How to take care of your skin after a day in the sun
After a long day in the sun on holiday, grab a bottle of After Sun when you get back to your hotel room. But when we’re at home and living our busy lives, things are different. Surprisingly, the sun is still shining and can get quite warm, so it’s still recommended to use sunscreen every day to protect yourself from the sun.
After a long day in the sun, we still need to take care of our skin, even if you use sunscreen all day. Here are some quick tips on how to take extra care of your skin after a busy day.
Cool Shower
Showering is the best way to remove things like sunscreen, daily aggressors, and bacteria from your skin. Although it may be tempting to spray your skin with cold water, if you realize you’ve been in the sun and have a minor sunburn, the extra cold water can be very painful! Sunburned skin needs to be cooled, but not frozen. So try a cold shower or a quick bath. Without the extreme drop in temperature, you’ll find that your skin is able to recover and heal faster.
Moisturize
No, you may not be on holiday, but you can still use an after sun cream to take care of your skin after spending some time in the sun. If you don’t want to use an after-sun cream, a light liquid moisturizer will do the same job. Be sure to choose a lightweight formula that will hydrate without restricting the remaining warmth of your skin with a thick cream moisturizer. Not only does this feel uncomfortable, but the skin doesn’t get a chance to breathe, which can lead to overheating and damage.
Peeling
Before we get into this tip, we just want to make it clear that if your skin is actually burned, you should avoid exfoliating. Since your skin is already damaged and sensitive from overexposure to UV rays, it’s best not to exfoliate because the damage to your skin cells will penetrate deeper into the skin, leading to long-term damage and premature aging of the skin.
However, if you have managed to stay in the sun without getting sunburned, it’s best to use a gentle exfoliant like our Activated Charcoal Face Scrub to remove any sunscreen residue or buildup of everyday invaders and bacteria from your skin. Clogging your skin pores can lead to blackheads, blemishes, and spots! Not only that, but you’ll also be able to show off your sun-kissed glow faster!
Drink Water
No matter how long we spend outside during the day, it always has a drying effect on the skin. It’s therefore important to drink enough water during and after your sun exposure to replace the fluids lost after a day of fun in the sun.
If you don’t drink enough, the skin on your body and face will feel tight, uncomfortable, look wrinkled, and contribute to an overall aged look.
Hydrate
This last tip goes hand in hand with the previously mentioned advice on keeping your water intake up. Our Marine Hydrating Mask is packed with deep-acting marine ingredients that deliver powerful antioxidants to help fight signs of aging, which are often accelerated by exposure to UVA and UVB rays. Using a mask is the quickest way to absorb the powerful ingredients that balance and restore your skin’s water balance and nourish it while smoothing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
So here are some quick, safe tips to help you care for your skin after a day in the sun. Whether you’re on a boat or at home, this simple advice will give you peace of mind that your skin will be protected and looking its best.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
