Humidity is here. How does this affect your face?

Spring has arrived. While warm weather let’s us spend more time outside, we need to keep the humidity in the air and off of our faces. If you are not prepared your face can end up broken out and sunburned.

The basics of skin care don’t really change from one season to the next. You need to wash, moisturize, and exfoliate no matter what, but you may choose different types of products when it’s humid outside.

Washing
The oil produced by your skin may you feel like you need to wash your face more often. But beware, because over-washing can strip your skin of the oils it needs. This can paradoxically cause your skin to go into overdrive and make more oil. Try a face wash with salicylic acid to help remove excess dirt and oil. If you use it in the morning, you may be set until you wash again at night.

Moisturizing
Even though the air is less dry outside, you still may need to moisturize to keep your skin in check. If you normally use a cream, switch to a lotion. If lotions are your norm, try a moisturizing serum. Oil-free moisturizers contain dimethicone and are a great way to help reduce the oiliness during humid months.

Exfoliating
Dead cells build up on the surface of your skin all year long. Exfoliating can remove these cells and keep the skin looking fresh. During warmer months, make sure not to exfoliate sunburned skin. Avoid over-exfoliating because it can leave you irritated and dry. Your skin may compensate by making even more oil. Exfoliating once per week should do the trick.

Sun protection
Now more than ever, it’s important to protect your skin from UV rays. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Look for ingredients like avobenzone, zinc or titanium for broad spectrum coverage. For daily use, a moisturizer with sunscreen will suffice. But if you are spending a day out in the sun, choose a dedicated sunscreen and don’t forget to reapply every 2 hours!