Why 98% of women surveyed said “SUN RECOVERY” is as important or more important than SUN PROTECTION
The SUMMER Skin Conundrum : The sun, the risks, and the products.
SUMMER beckons with sunshine, vacations, and carefree vibes. Yet, for women everywhere, this season often presents a paradoxical skincare battlefield. Summer is a time when our bodies are exposed to intense sun, heat, humidity, on a rotation schedule with climate controlled buildings, homes, and cars that reduce the moisture in the skin significantly. Being outdoor is healthy and sun exposure is essential for good health, both emotionally and physically, but having a good plan to tackle modern life is smart. Just the sheer energy needed to reassess and reapply our skincare products on a schedule recommended by experts daily, is exhausting.
When we head outdoors for sports, vacations, or outings, the very elements we need and want, become formidable adversaries against our skincare goals of having an even complexion, high collagen levels, and the youthful resilience and recovery we all once enjoyed. Time takes its toll, but there are powerful tools available to assist us with nudging back the aging clock. Let’s dive in and talk more about this.
1. The Sun: The Ultimate Double-Edged Sword:
- We need the sun to be healthy but there are hazards as well for the skin. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39744344. This study is suggesting you focus on sun protection for the face for cosmetic purposes but allow for sun exposure elsewhere on the body. You be the judge.
- Aging (Photoaging): UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, breaking down collagen and elastin – the scaffolding that keeps skin firm and smooth. UVB rays damage the surface. This leads to fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and a leathery texture appearing faster and more pronounced than during other seasons.
- Sunburn & Inflammation: You do not want to be sunburned. Ever. Even with precautions, accidental burns happen, causing immediate damage, pain, peeling, and long-term consequences like increased pigmentation and collagen breakdown. Recovery from sun burn is not guaranteed and depending on the severity of the burn, can cause damage to the cellular and DNA structures in the skin for life, sometime causing a higher risk for skin cancers. It’s a delcate balance between needing sun exposure and not allowing ourselves to be burned.
2. Sweat & Humidity: The Clogging :
- Diluted Protection:Sweat can dilute and physically wash away sunscreen and skincare products, reducing their effectiveness and requiring more frequent reapplication. Truth.
- Pore Congestion: Sweat mixes with sebum (oil), sunscreen residue, environmental pollutants, and dead skin cells. This sticky cocktail is a breeding ground for clogged pores, leading to blackheads, whiteheads, and breakouts – even for those not usually acne-prone. Humidity further exacerbates this by making skin feel heavier and products potentially less comfortable. Shower. Rest. Hydrate. Reapply.
- Irritation & Milia: Constant moisture and friction (from hats, hair, clothing) can cause chafing, heat rash, and contribute to the formation of milia (tiny, hard white bumps) under the eyes or on cheeks. Choose light, breathable clothing for daytime wear. Avoid using cotton pads on your face. Cotton pads are made from cotton – which although soft, will scratch your delicate epidermal cells and leave behind damage.
3. Lifestyle and Risk Factors :
- Vacation Disruption: Travel often means changes in water (hard/soft), climate, diet, sleep, and routine consistency. Packing light might lead to skipping steps.
- Air Conditioning: While a relief from heat, AC is incredibly dehydrating, sucking moisture from the skin and potentially causing dryness or exacerbating oiliness as skin tries to compensate.
- Increased Outdoor Activities: More time outdoors inevitably means more cumulative sun exposure and environmental assault (saltwater, chlorine, pollution).
4. SUMMER skincare products! Exfoliants, Cleansers, Serums, and Creams.
In the SUMMER gentle exfoliation is very important since the stratum corneum is already compromised by environmental factors. Gentle, effective scientific exfoliant best year round are protein peels.
Exfoliation is crucial year-round to remove dead skin cells, promote cell turnover, enhance collagen production, improve texture, and enhance product absorption. However, SUMMER demands a paradigm shift to a more gentle frame of mind. As a reminder, most exfoliants are not based on science or technology – more trial and error. Using a loofah or acid peel, both of which will indeed remove the dead cells, are uncomfortable and simply not elegant or sophisticated enough to leave the healthy, live tissue in peace. Those products grind or burn through the tissue indiscriminately and usually end up causing redness and irritation. Choosing an exfoliant wisely, based on your skin and the environment it lives in, is important.
Exfoliants:
- Traditional Acid Risks: AHAs (like glycolic, lactic) and BHAs (salicylic acid), while effective, increase photosensitivity. Using them during peak sun season, even with sunscreen, heightens the risk of sun damage and hyperpigmentation. They can also be too harsh on skin sensitized by sun exposure or sweat. Protein peels are the natural, sensible alternative.
- Physical Scrub Dangers: Granular scrubs can cause micro-tears in the skin, especially when it’s potentially sensitized by sun or heat. These micro-tears become entry points for bacteria and inflammation, worsening breakouts and irritation.
Protein Peel: A SUMMER Exfoliation Ally
This is where innovative solutions like protein peels become particularly relevant for navigating SUMMER. Engineered to exfoliate without acids or physical disrupters like beads or salts, they offer a gentler, safer, less irritating alternative:
The Science : Protein peels are typically engineered to scavenge protein from the surface of the skin, dead epithelial protein. Specially engineered ingredients work by first *dissolving* the keratin “glue” that holds dead skin cells together, allowing them to slough off naturally and gently and then binding to them chemically to form new “bits” which fall away.
SUMMER Advantages:
- No Increased Photosensitivity : Unlike AHAs/BHAs, enzymatic exfoliation doesn’t make skin more vulnerable to UV damage.
- Gentle on Sensitized Skin : Perfect for skin stressed by sun, heat, sweat, or even recent procedures (done well before SUMMER!).
- Non-Abrasive : Eliminates the risk of micro-tears caused by scrubs.
- Addresses SUMMER Concerns : Effectively removes dead cells contributing to dullness and congestion without stripping or irritating, promoting a smoother, brighter, more even-toned appearance.
- Complements Other Products : By clearing the surface, protein peels enhance the penetration and efficacy of serums (like Environmental Rescue Daily Serum, which is loaded with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid for hydration) and moisturizers.
Here’s the bottom line: summer stresses the skin and it is best to pay attention to the seasons as they come and go and to make small adjustments in skincare, if being gorgeous year round is the goal. The same basics apply all year – cleanse, exfoliate, protect, hydrate, nourish. Deep summer and winter are both more challenging but remembering that the skin is actually the largest, most active organ in the body, helps guide us as we make important decisions about it every day. The skin care fascinating – it communicates and sends signals to other systems to alert the body to dangers and hazards. Sun, wind, cold, heat – are all hazards to the skin. Sunlight is vital and essential for life, but we must strike a balance. Protect the face. Protect your most valuable asset for cosmetic reasons, but sunlight is so helpful to the rest of the body, just drink it in.