Pores - Summer Skincare
Summer
Want it or not, summer is here. Just like you go from coats to t-shirts you should also think about seasonal skincare adjustment.
When it's cold, our skin goes through a lot of challenges like dry indoor air, harsh winds, and a sudden temperature drop with a lack of hydration and sunlight.
In summer on the other hand, our skin suffers from high air temperature, often high humidity (over 60%), and intense ultraviolet radiation (UV lights).
These negative factors lead to sebaceous glands producing more oil, sweat, large pores, dehydration of the skin, sunburn, hyperpigmentation, and even acne.
We have already talked about how to take care of your skin in the summer in easy 10 steps, but today we will specifically focus on:
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How heat and humidity cause large pores -
How to take care of large pores in this humid and hot summer
Summary
Before we begin let's define "pores". What are pores?
Pores are little openings on our skin and there are two types of pores:
1. Oil Pores
2. Sweat Pores
Pores are important for the healthy function of the skin and our body.
Did you know that those tiny, little, invisible hairs on our face help the oil generated by sebaceous glands to come up to the surface of our skin through pores to protect the skin from dirt, bacteria and keep it moisturized?
Why do some people have larger pores whereas others have smaller pores?
This is a question that bothers many people. One of the reasons is your skin type. People who have oily skin tend to have larger pores to get rid of sebum, whereas people with dry skin don’t produce enough sebum in order to have larger pores.
Knowing your skin type will save you time to choose the right skincare products for you.
The thinner your skin (usually found in sensitive skin and aging skin) the bigger pores will appear.
Knowing your skin type will save you time to choose the right skincare products for you.
The thinner your skin (usually found in sensitive skin and aging skin) the bigger pores will appear.
Why do some people have larger pores whereas others have smaller pores?
If you have ever tried face steaming at home, you probably know why humidity in summer expands your pores. But for the best way to visualize how heat and humidity cause expansion of the pores, refer to this illustration:
Pores expand when exposed to heat to release excess oil and sweat to balance out the body’s temperature in summer, similar to how we use face steaming for cleaning pores.
Cleansing Pores= Expend Pores by steaming + Cleanse+ Contract Pores with cold H2O
Summer goes through the same process of face steaming, however its job stops in the first step leaving your pores widely open to lots of bacteria, dust, and dirt from the environment. Moreover, when it is humid outside our sweat and sebum can not defuse/evaporate because the weather outside is already filled with a lot of moisture. This causes our large pores to get clogged with dirt, oil, and dead skin. This moisture is the best environment for bacteria growth.
How to Take Care of Large Pores During How and Humid Summer
As was mentioned before, each season has its own influence on skin which requires different skincare solutions.
In contrast to other seasons, the most important part of a skincare routine in summer is cleansing.
Cleansing
In general it is important to cleanse the skin twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening. However due to a lot of sweating and sebum production in the summertime, it is suggested to cleanse more often using mild cleansers like:
Quinoa One-Step Balanced Gel Cleanser
NOTE: It is important to take into consideration your skin’s sensitivity. Stick with cleansing twice a day if your skin is highly sensitive.
If there is no way to wash your face during the day, then you can cleanse your skin with wet wipes, a toner, or mineral water. Don’t forget to apply a light moisturizer, sunscreen, and if necessary, makeup.
Exfoliating = Deep Cleansing
Now if you don't have time to cleanse your skin during the day, it is highly suggested to exfoliate your skin 2-3 times per week. It is called deep cleansing. Large pores clogged with dead skin cells, bacteria, dirt, and dust need exfoliation = deep cleansing.
During summer, our skin is usually more sensitive which means it is prone to inflammation and is very reactive.
That is why it is important to use products that won’t be rough on your skin. Use cleansing masks once a week if your skin is very sensitive or up to three times a week if you have healthy skin.
During summer, our skin is usually more sensitive which means it is prone to inflammation and is very reactive.
That is why it is important to use products that won’t be rough on your skin. Use cleansing masks once a week if your skin is very sensitive or up to three times a week if you have healthy skin.
It is good if the cleansing masks contain clay and zinc oxide, which are able to penetrate deep into pores, cleanse, narrow them down, and also reduce the production of sebum. A good example for deep cleansing is our Mugwort Pore Clarifying Wash Off Pack. It clarifies pores, repairs damaged skin, and reduces skin inflammation that was probably caused by humidity.
Fight Bacteria and Inflammation
If your skin experiences inflammation in summer, choose not only sebum-reducing products, but also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients to take care for it.
Do not apply spot treatment products on large areas of the face as they probably contain alcohol. This will cause the sebaceous glands to work even more actively. Accordingly, the skin will become overly dry and acne will get worse.
Instead, use products that contain Salicylic Acid (BHA) which helps to absorb oil and bacteria. You can also include products that have Glycolic Acid (AHA) to reduce hyperpigmentation and exfoliate your skin.
Try our Daily Purifying Treatment Toner that contains 0.5% Salicylic Acid.
NOTE: If you have combination skin, use 2-3 times per week. If you have dry or normal skin, use it in problematic areas only.
Here is a list of some AHAs and BHAs and their functions:
Regular Hydration = Moisturizers
Even in the summer we need to use a moisturizer. And even if you use thermal water, moisturizing, or soothing mist several times a day, it will not provide sufficient hydration since it does not contain moisture-retaining components (i.e. chitosan, aloe extract, polysaccharides, glycerin, guar gum, urea, lecithin, etc.). Therefore, you can’t go through summer without a light moisturizer. Additionally, if the skin has become more irritated, the ideal option would be products suitable for sensitive skin that does not contain fragrance and preservatives like parabens which are the main components that can cause skin irritation.
Everything needs a golden ratio. Research has shown that the best humidity for skin health is between 30-60%. And when humidity level goes up to more than 60% during the summer, it not only causes large and clogged pores, but it also increases skin dehydration. When your skin is dehydrated it can not help with the self-rejuvenation of your skin. That is why you might have noticed that in summer when you breakout, it takes more time for your scars to fade away.
Knowing this, we hope you will continue using a light moisturizer in summer.
Protecting
Practice how to prevent pigmentation before it actually happens.
Pay attention to the ingredients of your summer makeup. If your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation, it should not contain photosensitizing components. That is, ingredients that increase the sensitivity of the skin to the sun like fruit acids, alcohol, and citrus essential oils.
And most importantly, DO NOT FORGET TO USE SUNSCREEN.
Especially in summer when your pores tend to get clogged by sebum, your pores are more exposed to air and UV lights that can cause blackheads. By using sunscreen, you can protect your pores from oxidation that lead to blackheads.
You can find everything that you need to know about sunscreen in our blog post: What You Need to Know About Sun Protection