Life at the beach can be hard on skin. Salt, wind and sand can be brutal enough on their own, but combine that with heat and sweat and you are setting up a recipe for damaged skin.
Having naturally dry and acne-prone skin myself, I'm sharing my 6 essential skincare products to help protect my skin and keep it as healthy as possible. The best part? All of these products are super affordable. Don't get me wrong, I love my luxury products. Take, for instance, my Estee Lauder Advanced Eye Night Repair Eye Concentrate. But I also believe that some of the best products are ones that don't break the bank to use every day.
Cleansing is most important step in any skincare routine (followed closely by moisturizing). The cleanser you use can make or break your skin. Since I have fought a decade-long battle with acne, I focus on an effective, yet gentle acne cleanser that clears away imperfections, salt, and sweat, but is still gentle enough that it does not completely strip my skin's natural oils.
I opt for this gentle, yet effective cleanser. It contains salicylic acid to fight acne, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and niacinamide for...well...a little bit of everything. It's gentle enough to be used twice a day.
Use: Day and night
Time before other products: None
2. La Roche-Posay Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Though not always my second step in my skincare routine, moisturizer is definitely second in terms of importance. With both SPF and Regular forms of this moisturizer from La Roche-Posay, this is a great option for both day and night. They both contain glycerin for hydration as well as niacinamide to help repair your skin and leave it soft and healthy. Plus, SPF 30 is a decent enough SPF that I don't feel the need to combine it with another sunscreen unless I plan to be outside all day.
This does tend to be a little on the thicker side. While majority of it absorbs in a few minutes, I feel that the best way to use this product is to let it sit in for at least 30 minutes before applying other products. While not always possible, five minutes should be the minimum before layering oils or makeup products.
Use: SPF formula every day, normal formula every night
Time before other products: 5 to 30 minutes
3. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
On my oiliest or most sweat-prone days, the niacinamide in my moisturizer needs a little support. That's where The Ordinary comes in. I apply this serum immediately after cleansing, before anything else touches my skin. The concentrated dose of niacinamide helps to reduce redness, control sebum production, and help with hyperpigmentation. Plus, it is gentle enough to be combined with most other skincare products such as AHAs and BHAs. It absorbs quickly, so it is a great first step in a multi-step skincare routine.
Use: Day and night
Time before other products: 1 to 2 minutes
4. The Ordinary Azelic Acid Suspension 10%
This is another daily staple in my skincare routine. Gentle like niacinamide, it is great to pair with other products. It brightens skin and helps fade redness and acne scars. It also helps reduce congestion in my skin, perfect for those hot summer beach months where sweat never goes away. It also absorbs super quickly, feeling like it has become one with my skin in a matter of seconds. It can be combined with most other direct acids as well.
Use: Day and night
Time before other products: 30 seconds to 1 minute
5. La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Correct Sunscreen with SPF 70
This is one of my all-time favorite sunscreens. When I plan to be outside long-term, even in indirect sunlight, the SPF 30 from my moisturizer just isn't enough to protect my skin. This product has a very mild smell, not nearly as strong as most of your other sunscreens. It is also very lightweight and sheer, so it absorbs quickly and leaves the skin soft and hydrated without being oily. It also has niacinamide and antioxidants to reduce signs of sun damage and aging.
Use: Daytime
Time before other products: Last step in skincare, 5 minutes before makeup.
6 and 7. Vaseline and Aquaphor
Ok, I lied. It's really 7 essential products, not 6. But lip protection is vital in both hot, sunny climates, and the bone-dry winters that permeate the southeastern United States.
Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, is an old favorite, and through the years, I have not found any lip moisturizer that is as effective. Having dry skin means my lips look like the Sahara Desert when not properly cared for, making it difficult to wear colored lip products. Vaseline lip therapy is a must-have for me, and I use it every single night before bed.
But why just at night?
We're talking about beach lifestyle here. And that means sun. Vaseline does not contain SPF, and though it leaves your lips soft, it also leaves them vulnerable to sun damage.
That's where Aquaphor comes in. The Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick + Sunscreen is almost as moisturizing as Vaseline and contains SPF 30 to protect my lips from sun damage. I find that as long as I start my day with a good foundation from moisturizing with Vaseline the night before, Aquaphor is sufficient to continue providing moisture and protection with reapplications throughout the day.
Have other products you think are skincare essentials for a beach lifestyle? Drop a comment below and I will give them a try!
No comments:
Post a Comment