It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the last few weeks of summer, but here we are. After spending the last few months enjoying the sun, we have a nice tan to show for it…and, um, a sprinkling of sun damage.
Fret not, we’ve enlisted the help of our friends at Glowbar, a custom facial destination in the New York Tri-State area, for their best post-summer skincare tips ahead. (Psst, if you live near one of their locations, be sure to check out our top product picks while you’re there.)
Glori Herrera is the lead esthetician and training specialist at Glowbar, a destination for approachable facial treatments with locations throughout the New York Tri-State Area. Glori graduated from Christine Valmy in 2018 and has been in the beauty and skincare industry for 15 years. In addition to performing over 2,500 Glowbar treatments, Glori currently trains newly hired estheticians and oversees ongoing training and education company wide.
“The most common skin issues I see in clients towards the end of the summer are dry skin, sun damage and congestion in the pores,” says Herrera. “Sun damage or hyperpigmentation typically shows up on the high points of the face, such as the forehead and cheekbones, and looks like spots or patches that are darker than your skin tone.”
She adds, “Many people think that applying sunscreen once is enough to protect your skin from the sun, however, reapplying it consistently (ideally every couple of hours) is the key to taking care of your skin during the summer months.”
After getting too much sun, Herrera recommends taking a brief break from applying any active ingredients like alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHAs/BHAs) and retinol to the skin. “Overexposure to the sun can cause sensitivity, so active ingredients should be avoided until the skin has healed. Active ingredients can also interrupt the healing process, which can lead to further irritation,” she explains.
Add products that contain vitamin C, E and hyaluronic acid to your skincare routine, if you haven’t already. “Vitamin C can help reduce redness, as well as protect the skin from further damage, while vitamin E can help add moisture and soothe dry skin. Lastly, hyaluronic acid is like a drink of water for dry and dehydrated skin,” says Herrera.
The key to treating and preventing further sun damage is to apply sunscreen every day and reapply it every two hours during the day. Again, Herrera reiterates the importance of adding vitamin C here, since it’s “a great antioxidant that can help brighten the skin, while offering extra protection when layered under your sunscreen.”
She’s also a proponent of using products with aloe for “soothing and reducing inflammation” and green tea, which is another “powerhouse antioxidant to add more moisture and help repair the skin.”
How should we prepare our skin for the transition between summer and fall?
Slowly start swapping out gel and foaming cleansers for creamier, milky ones. (Ed note: Ditto for your moisturizer. Switch from lighter weight gels and gel creams to more emollient lotions and creams, depending on how dry your skin is.) “The goal is to add more hydration to your routine to rebuild your skin barrier, and prepare it for the colder months ahead,” says Herrera.
The end of summer is a good time to consider getting a professional facial done. During your facial, “your esthetician can provide a customized treatment that usually involves a gentle exfoliation, extractions and even LED therapy,” explains Herrera. In combination, these steps can help “slough away dead skin buildup, which helps your products absorb better, clear pores of dirt and oil, and the red LED light can help soothe any inflammation, all of which resets your skin ahead of the new season.”
As for other in-office treatments like lasers and chemical peels, these treatments are best done after the transitional months have passed and when we’re solidly in the fall or winter season. According to Herrera, the reasons to wait are two-fold: 1) You want to give your skin time to heal from any existing sun damage first 2) You want to get these types of treatments done when you don’t have any plans to be in the sun and can limit the amount of UV exposure you’re getting on the whole, as your skin will be more sensitive after a laser or peel.
