How to look after your skin on holiday
It’s the summer hols, and no doubt you have holidays booked, suitcases are being packed and you’re debating whether your swimwear is still good for another year. Often the last thing on your mind is skincare - slap on the Factor 30 and all will be fine, yes? As a skincare obsessive (why do you think I launched my own range?) I have to say no, that’s not fine.
Thinking about how you will adapt your skincare for your holiday shouldn't be a last minute task, if you even think about it at all. Just sticking to your normal routine isn’t going to cut it, either, as you’re not putting your skin through its normal routine. There will be swimming, sun bathing, sweating, air conditioning, fabulous food and probably an extra cocktail or two, and your skin will definitely feel, and show, the effects.
So how do you care for your skin on holiday? Plan ahead.
First, while I have already said that just sticking to your routine isn’t enough, it’s also the place you should start, as alongside all the other changes your skin will experience, you don’t want to throw a whole new set of products at it. So here are my top tips for managing your skin during and your holiday so the impact of change is lessened.
Your holiday skincare routines made easy
Morning skincare
You need to start the day with a hydration boost, but to make that happen you need to present clean and fresh skin to your skincare. Use a face wash with a light AHA, a citric acid or a lactic acid-based cleanser will be effective, or if you aren’t already using an AHA-based cleanser, SkinGoal’s Prep Cleanse is a great alternative. You need to cleanse away the hydrating cream you used at bedtime, revealing clean skin for the next step in your routine to really work - hyaluronic serum.
Hyaluronic serums are the kick-ass products you need for sunny climes (or one of them, at least!) When it’s hot, we sweat, and no matter how much extra water we drink, our body makes great use of it in cooling us down. At the same time, the sun is doing its best to dry us out - so skin really needs an extra boost of nature’s moisture molecule to help it perform its natural functions. Check your usual serum - is it heavy on the hyaluronic? If not, don’t worry, it’s one product you can add your skin will definitely love and won’t upset it. Maybe try our Power HA serum - you can insert it into your routine, or replace your current serum (do use that up first, we hate waste!).
Next - Vitamin C. Now, if you're not already using a Vitamin C serum, you do need to start yourself off a couple of weeks before you head on your holidays, as it’s quite a powerful active and can cause skin to tingle as it gets used to it. Why should you wear a Vitamin C serum? Loads of reasons, all backed by science; it’s a hardworking skin protector I believe we should all wear every day - learn more on our recent Vitamin C post!
Now onto your daily moisturiser. Don’t switch this one for an alternative before your holiday - if you have a fave, stick with it. Massage it into the skin with firm strokes, drawing it up under the jawline towards your ears to help with a bit of lymph drainage, in smooth strokes across the tops of your cheekbones and just use your thumbs to run under the cheekbones - any excuse for a little bit of sculpting!
Finally - SPF. All day, all the way, SPF50. Apply it at least 15 minutes before going into the sun. None of this “I’ll pop it on once I’m out, so I get a bit of a tan on my face” Your face will tan even with a Factor 50, but it will be a lot safer. If you don’t already have one, Solar 50 from SkinGoal offers broad spectrum protection plus a hit of extra hydration.
Back from the beach skincare
Sun cream coated, salty and sandy, or chlorine doused, you’ll definitely be leaping in the shower! As far as your skin goes, its time to be super gentle. Use your facewash to take off the SPF, then apply your hyaluronic, a top up of Vitamin C (you need to feed your skin so the antioxidants can do their thing) and then your preferred moisturiser.
Nighttime skincare
It’s time to reveal your skin again, so cleanse away the makeup (we recommend the double cleanse at night), apply your hyaluronic serum and smooth on a seriously super night cream. If you already use a retinol, our own Cream Repair is a great option, as Vitamin A is a brilliant combatant of sun damage. If you don’t, don’t start now. Stick with your existing choice of night cream and treat yourself to another facial massage.
Tight skin?
If during your holiday you feel your skin getting a bit tight, I’d suggest an exfoliation. The very best of exfoliation products are those with AHAs, such as our Prep Wash and Prep Power. To get your skin used to the AHAs, if you don’t use already use one, start a couple of weeks before you go. Prep Wash is our entry-level product, and is super gentle even on acne-prone and sensitive skin. It will gently lift away build up of dead skin cells and oily residues from SPFs, revealing fresh skin for you to rehydrate with your hyaluronic serum.
This uncomplicated, but effective, routine, will help bring your skin through your sunny summer holiday, leaving you with a glow and fresh, hydrated skin. If you know your skin struggles with change - and two weeks in the Med is quite a change - do give me a call, we can have a chat and plan your skincare, and any pre- and post-holiday treatments that will help settle your skin.
Call 0161 4101199, or email hello@skingoal.shop
