Summer is here—and so is the weirdest skincare struggle of all time: why does your skin suddenly feel like an oil slick and a desert at the same time?If you’ve ever looked in the mirror on a hot afternoon and noticed your T-zone shining like a glazed doughnut while your cheeks feel tight and flaky, you’re not alone.

It’s a super common issue that confuses the heck out of people.

First, let’s get one thing clear: your skin doesn’t choose to be chaotic just to ruin your beach selfies. It’s responding to environmental stress. Summer means hotter temps, stronger UV rays, increased sweating, and air-conditioning everywhere you go. And your skin? It’s doing its best to cope.What usually happens is this: your skin gets dehydrated thanks to sun exposure and dry air.

In response, your sebaceous glands go into overdrive to compensate, producing more oil to lock in moisture. But here’s the twist—this oil doesn’t actually fix the dehydration. So now, you’ve got a dry underlayer and an oily top layer.

It’s summer. You’re sweating more. You feel sticky. So you start washing your face more often. Totally understandable—but also a little dangerous for your skin barrier.When you cleanse too much—especially with harsh or foamy cleansers—you strip away the skin’s natural oils.

And guess what your skin does when that happens? Yep, it produces even more oil to “save” you.Meanwhile, the deeper layers stay thirsty. The result? That greasy-but-flaky feeling you can’t shake.

Sunscreen is non-negotiable in summer. But heavy, pore-clogging formulas can actually make oily areas worse while doing nothing for dry patches. Mineral-based sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) tend to be less greasy and less irritating.

Also, look for “non-comedogenic” labels if you’re acne-prone.Avoid alcohol-based sprays or gel sunscreens if you’re already dry—they can seriously dehydrate your skin.

Let’s talk about air conditioning. It might save your mood and your makeup, but it’s a silent killer for skin hydration. AC sucks moisture out of the air—and your face along with it.So even if you’re drinking enough water, your skin might still feel tight, dull, or flaky.

If you spend hours in AC, try adding a lightweight moisturizer with hyaluronic acid to your routine. It pulls water into the skin like a sponge, without feeling heavy or greasy.

This one’s big. Many people panic when they see oily skin and jump to mattifying toners or clay masks. The problem? These usually focus on stripping oil, not hydrating the skin.What your summer skin needs is balance, not war. Go for a gel-based or water-based moisturizer that can hydrate without clogging pores.

Use a gentle cleanser, not one that leaves your face squeaky clean (because that’s a red flag). And resist the urge to use too many actives like salicylic acid or retinoids every single day—they can over-exfoliate and leave you feeling drier than a desert breeze.

Exfoliation can help slough off dead skin cells that make dry patches worse—but going too hard can make both oiliness and dryness worse. You only need to exfoliate once or twice a week in summer.

Choose chemical exfoliants (like lactic acid or mandelic acid) over physical scrubs if your skin is sensitive. These gently dissolve dead cells without tearing at your skin’s surface.

Sweat actually helps your body cool down and flush out toxins, and it can even help clear your pores. But when sweat mixes with oil, bacteria, and dead skin, it can lead to breakouts and clogged pores.Post-sweat care is important. After a workout or a long, humid commute, rinse your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser.

Pat dry—don’t rub—and apply a lightweight moisturizer to lock in hydration. Resist the temptation to use heavy powders or pore-clogging makeup right after you sweat. Give your skin a moment to breathe.

We often forget this, but internal hydration shows up on your face. Drinking enough water (and yes, you’ll need more in the summer) can actually help your skin look less oily and feel less tight.Eat hydrating foods too—think cucumber, watermelon, oranges, and mint.

And cut down on dehydrators like caffeine and alcohol. If you can’t ditch coffee completely, at least match every cup with a glass of water.

Here’s a big myth-buster: combination skin isn’t a type. It’s usually your skin reacting to what it’s going through. So if you were “normal” or dry before, and now you’re shiny in some places and flaky in others, don’t rush to buy all new products. Focus on what your skin is telling you.You may need to switch to lighter textures in summer, use a different cleanser, or just add a mid-day spritz of rose water or aloe mist to soothe your face.

Summer skin doesn’t have to feel like a problem that never ends. The goal is to support your skin barrier, not sabotage it. That means:

And most importantly, don’t freak out. Your skin’s doing what it can to protect you from sun, sweat, pollution, and stress. Sometimes that means you’ll get a shiny nose and a flaky chin. But give it what it really needs—and it’ll calm down.