Although summer is over in most countries, here in the Gulf we are still enjoying our beach days. However, the sun can really damage your skin, so you need the proper after-sun skincare to make sure the damage is not long term.
Sunscreen is very important but caring for you skin afterwards is just as important. The top ingredient to use comes from the Aloe Vera plant. All products that contain aloe such as Clinique After Sun Rescue Balm with Aloe, are great for burns or just to rehydrate the skin. Besides Aloe, there are other great products like cucumber or lavender that simply "cool" the skin. Clarins After Sun Gel Ultra Soothing is an oil free gel that is made of watermelon extract and lemon sherbet, which sounds delicious! Many of the after-sun care products also prolong your tan. You know when you get out of the shower and you look even more tanned than you did when you first came home from the beach? That's because what you do after your tanning session is just as important as during. Even by massaging in any moisturizer, you are promoting circulation which helps blood flow and makes your tan come to life.
Going from the beach to a party? After your shower, apply Soleil Toujours Après Soleil Exotic Shimmer Body Oil, which contains pomegranate oil and other nourishing oils for a beautiful glow.
The best thing to do after damaging your face with the sun is to apply Vitamin C. Once while I was on vacation, I got the best advice regarding my visit to the hotel spa. I was told to save my facial until the end of the trip to revive my skin after all the damage. During this spa visit, I was introduced to an amazing product line called NaturaBisse. Their C+C Vitamin Complex is really amazing. It contains antioxidants that instantly give you back that youthful glow which was taken away by the damaging sunrays.
For an added boost, use this product as a mask, applying generously and leaving on for about 5 minutes.
Whether it's the delicate skin around your eyes or on your body, hydration is key. Tans look great, but dull dry skin needs nourishment and added moisture. After your shower and before bed, apply moisturizer to help heal the skin.
We've all heard of using yogurt for sunburn, but other sunburn saviors include soothing oatmeal, honey or a milk bath. Hopefully you won't get burned to the point where you need to resort to any of these home remedies, but it might be a good idea to apply these to your face just to heal your skin.
Moroccanoil After Sun Milk is a nourishing extender. Not only does it contain aloe, but also argan oil, Vitamin E, coconut and passion fruit oils, making this product sound like a vacation in a bottle.
Now you know how to take care of your skin after exposing it to the sun. You should also know that sunscreen is very important and should not be skipped, especially on your face. So before you think of after-sun care, please remember your pre-sun care!
Aline Agopian
