How to restore your post-summer holiday skin

It’s time to take stock of any damage the sun might have caused

If your skin is feeling particularly weathered, investing in a moisturiser will work wonders (Getty)

Whether you were home or away, wore plenty of sunscreen and even made good use of the shade, chances are you picked up some incidental UV exposure this summer. And, with autumn just around the corner, there’s no better time to take stock of any damage to your skin.

Too much sun, chlorine and sun-soaked boozy brunches can lead to long-term consequences on the skin – think hyperpigmentation, fine lines and dryness – so it’s worth doing some damage control to limit the effects.

Alas, it’s time to atone for your skin sins and erase the signs of summer in preparation for the coming season.

Cleanse

Sunday Riley, C.E.O. C+E Micro-Dissolve Cleansing Oil, £35, Cult Beauty

The best place to start on your road to recovery is with a gentle and mild cleansing routine. To help minimise the signs of sun-damaged skin, we suggest investing in one infused with vitamin C, which not only gives you great antioxidant protection but also improves skin firmness.

Suitable for both wet and dry use, we suggest Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. C+E Micro-Dissolve Cleansing Oil, which instantly dissolves makeup, pore clogging debris and micro-pollution particles.

It’s also brimming with antioxidant-rich ingredients like turmeric and vitamin C to help calm, clean and brighten your complexion.

Exfoliate

By Terry, Cellularose Dual Exfoliation Scrub, £49, Net-a-Porter

If your skin is feeling tight and looking dry or flaky it’s probably because the sun’s sucked all the moisture out of it, so opting for a more gentle, controlled formula will help to slough off dead skin while hydrating it too. We promise, there’s gorgeous-looking skin under there somewhere.

Exfoliating also means that any reparative skin treatments used subsequently will be able to reach deep enough below the surface to have a lasting impact.

For vulnerable, post-summer skin we love the By Terry Cellularose Exfoliation Scrub, which gently buffs away dead cells without scratching or causing redness. It also contains active ingredients, like white rose, which helps to resurface the skin by restoring its moisture balance, leaving you with a more radiant finish.

Serum

Oskia, Get Up & Glow, £66, Cult Beauty

Ideal for dehydrated or damaged skin, serums deliver a more potent dose of hydration and anti-ageing benefits because they are lighter and contain a higher concentration of ingredients.

Designed to help speed repair and boost your complexion’s defences against the elements, Oskia’s Get Up & Glow packs a serious punch. By stimulating collagen production and protecting skin from environmental, seasonal and lifestyle damage, it helps to ward off and works hard to reverse the early signs of ageing.

To use, simply pump a small amount into your palm and smooth gently over your entire face and neck. Use along or in conjunction with moisturiser for an extra boost.

​Moisturise

La Roche-Posay, Effaclar H Moisturiser, £12, Look Fantastic

If your skin is feeling particularly weathered and blemish-prone thanks to the warmer climes then investing in a moisturiser that contains niacinamide will work wonders.

An ingredient that might not have received the same amount of hype as say retinol or hyaluronic acid, it’s still a great all-rounder and helps to keep your skin hydrated with the added bonus of soothing acne too.

Our go-to product is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Moisturiser which works to repair skin that feels weak and fragile while noticeably reducing the appearance of spots which can be caused by oily SPFs.