Summer skin trouble: Actually caused by the wrong care 🐰 | Correct ways to deal with sweat, sebum, and friction, plus a summer skin calendar
Introduction
Wipe off sweat immediately.
Wash your face thoroughly after returning home.
If you are worried about sebum, press it with a tissue.
I thought I was "taking proper care" of everything.
But it was a few summers ago that I realized everything was actually counterproductive.
Today, I, Rei, who used to have recurring skin trouble every summer, will share the "real causes of summer skin trouble" and the "correct care that changes things just by stopping the bad habits" 🐰
[1] 4 NG care habits often practiced by people who get skin trouble in summer
Summer skin trouble is almost always caused by "doing too much."
NG 1: Rubbing sweat off vigorously with a towel
Every time you rub vigorously when you sweat, the friction gradually destroys your skin's barrier function. Skin with a broken barrier becomes weak against external stimuli, making it prone to skin trouble, redness, and inflammation.
The correct way is to just "gently press to absorb the moisture." The same applies to sweat-wiping sheets; the golden rule is to "press." Sheets containing alcohol can be irritating, so choosing "alcohol-free" ones is safer.
NG 2: Repeatedly pressing sebum with a tissue
If you are worried about shine and keep pressing with a tissue, you will end up removing even the necessary sebum. When the skin lacks sebum, it produces even more to compensate for the deficiency. This is the true nature of the vicious cycle where "the more you remove, the shinier it gets."
Sebum is not a "villain," but a natural moisturizing ingredient that protects the skin. The correct way is to "calm it down with hydration." Replenishing moisture with a light ceramide lotion will calm the excessive secretion of sebum.
NG 3: Using facial cleanser twice after returning home
I understand the feeling of "it was hot and I sweated, so I have to wash it thoroughly." However, using facial cleanser twice is over-washing and will collapse your skin's barrier function.
Washing your face once is enough. Just wash with lukewarm water at 32–35°C, wrapping your face in foam for no more than 30 seconds. Doing any more than this is counterproductive.
NG 4: Rubbing strongly with cleanser to remove sunscreen
There are cases where people scrub too hard with cleansing products while trying to thoroughly remove sunscreen. However, this friction is a cause of inflammation.
The correct way to cleanse is to just "let it blend in." Once it is thoroughly blended, rinse gently with lukewarm water. That alone is enough to remove sunscreen.
[2] There are only 3 correct care methods to protect summer skin
There is nothing difficult about it. It is just about "stopping certain things" and "keeping it simple."
① The golden rule is to "blot" sweat and have zero friction
Just blot with a clean handkerchief or sheet. Simply reducing friction to zero will drastically reduce summer skin trouble. Choosing alcohol-free sweat wipes will reduce irritation.
② Calm sebum with "moisturization"
The correct approach is to "replenish" rather than remove. Using a refreshing ceramide lotion morning and night will calm excessive sebum secretion. Shine is often a sign of dryness.
③ Stick to "once a day, lukewarm water, 30 seconds" for face washing
Washing your face once after returning home is enough. Use lukewarm water at 32–35°C, wrap your face in foam, and keep it under 30 seconds. Apply lotion within 1 minute after washing
(5th post: "The story of how my pore care got worse the more I did it 🐰 — Counterproductive care and 3 correct methods" is the same as this care 🐰).
The most important thing in summer care is "not to overdo it." The simpler you keep it, the calmer your skin will be.
[3] Summer skin calendar | Monthly concerns and countermeasures
Summer skin concerns change depending on the time of year. It is important to take measures that suit the current period.
May–June (Before the rainy season)
The concerns are sebum shine and clogged pores due to humidity. This is a time when skin easily gets stuffy due to humidity, and sebum tends to become excessive. This is the time to thoroughly avoid over-washing, focus on moisturizing, and make daily sunscreen use a habit.
July–August (Midsummer)
The concerns are sweat, friction, and UV damage. During this period, "zero friction" is the most important thing. Reapply sunscreen frequently while out, and limit face washing to just once, gently, after returning home.
September (End of summer)
The concerns are spots, dullness, and dryness after sunburn. The UV damage received during the summer appears in September. This is the time to start whitening care with a niacinamide-infused lotion and switch your moisturizing routine to the autumn version.
If you start your care now, you will see a difference in September. Right now, before summer, is the most important time 🐰
Ray-chan's monologue
To be honest, I used to have skin trouble every summer a few years ago.
Wiping it every time I sweated, washing it thoroughly when I got home, and pressing it with a tissue if I was worried about sebum. I thought I was "taking proper care" of it all, but it was all counterproductive 😂
What changed was "what I stopped doing." I just stopped scrubbing, stopped over-washing, and reduced friction to zero.
In summer, your skin might actually be happier with something closer to "doing nothing." Ever since I realized that, I haven't been afraid of summer anymore 🐰
Summary
✅ Scrubbing sweat is a no-go; just pressing it is the right way
✅ Instead of removing sebum, "calm it down with hydration"
✅ Wash your face once, with lukewarm water, and within 30 seconds
✅ The golden rule of summer care is "don't overdo it"
\This is the end of the free public portion/
"I want you to tell me specifically what skincare you use in the summer." "What should I prepare for whitening care in September?"
In the paid part, I am revealing all the items I actually use in the summer. I have honestly summarized my sunscreen, lotion, and cleansing products by situation.
(Currently available for free 🐰)
Full reveal of my top-tier summer skincare
What I use while out and about
For reapplying sunscreen: Suncut Protect UV Spray
This is a transparent spray with the highest rating of SPF50+ PA++++, which can be used on the entire body and has waterproof functionality that is resistant to sweat, water, and sebum. While there is an opinion that spray types have lower effectiveness, its greatest advantage is that, in addition to a powerful UV-cut effect, it is quick-drying, smooth, and easy to remove with soap, allowing you to use it over makeup while out without getting your hands dirty. The price is around 1,000 yen.
What I use after coming home
FANCL Mild Cleansing Oil (Cleansing)
This is a skincare cleanser with a serum-like, thick oil that instantly lifts and removes makeup and keratin plugs without rubbing. It protects moisture while leading to 'smooth, hydrated skin' with refined texture and less visible pores every time you wash. Since it is an oil type, there is less friction, making it easy to use even on summer skin that tends to be sensitive. The price is approximately 1,980 yen for 120mL.
Toner after face wash: Cezanne Deep Skin Conditioner
Contains 3 types of human-type ceramides. You cannot skip moisturizing even in summer. It has a refreshing feel, making it easy to use in summer, and the large capacity keeps monthly costs low, which is great. The price is approximately 715 yen.
What I am preparing now for whitening care in September
Niacinamide-infused toner: Hada Labo Gokujyun Medicated Firming Lotion
I will start using this from September to address spots and dullness caused by UV damage received during the summer. Since it contains niacinamide as an active ingredient, whitening effects can be expected. The price is approximately 1,100 yen.
Total summer skincare cost: Around 3,500 to 4,500 yen per month
It is a little more than in winter, but UV protection is very important for the skin, so I value my daily care🐰
Thank you for reading until the end🐰
On Instagram, I share wisdom on beauty and living through diagrams every week!
→ @rei_zukai
Related post, 'The story of how my pore care got worse the more I did it🐰 ― Counterproductive care and 3 correct methods'
Please bookmark this as well,
and use it as a reference for your skin care this summer!