When you return from the beach, this gesture that you think is saving is in reality your skin’s worst enemy. Zoom in on this false good idea that sabotages your summer tan.
After a day at the beach, the program is often the same: cool shower to eliminate salt, and hydration. Yet, in the midst of this routine, a very common reflex sabotages all your efforts. Thinking you are purifying your skin or enhancing your tan, you are actually making a major mistake.
When you come home from the sea, your skin has suffered the assaults of the wind, sea salt, chlorine from the swimming pool and, of course, the sun. Even if you have applied sunscreen rigorously, your skin barrier is temporarily weakened, dried out and in the process of regeneration. Indeed, who has never felt this rough texture on the skin after an iodized day? Faced with this mixture of sand and sun filters, we only dream of one thing: a deep cleansing to find smooth skin and a luminous tan. But watch out for the backlash! Post-beach exfoliation is the best way to damage your skin barrier.
Whether it’s a mechanical grain scrub, a horsehair glove, or even a light chemical peel, following a day at the beach with an exfoliation is the worst false good idea of summer. For what ? Because your skin has just spent several hours defending itself against external aggressions. The sun causes micro-inflammation of the epidermis (even without visible sunburn). By rubbing your skin with grains at this precise moment, you are committing a double assault. First, you destroy the hydrolipidic film, already weakened by salt and UV rays; this protective barrier is literally stripped away by the exfoliation. Result: massive dehydration and skin that peels twice as fast. Then you risk the rebound effect. Faced with this mechanical attack, the skin will defend itself by producing more sebum (hello pimples after returning from vacation) or by thickening, which will make the complexion dull. Finally, contrary to popular belief that exfoliation “brightens” the tan, doing it on overheated skin will accelerate peeling and make your tan fade in patches.
To display a golden complexion and perfectly healthy skin, you have to reverse the trend. After the beach, we forget about mechanical action and go into absolute repair mode. Use a soap-free shower gel or shower oil and apply an after-sun milk rich in aloe vera or calendula.
If you absolutely want to use a scrub to maintain your tan, wait at least 48 hours after your last exposure, and choose an ultra-gentle formula or a grain-free enzymatic formula, preferably in the evening. Your skin will thank you!
