Dry skin summer
Summer is wonderful! You feel rested and recharged and yet your skin shows something different. This can happen both during and after the summer. Your skin can feel dull, patchy or dry and you can have some subcutaneous pimples. This while you really took good care of it. How can this happen? Here you can read the four causes of less beautiful skin in or after the summer.
1. Pimples from sunburn
Using sunscreen can cause acne on your face and you will notice that you have more spots in the summer. Both natural and chemical filters can cause a skin reaction.
a. Physical/mineral/natural filters create a UV-resistant layer on your skin, which causes your skin to react differently than normal. Because sunscreen with a natural filter does not penetrate your skin, but remains on your skin, it is extra important to cleanse your skin thoroughly at the end of the day, for example with our mild Carrot Cleanser .
b. Chemical filters block UV from reaching the skin, which can cause skin reactions and inflammation.
2. Food and drink
On holiday you often eat and drink differently than the rest of the year. Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on your body which can cause you to have drier skin in the summer. And who knows, you may have eaten a bit more fat than usual. This causes a disruption of your skin.
3. Pimples from the sun
Sun on your skin. Even though the sun feels so nice and you protect your skin as best you can, it still suffers from the sun. UVA works deep into the skin, which can cause more wrinkles and UVB can cause an inflammatory reaction in the skin. You don't see this immediately, but often only in the long term.
4. Less vital skin layer
The sun makes your upper skin layer thicker. As a protection mechanism against the sun, your skin will release fewer skin cells (dead skin cells). So you have more 'old' cells in your upper skin layer that are less vital.
After the summer you will also notice that the change in the weather (autumn!) makes your skin look less beautiful. The heating is turned on again, the weather is suddenly cooler and you are outside less. This is a normal reaction of the skin to the external circumstances.
OK, so now you may have found some causes of an irritated skin, but more importantly: what can you do about it?
Beauty tips and skin care during and after the summer
Our tips to restore your skin flora (microbiome) can be found here. You can do this both during and after the summer.
1) Visit the beautician
Visit your beautician for a professional skin cleansing. Look here which specialists work with Food for Skin products. Do not start using strong stripping and exfoliating products yourself. This will remove the protective layer of your skin flora, which will saddle your skin with more problems. The skin will get the signal that it has to defend itself against these products and will only become more restless (for more information, see our blog about the skin barrier ).
2) Cleanse gently
Use a mild cleanser that does not make your skin react even more violently. Our Carrot Cleanser cleanses the skin, but does not further unbalance it and helps restore the skin flora. Make sure your cleanser is pH neutral, so that the cleanser does not further unbalance your skin barrier.
3) Wipe with a light textured cloth
Remove your oil cleanser with a light textured cloth, like our washcloth , or any other light textured washcloth. Rinse your cleanser with lukewarm water (not too hot!) and swirl the cloth around your skin with light movements. No scrubbing! This will remove dead skin cells without removing the living protective layer on your skin.
4) Use a mild exfoliator twice a week
If you suffer from dull skin or a build-up of dead skin cells, you can use a gentle exfoliator twice a week. By removing dead skin cells, the living layer on your face literally gets more oxygen and is better able to absorb your nourishing skincare. Use the exfoliator in the evening and make sure to apply a good SPF the day(s) after to protect the exfoliated skin.
5) Nourish your skin with a serum
Give your skin an extra boost with a serum. At Food for Skin we have three, depending on your age or skin condition. See here which one suits you.
6) Apply a protective cream
Apply a layer of protection on top. The Tomato Base Cream is a super protector against weather influences (rain, wind, temperature fluctuations) and keeps the nutrients and moisture better in the skin instead of evaporating due to, for example, the use of the heating.
7) Drink plenty of fluids
And by that we mean water or herbal tea! In the summer, many people consume a bit more alcohol, which dehydrates your body and therefore also your skin. Therefore, drink more water or herbal tea during this period, to make your skin stronger from the inside. You really need moisture from the inside to hydrate. A cream only ensures that what you already have inside you is better retained and does not evaporate. With just a strong day and night cream you will not get there.
8) Pay attention to humidity
Help your skin by paying attention to whether the humidity in the office or at home (and certainly in your bedroom) is good. You can do this by placing a hygrometer and placing bowls of water in your home if the air is too dry. Preferably do this near your heat sources, so that the moisture will spread well.
9) Fresh air
Your skin needs to be able to breathe. Your skin is a living organ and does not want to be covered with thick layers of foundation or Vaseline. Ideally, you use nothing on top of your cream for a few weeks and let the skin do its own work by recovering. But also ensure sufficient ventilation in your home by opening a window, for example.
Do you have any questions after reading this blog?
- Then read here more about how the skin barrier works
- Contact beautician Cathy (co-founder Food for Skin) for your questions at specialist@foodforskin.care
