Summer In The City – Skincare Survival Guide

Summer brings a host of beauty challenges that can befuddle even the most street-smart beauty maven. Steaming grates, sky-high humidity levels and suffocating subway stops are just a few of the treacherous beauty minefields a city girl has to face each day.

How’s a metropolitan gal on the go to survive with her makeup and skin health intact?

Top dermatologist Rebecca Kazin, MD, FAAD, has tips for conquering pollution, heat, humidity and sweat as the barometer rises.

• Sport Smarts - Wearing athletic gear like helmets or baseball caps can cause sweat and friction, which can flare acne in those areas. Wear cotton or breathable fabric under gear to lessen friction. Bring your own towels and mats to the gym to limit bacteria on the face and exposed skin, which can cause acne and folliculitis.
• Keep Hair in Check - Try to keep hair off your face and neck so that sweat can dry more easily and your body will cool itself faster. Also consider removing excess hair from underarms as hair can trap sweat and bacteria, causing dreaded body odor.
• Be Proactive - As soon as you get home, take off sweaty clothing, take a shower or at least wash your face. Sweating initially open pores (like steam during a facial) but if the sweat is not washed off the salt from the sweat can irritate the skin and worsen eczema.  
• Skip Scrubbing – Resist the urge to excessively scrub skin. It can irritate skin and cause breakouts.
• Stay Hydrated - If you don’t drink enough water, you won’t be able to sweat efficiently and cool your body down.
• Beat the Heat Beauty - Wear loose mineral powder and non-comedogenic sunscreen with physical blockers like Zinc or Titanium to protect skin while keeping a matte, sweat-free finish.