Those of us with sensitive and acneic skin know one thing: summer isn’t always better. Yes, winter’s drying effect is a thing of the (temporary) past, but there are a whole bunch of new factors in the summer environment that just can’t wait to annoy your skin.

If, like me, your skin is swampy and upset right now, heed this advice. Pimples of mythical proportions are not just the inevitable summer blip on your fabulous radar. Time to take action.

Mist your face. This seems superfluous and indulgent, I know. But face mists exist for a reason: they are full of bacteria-nomming ingredients that will keep your face dewy and clear. Look for an all-natural blend with gentle cleansers, like lavender or rose essential oil. Whenever you find yourself with a layer of sweaty face dew, it’s time to mist. If you really just can’t be the type of chick who mists her face, at least carry around a (regularly laundered) sweat rag. Sweat rag or mist, those are your options.

Change your pillow case. All sorts of sweat is accumulating on that thing. Only, I don’t really want to change my pillow case every single night. Here’s a trick to avoid changing your case every day: use an old t-shirt instead. Pick one with a logo (so you can tell back-from-front), and flip the pillow on night two.

Drink up. Put down the prosecco; I’m talkin’ ‘bout water. We all know that 8 glasses are important, but so are electrolytes and vitamins. Summer is a dehydrating experience, both because of patio boozing and Toronto’s signature soul-sucking heat. Personally, I notice that my summer skin is a lot less pimply when I down a vegetable juice every few days, when I’m stocked on coconut water and herbal iced teas. Diversify your hydration, ladies.

Disinfect your hats. Wide-brim or baseball, hats of all styles accumulate bacteria. My DIY recipe for makeup brush spray doubles as a hat disinfectant. Whenever you’ve gone a full day in your head hugger, give it a couple of sprays and let it dry thoroughly before putting it back on.

Wash smart. Contrary to popular belief, excessive face washing is not great for acne; it will only leave your skin dehydrated. Dehydrated skin will lock in and produce excessive oil until your face looks like a Slip N Slide. Instead of over-washing, invest in a smart wash with bacteria-eating ingredients like salicylic acid or fruit enzymes. Limit your face washing to twice a day, max, and never forget to finish it up with a light serum or moisturizer.