After months of gray weather, the dreaded May Gray and June Gloom, the summer heat has finally started in San Diego and it should be here to stay until about October. With warmer temperatures and the sun more intense than ever, I don't feel like putting anything on my face but refreshing gels and water-infused serums! I suffer from a "sweaty-face syndrome", meaning that my face is usually the first part of my body to sweat when I get too hot... So I can't stand anything heavy, greasy or too creamy and I try to go completely oil-free with my skincare regimen during the summer. Here are the products I'm considering buying to go through the hot season with fresh, clear skin:


Moisturizers

I want weightless, fresh, cooling, oil-free stuff! Even light lotions that work wonderfully for me the rest of the year start feeling yucky when the temperatures go up. I have 3 products that I'm looking into right now, and I haven't decided yet which one to select.



- H2O Plus Face Oasis Sea Foam Moisturizer: how cool does a foam moisturizer sound?? I noticed this product when it was launched last year, and I'm again tempted now that summer is back. I'm also a big fan of the original H2O Plus Face Oasis hydrating gel (except that the new packaging is awful), so I'm hoping this foam would be just as good.

- Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Bouncy Hydrating Gel: could anything sound more delightfully refreshing than a cucumber hydrating gel? I've had a good experience with PTR moisturizers before (I thought for a while one was causing me breakouts, but I'm still plagued with zits in the chin area and I haven't used it for 6 months...), and according to online reviews this one is very lightweight yet offers a good hydration boost. It makes sense since hyaluronic acid is pretty high in its ingredients list.

- Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel: Drunk Elephant is a fairly new brand that's already developed a cult following thanks to their outstanding skincare treatments. All their products have very high ratings on Beautypedia, a website that reviews beauty products based on the quality of their formulations. This Hydration Gel is water-based, oil-free and silicone-free, which sounds exactly like what I'm looking for!


Sunscreens

With my light skin and the intensity of the sun in San Diego, I absolutely need an effective sunscreen every day (except when I'm not going out at all), and something truly heavy duty if I'll be active outside. But the idea of spreading a thick, greasy, suffocating SPF on my face makes my stomach turn!

I've tried finding truly weightless sunscreens but I haven't had much luck so far. Right now I'm using a Japanese SPF, Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, and while it's certainly the lightest sunscreen I've ever used, it still makes my skin slightly shiny - and with alcohol being the first ingredient after water, I won't repurchase it. Here are the sunscreens I'd like to try this summer:


- Coola Daydream Mineral Primer SPF 30: not only is this primer supposed to be weightless, it also claims to reduce the appearance of pores and smooth out skin texture. Sounds almost too good to be true, but if it is true, then that's exactly the type of sun protection I'm looking for. I just wish the SPF was a bit higher, with my light skin 30 may not be enough under the harsh San Diego sun.

- Cover FX Clear Cover Invisible Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30: promises a gel-like, transparent and weightless texture that melts on the skin. It looks like it could be used as a 2-in-1 moisturizer with antioxidants and other ingredients beneficial for the skin.

- Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 25: an SPF 25 is a little low for me, but if this sunscreen really does absorb oil and "wick away perspiration" as it claims to, it could be a great match for my needs.


Face Mists

Trust me, when you have a sweaty face, a cool face mist sounds like heaven... The problem is that many of them contain alcohol, which feels very refreshing for a few seconds but is not good at all for the skin: it causes irritation, dryness, and can trigger even more oil production. So you have to be very careful when purchasing a face mist, as even higher-end, reputable brands tend to load theirs with alcohol (such as Tarte or Jurlique). You should also beware of fragrance or essential oils, irritating, and make sure to avoid any citrus oils: they're potentially photo-toxic, which means that they damage your skin if you get sun exposure after using them. Mineral water sprays are always safe - because they only contain water - but I'm looking for something with added skincare benefits.


- Caudalie Grape Water: unlike the brand's Beauty Elixir, which is loaded with fragrance, the Grape Water is perfectly safe to use on the face in the summer. It's also completely natural and organic, being extracted from organic grapes, and it's loaded with antioxidants.

- Milk Makeup Face Mist: doesn't rice water sound really cool? This mist is supposed to soothe sensitive skin, which could help stop the breakouts I get in the summer because of irritation from salty sweat.



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