Side effects from too much sin, heat,
humidity, salt water, and chlorine can out a damper on the last golden days of
summer. Here, quick fixes, plus easy changes to make throughout the fall
Skin
The problem: Dryness, Wrinkles
“Salt water, air conditioning, and chlorine
all strip of its protective lipids, allowing its natural moisture to evaporate
faster,” says Annet King of Dermalogica. Wrinkles and fine lines seen deeper on
dehydrated skin so you may notice that you look drier and older.
Wrinkles
and fine lines seen deeper on dehydrated skin so you may notice that you look
drier and older
Quick fix: Face
Mask it: “Unlike moisturizers, which sit on
top of skin, masks are designed to quickly penetrate skin,” says King. They
contain fewer fillers and higher levels of active ingredients, so you get a
good dose of hydration, fast. Look for one with hyaluronic acid, which attracts
moisture. Try: L’Occitance Angelica Instant Hydration Mask ($35, usa.loccitane.com;
3). Use twice weekly for one to two weeks, then any time your skin feels
parched.
Quick fix: Body
Seal it in: “A lotion with dimethicone
keeps moisture in,” says Deirdre Hooper, M.D., a dermatologist in New Orleans.
“It’s not oil-based, so it won’t feel greasy, making it nice for those
still-hot days in early fall.” Use post-shower while skin is damp, to lock in
hydration. We like: Jergens Soothing Aloe Moisutizer ($5, drugstores; 2).
Long-term solution
Amp up moisture: Use a cleanser with ceramides,
which help restore stripped skin and stop moisture loss as temperatures drop,
says Dr. Hooper. Try: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser ($12, drugstores). And switch
to a heavier night cream to keep skin hydrated. Look for one rich in vitamins
and plant-based oils for an additional antioxidant and anti-aging noost. We
like: Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream ($14,
drugstores; 1), with vitamins B and E and olive oil.
L’Occitance
Angelica Instant Hydration Mask
The problem; Spots
It’s not just a lobster-red burn that
indicates sun damage. Even the slightest tan is a sign of overexposure. “Within
seconds of the sun’s UV rays’ hitting your skin, pigment-producing cells go
into overdrive,” says King. That’s why your once porcelain complexion may look
freckled and uneven come September.
Quick fix
Exfoliate daily: You can’t instantly
eradicate hyperpigmentation, but sloughing is a start. It removes the top layer
of discolored skin, lightening spots and allowing active ingredients to penetrate
more easily. Kick-start your routine by exfoliating every day for a week; then
cut back to one or two weekly sessions: “Sun exposure thickens the top layer of
skin, so it can handle it. Just choose an exfoliator labeled for daily use,”
King says. One option: Pond’s Luminous Clean Daily Exfoliating Cleanser ($6,
drugstores; 4). Or, try a weekly at-home peel. “Pick one with alpha-hydroxy
acids, which break down areas of surface pigment and help remove the layer of
discolored skin,” says Dr. Hooper. Try: Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel &
Reveal Dermal Resurfacer ($58, Sephora; 5). Continuc to use daily sun
protection, since any sun exposure will thwart your spot-clearing attempts
Long-term solution
Lighten up: “Sun-induced discoloration is
easier to reverse than the kind caused by hormonal changes,” says King. “But it
develops in the deepest part of the skin, so it takes at least 10 weeks to see
results.’ Use a brightening serum, which is concentrated to deliver a high
level of active ingredients; King suggests one with lighteners like niacinamide
and vitamin C. Apply in the morning (under sunscreen) and evening. One option:
L’Oréal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Serum Corrector ($25, drugstores; 6), which
contains both brighteners. Continue treatment year-round to keep new spots from
forming.
Its
microbeads gently slough skin
