skin with lightweight products, whilst keeping your pores clear. We’ll elaborate on this further down the post.

Other skincare measures you should undertake in summer are suncare, brightening and anti-aging. In summer, your skin is increasingly exposed to stronger sunlight, which is likely to worsen your hyperpigmentation and exacerbate the rate of aging. You should always wear a sunscreen with sufficient SPF and PA values whenever you’re outdoor to help reduce the damage of direct sunlight. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight when the UV radiation is strong – i.e. stay inside from 12pm to 4pm. Use physical measures such as wearing a hat, a mask or a covering to protect your skin from direct sunlight. On top of these, use products with effective brightening ingredients to help counteract the darkening effect from sunlight, and use antioxidants and anti-aging products to help boost your skin’s elasticity and avoid premature aging.

In this post, we’ll look at skincare procedures and products that’ll help you to get better skin for the summertime.

Reduce sebum production

In summer, your skin is likely to produce more sebum due to higher temperatures and dehydration. The excess sebum then leads to issues such as acne, enlarged pores and aging. To effectively control your sebum production, it only needs two steps: exfoliate and hydrate.

Exfoliate

Proper exfoliation will keep your dead skin layer at a healthy thickness and allow your skin to function at its optimum state. Your skin will be able to better retain moisture and reduce sebum production.

How to properly exfoliate?

1. Exfoliate 1~2 times a week is sufficient. When your skin has a gunky feeling, then it’s time to exfoliate.
2. Use a gentle exfoliator that doesn’t irritate the skin. I prefer to use a gentle physical exfoliator such as a peeling gel over chemical exfoliators such as AHA or BHA, because chemical exfoliators can sometimes feel too harsh on sensitive skins.
3. Focus on areas where excess sebum occurs, such as the nose, chin, cheek and forehead. I would avoid sensitive areas such as the top of the cheekbone and eye areas.
4. Do not over-exfoliate. Gently swipe over the focus areas in a circular motion. There’s no need to scrub. The peeling gel should do its job to melt away excess sebum.

Recommended products for gentle exfoliation

Peeling gel is a mature product in Korean beauty. Many brands have good peeling gels that are gentle and effective for removing sebum. My personal favourites are Ample:N Purifying Shot Pumpkin Enzyme Peeling Gel, Pyunkang Yul Peeling Gel and Real Barrier Aqua Soothing Peeling Gel. They all work very similarly. Pyunkang Yul has the least amount of ingredients if you’re looking for a simple, additive-free product. Ample:N incorporates pumpkin enzyme for deeper exfoliation. Real Barrier has the added benefits of soothing and hydrating functions.

Hydrate

Hydration during the summertime can be tricky. You’ll want it to be lightweight so it doesn’t clog up the pores, but you’ll also want it to be long-lasting so your skin is not easily dehydrated between applications. Hydrated skin is less prone to excessive sebum production and will have a better water-oil balance.

Hydrate your skin for the summertime

The Mixsoon x UNA Master Serum is perfect for hydration in the summertime. It’s lightweight, hydrating and anti-aging. The serum is made with five ingredients only:

Centella Asiatica Extract, Bifida Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol

Three of these are hydrating ingredients – Hyaluronic Acid and Panthenol. Top on the list is Centella Asiatica Extract which has the function of soothing and repairing/strengthening the skin barrier, which is much needed in the summertime. Bifida Ferment Extract helps to boost the skin’s microbiome, strengthen the skin and improve its elasticity.

The serum has an essence-like texture, lighter than your traditional serum, flows like water. It’s quick absorbing and the hydrating effect is long-lasting.

Serum that controls sebum

If you have sensitive skin, you’ll love this unique creation from Mixsoon – a serum that exfoliates and controls sebum.

Mixsoon Bean Essence is an innovative product that is formulated with four fermented ingredients only. It is a multi-use product that hydrates, exfoliates and anti-ages. You can use it as a normal serum, or use it as a massage oil. When used as a massage oil, it will dissolve the excess sebum and bring them to the surface. You can then rinse or wipe it away. Since it is a serum, it leaves the skin hydrated, soft and supple, killing two birds with one stone.

Watch this video to see the serum in action.

Summary

In this post, we shared how to control your sebum through proper exfoliation and lightweight hydration. Exfoliation and hydration are the two most basic yet important concepts in skincare. If you master these, better skin is waiting for you.

To be continued in Part 2 for tips on skin brightening.