Faces get all the attention when it comes to skincare. But, come summer, we have to bare a little more. Pesky chestne is a real thing—from small to cystic red, inflamed bumps and blackheads, it can really put a damper on our carefree summer vibe, not to mention our outfits. Heed some protocol here for treating and preventing.
When it comes to skincare, we invest a lot into our prized products and can even be a little precious about it. If we are concerned about the health, let alone clarity, of our decolletage, bring that effective, powerful skincare all the way down the neck and onto the chest. Everything from cleansing to moisture. Think micellar water and cleanser to swipe away sweat, grime, and sunscreen; toner or essence to rehydrate and prep; and any active serum such as niacinamide or vitamin C.
The skin on our chest is a little different from the skin on our face, but it still suffers much of the same environmental brunt, like sun damage and oil, as our most forward-facing feature. Prevent skin cells and sebum build-up with mechanical exfoliation using a gentle scrub or some polishing gloves, like our favorite detail-defining fine grain mitts. Don’t overdo it and damage the delicate decolletage skin barrier, but opt for gentle exfoliation once or twice a week.
Alternating between mechanical exfoliation days, try a gentle chemical exfoliant like papaya enzymes to loosen up clogged pores and purge sweat and dirt. It’ll not only detox the skin but reveal smooth, soft skin that is more receptive to active skincare ingredients after, too.
When we aren’t well-hydrated, especially in these super warm months, our skin can’t properly detox. Our sweat is a little more toxin-laden, a little more sour, a little more sticky. Staying optimally hydrated, not just with water but with electrolytes, elixirs, and super juicy fruits and veggies, our bodies can properly detox, leaving us with fresher, purer sweat and lymphatic flow.
Speaking of lymph flow, when we don’t keep things moving (it’s a manual pump, not automatic), we can get stagnant build-up of fluids, clogging those detoxification pathways or making them harder to access. Indulge in some self-massage and scraping with a soothing lymph paddle or dry brush to help jumpstart those passages for flow. As an added bonus, this helps depuff and debloat the body for a sexy summer contour.
Because we tend to sweat more, produce more oil, and be exposed to more environmental factors like dirt, pollution, and sweat, hitting our skin cells with a little assist like a topical retinol treatment or mask can help promote quicker cell turnover. This helps prevent those little whiteheads and blackheads and has a major impact on those larger bumps.
Of course, don’t forget to moisturize. But while the rest of your body gets the Cleopatra treatment of rich creams and body oils to stay soft and slick, go for something much lighter for the chest. We love this active algae moisturizer for acne-prone skin of all kinds because it’s an ultra light gel formulation, and green tea, green algae, and rose are powerful antioxidants to keep skin fresh, dewy, and clear.
If you’re using a light, nutritive sunscreen on your face and a 5-year-old bottle of Banana Boat on the body, toss it! Upgrade to your favorite facial sunscreen for your neck and chest to reap all the skincare benefits, and prevent your product from being the source of clogged pores.
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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