Hot, sticky summers can do more than just make us reach for the fan. For those of us with oily or reactive skin, the combination of heat, humidity, and sweat can throw our skin into overdrive. When pores start to feel clogged and shine takes over before lunch, it’s time to rethink our approach. A clay cleanser can help hit reset without being too harsh. It works by gently drawing out impurities while balancing oil, something every skin type can benefit from during warmer months. Let’s take a closer look at how these purifying cleansers fit into summer routines, especially when used with calming, plant-based support.
Why Skin Gets Oily in a Hot Aussie Summer
There’s a reason summer is prime time for oily skin flare-ups. Warmer temperatures cause our sebaceous glands to produce more oil, or sebum. While sebum helps protect and hydrate skin, too much can lead to congestion and shine.
At the same time, other summer habits pile on more stress.
• Wearing sunscreen is non-negotiable, but many formulas mix with sweat and dirt, heightening the risk of clogged pores.
• Air pollution can stick to sticky or sweaty skin, leading to more surface buildup.
• We tend to touch or wipe our faces more in the heat, spreading bacteria or irritating the skin barrier.
The increase in pore-clogging factors creates a cycle that’s hard to break without the right daily support. Understanding why your skin reacts this way in summer is a major step, and it’s worth noting that different climates can change the way your skin behaves. Just as you might swap out your wardrobe in summer, switching to a routine that includes products targeted to oil control can help lessen that overwhelming shine.
What Makes a Clay Cleanser Different
Not all cleansers are built for summer. Some foaming or gel cleansers can be too drying, which only prompts the skin to make more oil later. A clay cleanser offers a different approach. It uses fine-grained natural clays like kaolin or bentonite to gently lift away excess sebum, pollution, and grime from the surface.
These clays are known for their ability to:
• Absorb excess oil without disrupting the skin’s barrier
• Help decongest pores by drawing out impurities
• Provide light exfoliation to clear away dead skin cells
What we like most is that they do this without leaving skin dry or tight. It’s a clean that feels balanced, not stripped. In contrast to some harsher products, they are designed to work with your skin’s needs. Properly formulated clay cleansers typically rinse off cleanly, leaving your face feeling both refreshed and comfortable, never overly tight or flaky.
Finding Balance: Cleanse Without Over-Stripping
Too much cleansing, even with the best intentions, can cause rebound oiliness and barrier damage. Summer skin needs a gentle refresh, not a full reset every time. That’s where a balanced routine helps.
After using a clay cleanser, applying something lightweight and hydrating keeps your skin from overcompensating. Our go-to for this is a lightweight botanical-based moisturiser that restores moisture without clogging pores. A formula with soothing ingredients like Wild Rosella and Aloe Vera does more than just hydrate. It helps calm the skin after cleansing while reinforcing the moisture barrier.
The benefit is two-fold: clean skin that stays comfortable, and hydration that feels dewy instead of heavy. Even if your skin feels extra oily, skipping moisturiser after cleansing can make things worse, prompting your skin to create even more oil to make up for what’s lost. That’s why balance matters. Choosing the right type of hydration ensures you support elasticity and softness, keeping skin feeling its best during sticky, hot months.
When Antioxidants Make the Difference
Sunlight and pollution can add a lot of invisible stress to summer skin. Even if we’re careful with sunscreen and shade, environmental exposure still chips away at skin health. That’s why we turn to antioxidants in our routine, especially ones from native Australian botanicals.
Plant extracts like Snake Vine provide a natural boost for smoother, more resilient skin. With antioxidant strength higher than Vitamin C, they help protect the skin from oxidative stress, which often shows up as redness, dryness, or dullness over time.
Using a moisturiser infused with these kinds of botanicals makes sense after a deep cleanse. It offers hydration that works on a deeper level while supporting elasticity and keeping the skin barrier strong. Best of all, it won’t clog pores or feel greasy, so skin can breathe and bounce back even on the hottest days. When antioxidants are present, the skin benefits from ongoing protection, assisting with repair and renewing your natural glow. It is a gentle yet powerful way to ensure your skin is defended against environmental aggressors beyond what SPF can do alone.
Lock in Moisture Overnight
It’s easy to forget hydration overnight, especially when you’re trying to manage daytime oil. But nighttime is when skin works hardest to repair itself. In summer, it still loses water while we sleep, especially if the AC’s been running.
This is where a breathable, non-comedogenic balm can really help. Using a light layer of an overnight balm locks in the benefits of your moisturiser and helps hold hydration where it’s needed most. Made from natural waxes and oils, a balm creates a gentle seal that lets your skin stay calm, soft, and soothed while you rest. The goal isn’t to smother skin, but to support its overnight recovery, so you wake with it feeling balanced, not greasy or dry.
Establishing this step can be the difference between waking up with a refreshed complexion and facing excess oil or dry patches by morning. In climates where humidity is high one day and then the air conditioning is blasting the next, sealing in that extra layer of hydration ensures your evening routine works as a recovery time, not just maintenance. Choose a balm that’s lightweight, so your pores can breathe while your skin locks in essential moisture.
Clear, Comfortable Skin All Summer
Supporting oily skin in the heat is all about routines that respect balance. At Founder's Formula, our dedication to using potent, native Australian botanicals means our products work gently to cleanse, hydrate, and protect, even through the extremes of a long summer. Our moisturisers, rich in plant-derived actives like Wild Rosella and Snake Vine, are clinically tested for hydration and barrier support, so you can trust your skin will be cared for daily.
We know how tricky summer skin can get, especially when it’s feeling greasy before noon. That’s why it’s helpful to start with a cleanser that does more than just foam and rinse. A well-formulated clay cleanser can help clear out excess oil and buildup without tipping your skin off balance. Follow it with one of our native botanical moisturisers and you’ve got a routine that leaves skin refreshed, never stripped. Need a hand choosing? The Founder's Formula team is here to help you find the perfect fit.