If you feel like the heatwave has suddenly turned your skin into an oil slick, it’s probably not in your imagination. The combination of higher temps, humid weather, and drying AC can send your oil glands into overdrive. That, combined, with the bacteria that comes with having a perpetually sweaty face, can make you a prime target for summer breakouts. Luckily, there are things you can do to help your skin acclimate and keep your face blemish-free.

Wipe It Off

If you wear makeup and notice your skin getting super shiny by midday, your first instinct might be to buff on some mattifying powder. But the extra layers of powder might actually be doing your skin more harm than good. All that extra makeup can encourage your skin to produce more oil. To balance oily summer skin, I recommend actually cutting back on makeup—hot weather melts most of it anyway! Try applying just concealer instead of a full face of foundation. Then, if you notice yourself getting slick, wipe your face off with a travel-friendly cleansing wipe to take care of shine.

Switch Up Your Cleanser

One of the easiest ways to balance oily skin in summer without totally overhauling your regimen is to simply swap your cleanser for something a little stronger. If you normally use a cream cleanser, consider switching to a gel cleanser that contains salicylic acid. This will help rinse away oil build-up and acne-causing bacteria without throwing your skin out of whack. Just make sure you choose a version that’s sulfate-free; foaming sulfates can do damage to your acid mantle, further disrupting your skin’s precious balance.

Don’t Forget the Basics

When your skin gets oily, you might be tempted to stop using hydrating products. I get it: you have plenty of oil so why add more hydration? Don’t make this mistake! Your skin can be dehydrated even if it’s oily. In fact, a lot of summer skin changes are due to the radical shift from dry, air-conditioned indoor environments to humid outdoor environments. Using a hydrating serum like my HA Hydrating Serum provides a balancing source of moisture that will help bring your oil glands back to equilibrium.

The good news is that your summer skin change is probably only temporary. As your skin gets used to the warmer weather, it will begin to balance out. In the meantime, don’t forget to exfoliate regularly to keep acne at bay. Balance oily summer skin…and don’t skimp on sunscreen!