Sunny days, strappy sandals, cold drinks — summer has its pleasures. Shiny, congested skin is not one of them. Yet it tends to come with the season.Heat and humidity can increase oil and perspiration. That can leave pores looking congested and make the skin more prone to the appearance of breakouts.A few targeted adjustments help. Below are Vivant's expert tips for a clearer, more refined-looking complexion through the warmer months — a practical summer skin care routine for oily skin.
The Reason Why Summer Makes Skin Oilier
Warm, humid air prompts the skin to produce more oil, while sweat sits on the surface and mixes with sunscreen, makeup, and daily residue. The result is the look of enlarged pores, excess shine, and more frequent congestion. The goal in summer is not to strip the skin, but to keep it light, clean, and balanced in appearance.
Our Summer Skin Care Guide
Update Your Cleanser
If you want skin that looks fresh rather than glistening, green tea belongs at the top of your ingredient list. It offers antioxidant support and helps the complexion look balanced and comfortable.
Try Vivant's Green Tea Cleanser, a gentle formula suitable even for sensitive, redness-prone skin.
Switch To A Lighter Moisturizer
The rich cream you rely on in winter can feel heavy once the temperature climbs. In humid months, swap dense creams and lotions for a lighter, non-greasy formula — ideally one with sunscreen built in.
The Day Lotion Sunscreen SPF 15: A moisturizer with SPF does double duty, hydrating skin while adding a layer of sun protection to your morning routine.
Vivant's Allantoin Sedating & Hydrating Lotion is another lightweight choice. This ultra-light, non-greasy formula helps soothe and hydrate while supporting a calmer, more comfortable-looking complexion, and it layers easily under makeup or over a corrective serum.
Skip Foundation During Workouts
A sports bra: recommended. Heavy makeup: less so. Foundation can sit over pores and trap perspiration, which may contribute to the appearance of congestion and breakouts — and summer heat tends to amplify the effect. Go foundation-free when you exercise, or at minimum during your workout. Your skin will look clearer for it.
Add A Toner
Toner should be part of a your skin care regimen year-round, but in summer, it’s a must. A good toner helps remove the look of residual dirt, makeup, and excess oil, and helps refine the appearance of pores. Keep yours in the refrigerator for a cooling, refreshing finish.
For a toning step that does a little more, try Vivant's Daily Repair Pads. These alcohol-free, single-use pads pair Clinical Mandelic Acid with lactic and salicylic acids on a lightly textured surface to gently exfoliate, sweep away the look of surface debris, and help refine the appearance of pores and uneven tone.
Calm Summer Puffiness
Notice your skin looking puffy when you overheat? Heat causes blood vessels to dilate and expand, which can leave the complexion looking swollen.
To help calm the look of puffiness and redness, choose products with soothing
ingredients such as aloe, green tea, witch hazel, grape seed oil, and algae.
Vivant's Totaloe checks those boxes. This lightweight, oil-free gel blends whole-leaf aloe, green tea, sea algae, and hyaluronic acid to deliver cooling hydration and help calm the look of redness and puffiness — without a heavy or greasy finish.
Defend Your Skin With Antioxidants
Summer months mean increased exposure to damaging UV radiation and environmental pollutants. If an antioxidant serum is not yet part of your routine, this is the season to start.
Vivant's Pure C + E Serum delivers antioxidant support and helps defend against the visible effects of environmental stress.
Detox With A Clarifying Mask
A clarifying mask helps lift the appearance of impurities and excess oil from the surface of the skin. Use one to two times a week to keep your complexion looking refined, smooth, and clear all summer long.
For oily, breakout-prone skin, Vivant's Sulfur Clay Mask goes a step further. It is formulated with 10% sulfur, alongside mineral-rich bentonite and kaolin clays that help absorb excess surface oil and draw out the look of impurities. Used as directed, it helps treat acne blemishes and clear breakouts while leaving skin looking refined and decongested.
Upgrade Your Sunscreen
You want your sunscreen to shield against UV — not to clog your pores. Look for an oil-free and non-comedogenic sunscreen, especially for the face. It is worth the small upgrade to help keep skin looking smooth and bump-free.
As mentioned in the lighter-moisturizer tip above, Vivant's Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15 does double duty for daily wear: a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer with sun protection that absorbs quickly and leaves a smooth, non-greasy finish that wears well under makeup.
Comments