Five Tips for Summer Skincare After Tanning

Whether you’re in the middle of your holiday and tanning daily by the pool, or you’re already back home in front of your laptop and trying to figure out how to make your sun-kissed look last as long as possible, it’s time to give your skin a little extra TLC. The vitamin D kick of summer is a joy, but all that extra sunshine is hard on your epidermis. Without further ado, here are a few key tips to take great care of tanned summer skin.

1. Keep using SPF
We’re sure you were vigilant about applying SPF 30 or higher every two hours while you were away on your break. Now that you’re home, are you trying to preserve your tan by forgoing sun protection? Don’t! It’s not worth the damage. Summer just isn’t the time to go without SPF, even if you aren’t outside all that much. At the very least, look for a moisturizer with a minimum of SPF 30 and apply it every morning as part of your regular skincare routine.

2. Balance your skincare routine
On the one hand, you may have jettisoned a lot of your emollient-rich, hyper-moisturizing wintertime skincare in favor of lighter, non-comedogenic products. On the other hand, tanning can really exacerbate dry skin. And keeping your skin moisturized will both help preserve your glowy vacation look and stave off post-sun peeling. To treat your face, go for a summer-appropriate lightweight moisturizer with hydrating hyaluronic acid. And for your body, start in the shower — keep the water cool (hot water is drying) and use a rich, creamy body wash.

3. Treat your skin to a vitamin cocktail
Getting tanned is fun but the surge in hyperpigmentation that can accompany it is not. Hopefully, using a high SPF throughout your holiday kept those dark marks to a minimum, but if that’s not the case, a serum containing both Vitamin C and E can help fade any inadvertent damage a little faster. And if you’re still in the process of packing for vacation, throw in your favorite Vitamin C serum and a box of Naked Cotton STRIPPED, so you can make DIY, end-of-day post-sun recovery sheet masks throughout your trip. Our personal favorite time to do one of these is after we’re back from a day at the beach but before heading out for an early evening apéritif.

4. Stick to your regular exfoliation schedule
We know, nobody wants to risk sloughing off the last vestige of summer holidays. But the melanin giving you your glow isn’t part of the top layer you’re taking off, anyway, plus getting rid of those dead skin cells will actually help accentuate your lovely tan. And a bonus — regular body exfoliation can prevent ingrown hairs from all that extra shaving and waxing we do come summer.

5. Keep your skin hydrated from the inside out
Even if you did a great job tanning without a hint of burn over your break, summer sun is intense for your skin and dehydrating to your overall system. Besides using a product with the aforementioned hydrating hyaluronic acid, it’s crucial keep your water intake up. Go for at least two liters a day to support your skin and keep it supple. And with that, you should be able to prolong your glow while giving your face and body all the extra after-sun support they need.