Post holiday skin? Here’s how to look after it!
As the summer comes to a close and we welcome the changing of the seasons, our skin may be in need of a little extra care. During the summer months our skin no doubt gets its fair share of sun exposure. The days are longer and the sun is brighter. This can have many benefits for the skin and body, such as increased vitamin D absorption. However it can also potentially lead to our skin becoming more vulnerable to UV rays, dehydration, dryness and sensitivity.
We all are very aware of how to protect our skin from the sun by using high SPFs, staying out of direct sunlight and wearing hats and sunglasses. But what do we do to care for our skin afterwards? In this blog we will discuss the best ways to replenish and rejuvenate your skin post sun exposure.
How the Sun Affects Our Skin
The sun can affect the skin in many ways. As said previously, it can have benefits for the skin such as aiding with the production of vitamin D. Not only that, it also boosts feelings of wellbeing and contentment, which is why summer is so many people’s favourite time of the year! However, there are a few ways in which the sun leaves our skin slightly more vulnerable and exposed.
- Hyperpigmentation – as UV rays penetrate the skin they trigger a chemical reaction whereby our skin cells produce more melanin (a dark pigment) in order to shield our cells DNA from damage. Over time this can lead to areas of hyperpigmentation popping up on the face and body. It is important to always wear an SPF of at least 30 to help prevent this.
- Dehydration – Our skin can become dehydrated and dry due to over exposure to the heat and sun, especially in drier climates. Evaporation of moisture on our skin leads to water loss. Radiation from the sun can also disrupt the natural hydrolipidic layer on the surface of the skin, making our skin more vulnerable to environmental stressors that further contribute to dryness and dehydration.
- Sun Burn – One of the more obvious effects of the sun on our skin is Sun Burn. This happens as a result of the suns radiation, and causes our skin to burn in various degrees depending on the severity. This can also lead to inflammation, increased sensitivity, peeling, dryness and even blistering. Again in order to prevent this it is very important to wear an SPF of at least 30.
- Breakouts – Sometimes when the skin becomes dried out due to sun and heat exposure, the skin overcompensates by producing more oil. When excess oil mixes with perspiration and heavy creams such as SPFs it can lead to blockages such as blackheads and pustules.
How to Care For Our Skin Post Sun
In order to restore our skin back to good health and help alleviate some of these post sun symptoms we need to know how best to care for our skin.
- Hydrate – One of the most important steps is to rehydrate the skin. This can be done in multiple ways. Firstly by incorporating products that are packed with hydrating ingredients into your skincare routine, such as Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid helps the skin cells to hold 1,800 times their weight in water. This causes skin cells to plump up and leaves the skin looking fresh, glowing and more youthful. We recommend using Centella’s Hydra + range containing hyaluronic acid and aloe vera to help replenish lost moisture from the skin.
- Exfoliate – Gently exfoliating the skin is an important step in helping to reduce any hyperpigmentation on the skin. Exfoliating the skin with a gentle scrub will help to slough off any dead skin cells containing excess melanin. The skin will be left looking, brighter, fresher and smoother. We recommend using Centella’s Gommage Vegetal with Hibiscus extract. This has a duel action by gently exfoliating dead skin cells by the use of fine rice particles and also AHA hibiscus extract.
- Heal – For cases of sun burn it is vital to cool and soothe the skin. Use products containing healing ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Lavender, calendula and rosehip. These ingredients have powerful anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties to help accelerate the wound healing process. We recommend using Hydraflore’s Anti-Redness Serum and Hydraflore’s Comfort Mask. These both contain hyaluronic acid to replenish moisture and also rose-hip oil to soothe redness and inflammation.
- Purify – For post-sun breakouts opt for products containing purifying ingredients such as tea-tree oil, zinc, green mandarin extract, camphor and fruit acids. These will have anti-inflammatory, anti-redness, and anti-bacterial properties to heal any blemishes on the skin. Fruit acids will help to gently exfoliate any dead skin cells that may be further contributing to any congestion. We recommend using Centella’s Rebalancing Serum. This serum contains green mandarin oil to purify the skin without leaving the skin dry or tight, along with Centella Asiatica to help soothe redness and inflammation.
- Nourish – For skin that is on the drier side, try using a nourishing oil serum and face oil to help further lock in moisture and deeply nourish and soften the layers of the skin. We recommend using Centella’s Serum Ultra Concentrate containing stem cells of Centella Asiatica to help repair the skin, rejuvenate tired skin cells and boost collagen production, and Centella’s Elixir De Nuit containing nourishing plant oils and essential fatty acids to help restore the skin’s hydrolipidic layer.
Changing Seasons
As the seasons change from summer into the cooler autumn months, we may be left pining after the summer sun, and so might our skin. Therefore we need to prepare our skin for the changing weather conditions too. You might find that your skin becomes drier and more dull during the autumn and winter months. This is due to cold temperatures slowing down the skins rejuvenation process, more commonly known as ‘Winter Face’.
To help boost radiance in the skin make sure to regularly exfoliate the skin 1-2 times a week to help speed up skin cell renewal. As the skin becomes dryer and more dehydrated opt for richer and more nourishing moisturisers, and incorporate the use of nourishing and hydrating serums and oils into your skin care routine to help further boost skin health.
By properly caring for your skin throughout the year you can give it the best protection possible for whatever changes the seasons bring! Lastly, enjoy the changing of the seasons, for each one brings with it it’s own beauty.
“Autumn is a second spring, where each leave is a flower” – Albert Camus
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