How I Manage Pigmentation in the Summer

I am extremely prone to hyperpigmentation.

Much of that has to do with genetics (I'm half Irish/German and half Japanese), and I also was not great at wearing sun protection throughout my youth. On top of that, I was put on antibiotics for years (acne struggles), which makes skin even more sensitive to the sun. 

Finally, my skin seems to be done dealing with breakouts, so now my concerns center on aging skin and pigmentation (and reversing years of sun damage). Today I want to share my routine for handling pigmentation in the summer - which has been working really well for me the last few years. 

 

1. I eat a ton of fruits and vegetables; specifically blueberries and anything green. These act as "inner" sunscreen because consuming antioxidants will help your skin (and body) defend against inflammation, free radical damage, and external stress. 

2. I keep my skin as cool as possible when its hot out. Yes, pigmentation can get stimulated by UV exposure, but it can also be triggered by heat. If you're prone to pigmentation, you'll want to keep your skin as cool as possible. Splash ice cold water on your face every few hours, or use a cooling spray if you're in a pinch. I carry Mermaid Face in my bag at all times; the seawater and white tea immediately cool the skin, and the plankton has demonstrated in clinical trials that wearing it daily can actually reverse and repair DNA damage from UV exposure within 24 hours. 

3. I wear physical sun protection between 10am-5pm. I use mineral sunscreens because they reflect UV rays rather than absorbing and scattering the rays across the skin (this is what chemical sunscreens do, and newer research is starting to show that this can actually be very damaging to the skin and may cause more free radical and cellular damage). Here's a list of my favorite sunscreens right now.  Don't forget your big hat and sunglasses. 

4. I have a backup plan for when the SPF wears off. Vitamin C and astaxanthin are my secret weapons to preventing pigmentation. Both are super antioxidants, so they work by neutralizing free radical damage from UV exposure - it's like an extra shield underneath your SPF. 

For daily vitamin C and astaxanthin, I wear Nori Gel Serum or Vitamin Sea Serum. My Omega Oils also have a really potent vitamin C ester in them (stronger than L-ascorbic acid). In general, any seaweed product will contain naturally occurring antioxidants like vitamin C.

 

Here's how I layer everything in the summer: 

 

After washing my face in the morning: 

- Mermaid Face Toner  - contains a micro-algae plankton extract which protects and reverses cell damage when worn in the sun (yes, the sun activates the plankton to start repairing and reversing damage). 

- Nori Gel Serum or Vitamin Sea Serum -both provide the skin with ample hydration and both contain vitamin C and astaxanthin to neutralize free radical damage, preventing skin oxidation and browning. You can also use Herbal Face Food serums either in place of or just underneath either of these serums for even more antioxidant support - they work by absorbing UV rays and neutralizing free radical damage. These serums aren't as hydrating as the ones listed above, but they provide a ton of natural sun resistance for the skin. 

- Mineral SPF - this is your physical shield. All my favorite sun products are here. The SPFs are at the end of the list. 

- every 2-3 hours I splash face with cold water, reapply Mermaid Face + SPF, and sometimes I will even wash my face and reapply it all again. 

- drink tons of water to detox the skin, forego sugary foods so your skin can focus on healing after sun exposure, drink electrolytes to rehydrate cells internally, and take a magnesium supplement to help with cell recovery. 

 

 

Nighttime Skincare: 

- Cleansing Beauty Oil - to remove SPF and sweat while building in time for a stress relieving facial massage. 

- Shell Scrub use in the shower; provides gentle surface exfoliation and seaweed extracts to moisturize skin while you remove just enough dead skin to help products penetrate deeper. This is a must for me while traveling. 

- Mermaid Face - at night I like to spray this in my hands and massage it into the skin. It has seawater minerals, seaweed antioxidants and plankton extracts which repair cellular DNA damage, it's also just super hydrating for the skin after a day in the sun. 

- Nori Gel Serum or Vitamin Sea Serum - for oily or combo skin go with Nori Gel, for dry or super sensitive skin go with Vitamin Sea Serum.  

- Clear Glow Omega Oil  - wear as a moisturizer; it's an antibacterial facial oil (tee tree/thyme/lavender) with vitamin C esters and omega 3 fatty acids to keep skin bright, clear, balanced and glowing.

 

What to avoid in general: Avoid using retinols or actives the night before going in the sun - otherwise your skin will be extremely sensitive and more prone to pigmentation. If you're getting a professional grade peel to deal with aging skin, wrinkles and acne, get your peel done at least 1 week before a summer vacation.