How to Stop Your Sunscreen From Clogging Your Pores

Apply your favorite aos facial moisturizer with spf. 

Lighter formulas with a SPF 15, like our famous Goji Mate Ultralight Moisturizer and our Apple Stem Cell Daily Radiance Cream are perfect for combination-normal 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 have oily skin that's prone to breakouts, the Yarrow Oil Free Moisturizing Gel works to prevent breakouts all day.

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.

Before applying your facial moisturizer, always cleanse, use a toner to restore your skin's pH and apply a non-sun sensitizing vitamin C serum like our Ultra-C Serum.

Apply a water-resistant sunscreen over your moisturizer.
We love our deeply hydrating Broad Spectrum Sunshade Lotion the lavender and sage scent is fresh and mysteriously seems to keep mosquitos at bay. At SPF 30, it's the perfect amount for protecting delicate skin from the sun's burning rays.

*We recently reformulated this product and it goes on with more of a matte finish.

The combination of mineral sunscreens and shea butter make it pretty water and sweat resistant. I burn in about 20 minutes without any sunscreen and find myself reapplying every 2-3 hours, especially when I'm in the water or sweating hard. We include skin cooling and calming ingredients like jasmine and aloe vera, along with antioxidant rich rose hip seed oil to keep skin healthy.

Brush on a water-resistant powder sunscreen.
I find that finishing with a powder sunscreen keeps my skin from looking greasy and it resists dust and dirt from sticking to the water-resistant sunscreen. The mineral susncreen ingredients make the uv rays bounce right off your skin, further protecting it. You can reapply it every hour or two - try using it all over, not just on your face. 

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.

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.