Let's cover the non-sunscreen essentials that every person needs for the summer! If you’re like Cassandra and you struggle with body acne, we're going to list a few staples that will either enhance the way your sunscreen works or helps to smooth acne or ingrown hairs (i.e. folliculitis). 

Topicals High Roller Ingrown Hair Tonic with AHA and BHA - $26

This is for areas with ingrown hairs. It’s not only great for the armpits, but it is great for the legs, bikini areas, and chin. When Cassandra gets bad ingrowns or thick hairs on her chin, this works very well. It has exfoliating ingredients like salicylic and glycolic acid which are phenomenal for ingrown hairs. These are very exfoliating. So, of course, you need to use them at night or with sunscreen 

This also has zinc PCA and niacinamide. These ingredients help with redness and irritation. So, this helps with the marks ingrown hairs leave behind. And if you are someone who shaves, this needs to be in your shaving routine. After you shower and shave, you can apply it to dry skin, and it will help to prevent and treat ingrowns. 

Paula's Choice CLEAR Acne Body Spray With 2% Salicylic Acid - $28 

If you have pimples, especially on your chest or back, salicylic acid spray goes a very long way. Sometimes, we get body acne in hard-to-reach areas. But, if you have something that simply sprays on, this makes it so easy. This is affordable, silky, and it doesn’t leave you sticky the way some other body sprays do. This also has licorice extract which is an ingredient that can prevent ingrown hairs and hyperpigmentation. 

So, if your pimples are irritated, this product helps to soothe and treat existing acne and help new ones from forming. It also helps with redness.

Here are a few other body spray options as well. 

 

AcneFree Salicylic Acid Body Spray - $10.99 

SLMD Skincare Salicylic Acid Body Spray - $30

Coolibar UPF 50+ UV Gloves - $34

The next thing that protects you from the sun is UPF clothing.

You should also have antioxidants in your summer skincare. Antioxidants prevent damage from the sun. Antioxidants are not a replacement for sunscreen, but if you use antioxidants like vitamin C under your sunscreen, it can enhance the efficacy of your sunscreen, and it makes your skin even more protective. However, you'll still want a formula that works with your sunscreen and doesn’t peel up. 

Selfless By Hyram Peptide Q10 & Ginger Daily Defense Antioxidant Serum - $13 

This serum has Q10 aka ubiquinone. This was very hydrating, and it greatly boosted the effects of Cassandra’s sunscreen. This is amazing for wearing under sunscreen, especially since it doesn’t ball up. You can use this day and night, but using most antioxidant serums with a sunscreen is fine.

VEGREEN Fragrance-free Nature Mucin Serum 

This vegan snail mucin sunscreen is filled with antioxidants as well. 

 

Paula's Choice RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum - $43

Even Paula’s Choice has antioxidant-rich products that are amazing. 

 

The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% - $13 

Of course, you can’t forget The Ordinary. Pycnogenol is the trademarked name for a pine bark extract. Pine bark extract is a wonderful antioxidant that can protect the skin as well as prevent and decrease inflammation.