How to Stop Your Sunscreen From Clogging Your Pores

person Angelina Swanson
calendar_today Aug 21, 2024
comment 0 comments

Edited 8.21.2024

The biggest concern I've heard about using sunscreen is that it will clog your pores and lead to breakouts. It's a valid fear because a lot of sunscreens, especially natural mineral lotions, do clog your pores. The zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide that provide natural mineral sun protection are chalk-like substances mined out of the earth and they sit on top of the skin. Fortunately, you can use mineral sunscreen and still have gorgeously clear skin.

Using natural mineral sunscreen is an ancient technique. Humans and other animals have slathered themselves with clays for thousands of years to protect their skin from the harsh sun, especially nearer the equator. While some sun is vital to our skin's health, overdoing it certainly isn't. For those of us with skin that burns easily, it's even more important to have protection.

My Sunscreen Layering Technique

First of all, I use clothing to protect my skin as much as possible. Large brimmed hats and sun gloves are year-round staples. Light, gauzy cotton button up shirts and loose pants are my favorite in the hotter months. Wool blend long sleeved shirts are my go-to for cooler days. But what about all the skin still showing? I have a layering system for that.

Step 1: Cleanse

Starting with clean skin in the morning is the key to preventing clogged pores, blackheads and breakouts. Most often, I don't recommend using a traditional cleanser in the morning, unless you slept in your makeup, used an overnight mask or if you usually wake up with oily skin. A good splash of tepid water and then patting the skin dry is most often quite enough first thing in the morning.

*Skip Step 2: (Mask and Exfoliate) & go right to Step 3

I recommend exfoliating in the evening, 2-3 times a week. Feel free to skip this step in your morning routine.

Step 3: Tone + Restore pH

The protective layer on our skin is slightly acidic and happiest at a pH of 5.5. Cleansers should be either acidic (to help combat acne) or alkaline (for normal-dry skin). Toners are designed to restore your skin's pH balance. In the morning, you can skip cleansing and just use a toner to freshen up after a good long sleep. Let the toner absorb into your skin for a few moments.

Step 4: Treat [ Eyes & Serums]

Right over your toner, apply a lightweight facial serum. Since I have sun damaged skin from 50 years of being outdoors, I almost always reach for the Ultra C Serum, which works all day to reverse sun damage (the vitamin C extracts in this don't cause photo-sensitivity). If you want something other than a vitamin C base, I suggest the Apple Stem Cell Radiance Serum in the summer and our Youth in Bloom Phytoactive Firming Serum in the cooler months when skin can tend to be more dehydrated.

The skin around our eyes is thinner, more delicate and produces less oil than on the rest of our face, so applying an eye cream or gel will make a big difference towards keeping that skin healthy, supple and free of fine lines.

Step 5: Moisturize & Protect

Here's where we finally get into the sunscreen.

Apply your favorite aos facial moisturizer with spf. Lighter formulas with spf 15, like our famous G oji Mate Ultralight Moisturizer and our Apple Stem Cell Daily Radiance Cream are perfect for oily, combination and balanced skin. If you're concerned about aging skin (who isn't!), the Youth in Bloom Phytoactive Firming Day Cream is a great choice.

If you're going to be out in the sun for an extended period of time (an hour or more), I recommend using spf 30 or higher. Our Broad Spectrum Sheer Mineral Sunshade Lotion is spf 30 and the new formula goes on beautifully sheer with a matte finish.

A note about mineral sunscreens: At aos, we use mineral sunscreens exclusively because dermatologists recommend them as effective broad spectrum sun protection. Mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are gentle on the skin (zinc is actually very soothing) and they aren't harmful to marine life like chemicals are.

After Sun Care

Removing Your Sunscreen is Vital to Keeping Pores Clear

As soon as possible after your outdoor activity, wash off that sunscreen. Use a cleanser suited to your unique skin and a soft cloth. Follow with a toner, and then a revitalizing serum like the Apple Stem Cell Radiance Serum and finish with a layer of moisturizer.

Tip for Oily Skin: If you have oily or combination skin and are prone to clogged pores and/or breakouts after using sunscreen, be sure to use a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) based toner and serum. BHAs, like salicylic acid, target oily substances, dissolving them and get down into the pores to dissolve all the oil and dead skin cells there, keeping our pores clear so blemishes don't erupt. Willow bark is a natural source of salicylic acid and I love how it clears pores without over-drying or irritating the skin- in fact it's actually soothing too. Even though my own skin is generally dry, I keep a bottle of the Yarrow & Willow Bark BHA Toner and the Willow Bark Pore Refining Serum in my cabinet and reach for those and apply them strategically (mostly to my "T Zone") after removing my sunscreen. I find this really helps prevent clogged pores and breakouts.

Did you forget to reapply sunscreen or just stay out too long?

It happens! I recently burned the tops of my feet badly because I applied sunscreen while wearing shoes, then took them off while paddle boarding and didn't even think about it. After more than two hours on the river, my feet were lobster red. They even swelled up that night!

Treat Your Sunburned Skin Immediately!
I keep the Bulgarian Rose Hydrosol in the refrigerator and mist it over my skin anytime I've turned even the slightest bit pink from sun, heat or wind exposure. The Cucumber Aloe Rescue Gel sits right next to it and if I get sunburned, I apply that every few hours for the next couple days. It feels so soothing and in just three days, the redness is gone without any peeling! I recommend this little gem to everyone. Whether you get too much sun, get eaten by mosquitos or burn yourself on the stove, this is a handy remedy to have in your home apothecary.

If you have an aloe plant growing nearby, you can slice off a couple inches of leaf, fillet it open and apply the gel right to your skin.

There it is! This layering system works well for my skin and I hope you find it helpful to keeping your gorgeous skin clear too.