Sensitive Skin In Summer: How To Stay Calm And Comfortable

Summer in Australia is absolutely magnificent: Christmas lunch, beach days, and balmy weather. But sometimes: It’s not so magnificent for your skin. 

Heat, humidity, sweat, chlorine, salty swims, long flights, and excessive frosty aircon can increase your skin’s sensitivity, leaving it feeling tight, red, or irritated. A few clever tweaks to your routine and arming yourself with the right products can help you manage your sensitive skin. No matter how high the UV index climbs.

Here’s your fuss-free guide to skincare for hot weather (that your skin will actually thank you for).

Why Summer Can Make Your Skin Sensitive (And Extra Tricky)

When the season turns up the heat, your skin is suddenly juggling more stressors than usual, and that can mean flare-ups, dryness, or maybe even, a heat rash. Here’s what these triggers can do to your skin:

High temps and high humidity:

When the mercury rises, so does sweat. Mix that sweat with sunscreen, makeup, and everyday grime and suddenly: You’ve got the perfect (summer) storm for clogged pores, congestion, and breakouts. For sensitive skin types, this can lead to redness, tiny bumps, or heat rash. 

Chlorine and salt water:

The countdown is on until your first swim of the season. But your skin barrier might not be as excited for the first soak as you are. Chlorine is a disinfectant—making it brilliant for pools but drying, irritating, and even itchy on skin. Saltwater, meanwhile, can dehydrate and leave sensitive skin tight, rough, or stingy. After swimming, always rinse with fresh water and replenish hydration quickly. (And reapply SPF.) (Obviously.)

Aircon overload:

Air conditioning might be your savour in the sweltering summer heat, but it can wreak havoc on your skin. Hours in AC pulls hydration out of the air (and out of your face), leaving your complexion dry, tight, and sometimes flaky. If you’re bouncing between heat and icy blasts of aircon, your skin can get extra reactive. Hydrating serums, barrier-loving moisturisers, and calming ingredients (think: The Repair Shop) are your best friends here.

Travel:

Oh you’re going home for Christmas? Nice! Make sure you get to the airport early—and don’t forget to prep your skin accordingly. Airplane cabins are ultra-dry that can zap the moisture from your skin within hours, leaving skin dehydrated and dull before you’ve even landed. Prepping with hydrating layers before you fly, topping up with a nourishing oil can make a world of difference. (Phew! Now you can watch Crazy Rich Asians in peace.)

Summer Skincare Tips to Calm Sensitive Skin

The goal: Keep your skin barrier happy. The plan: A gentle cleanser, lots of nourishing hydration, and plenty of sun protection..

1. Cleanse gently. In summer, it’s tempting to over-cleanse and get rid of all the sweat, SPF, and grime that’s built up. But this will probably make things worse. Opt for a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser (like Properly Clean or Juicy Gel) which removes dirt and debris without robbing your skin of essential oils.

2. Hydrate (and then hydrate again). Hydration is your greatest defense against the heat and aircon. Don’t skimp on your hydrating products (like Much Plumper Skin) to keep skin’s water levels restored and bounce juicy.

3. Protect with SPF. The best way to calm sensitive skin is to stop irritation before it starts with reliable sun protection.

4. Soothe post-swim and sun. If chlorine and salt-water leave your skin hot and cranky, replenish right away. Rinse off and reapply SPF. (Something stacked with zinc is a good choice.)

5. Keep it light. In the summertime, you might want to swap richer textures for lighter ones during the day, and keep the deeply replenishing formulas for evening or even just a few nights a week. 

What To Avoid With Sensitive Skin In Summer

Sometimes knowing what not to do is just as important. Sensitive skin is already prone to reacting, so avoiding the wrong moves can make all the difference when the temperature spikes. 

Stir Clear:

Harsh scrubs and excessive cleansing. Gritty physical exfoliants can create micro-tears and inflame already delicate skin. If you want to exfoliate, stick to something gentle (like lactic acid or PHA) and only use it sparingly.

Over-exfoliation. Exfoliation is wonderful in moderation but disastrous in excess. Hitting your skin with acids every day can lead to redness, stinging, and barrier breakdown. Exfoliating a few times a week should help target that summer congestion without upsetting your skin.

Heavy fragrances. Fragrance-heavy products can become irritating in summer heat, especially if you’re sweaty or your skin barrier is compromised from sun or chlorine. If you love a scented product, patch test first or save it for cooler evenings.

Dealing With Common Summer Skin Issues

Even if you’ve nailed your routine, summer has a way of throwing curveballs at sensitive skin. Between sweat, salt, and sun, flare-ups can feel almost inevitable. But! With a few smart tweaks (and lots of Christmas trifle), you should be primed to keep calm and carry on glowing.

Heat rash is caused when sweat ducts get blocked in hot, humid weather. It shows up as red, itchy bumps. The best way to solve it is by staying cool, showering off sweat promptly, and wearing loose clothing. Plus! Keep your routine ultra-gentle until it settles.

Redness during summer tends to be caused by the extra blood flow from heat and the environmental triggers. Skin is left looking blotchy, irritated, and like you’re constantly overheating. During a bout of redness, we recommend sticking to calming, nourishing products (like Face Hero or Very Useful Face Cream), avoiding hot showers, and stir clear of sunburn (as always).

Dryness from aircon can irate your skin and leave it dehydrated and cranky. Much Plumper Skin is your best friend during AC season (plus before flights).

A Simple Summer Routine For Sensitive Skin

In The AM:

1. Gentle cleanse with Juicy Gel or ditch it all together if your skin isn’t already particularly sweaty.

2. Hydrate with Much Plumper Skin.

3. Lightly moisturise with Very Useful Face Cream (or Very Lightweight Very Lightweight Moisturiser if your usual pick feels too heavy)

4. SPF. Always.

In The PM:

1. Double cleanse with Fancy Face (‘cos you were wearing SPF) and follow with Juicy Gel.

2. Replenish with Much Plumper Skin

3. Nourish with Face Hero

4. Lock it in with Very Luxe Face Cream (if your skin feels particularly tight)

FAQs

What’s the best way to calm sensitive skin in summer?

Focus on hydration, SPF, and gentle formulas. Avoid scrubs and heavy actives when skin feels particularly on edge and reactive.

What triggers sensitive skin in summer?

Heat, sweat, chlorine, saltwater, aircon, and UV rays are the big ones.

Can I exfoliate if I have sensitive skin in summer?

Yes, but keep it minimal—1–2 times per week with something gentle like Gentle Exfoliator should suffice. 

How do I prevent heat rash?

Stay cool, shower off sweat quickly, wear breathable fabrics, and avoid heavy skincare layers that trap heat. Oh and copious Rainbow Paddle Pops.

Which Go-To products are best for sensitive skin in summer?

Properly Clean, Juicy Gel, Much Plumper Skin, Face Hero, Very Useful Face Cream, and Nifty Fifty SPF are all excellent choices.