Beach Please! Skincare Essentials for a Day in the Sun

what skincare ingredients to use after a day at the beach

After a fun day basking in the sun and enjoying the beach, your skin craves some serious TLC. The sun’s rays, while invigorating, can be harsh on your skin, leading to dehydration, redness, and potential long-term damage. Incorporating a thoughtful after-sun skincare routine is essential to maintain a healthy, glowing complexion. Not only does it soothe and repair the immediate effects of sun exposure, but it also helps protect against premature aging and other skin concerns.

Post-sun care is crucial in mitigating the damage caused by UV exposure. Even if you’ve diligently applied sunscreen, your skin can still suffer from the effects of the sun’s rays. After-sun care involves hydrating, soothing, and repairing your skin to restore its natural balance and radiance. It’s not just about feeling good; it’s about preserving the health and beauty of your skin for the long term.

Priorities in Your After-Sun Skincare Routine

Focus on Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to rehydrate your skin from the inside out. Opt for water-rich fruits and vegetables like lemon, mint, watermelon, or cucumber for an extra boost.

Soothe and Cool: After sun exposure, gently cleanse your skin with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free cleanser. 

Moisturize Deeply: Sun exposure can dry out your skin. Replenish lost moisture with a rich, fragrance-free moisturizer or hydrating after-sun lotion. 

Exfoliate Gently: A few days after your beach trip, gently exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and promote healthy cell turnover. Opt for a gentle exfoliant over a scrub to avoid further irritation.

Target Concerns: If you're experiencing sunburn, patchy redness, or breakouts, use after-sun products formulated to address those specific concerns. 

Treehugger has tips to care for your hair and skin after a day in the sun. "Wash your face well after a day at the beach. Once sunscreen has served its purpose, it’s important to get it off your face quickly so it doesn’t clog your pores, along with residual sweat, saltwater, and sand that’s probably stuck there, too." Read more from Treehugger

Five Do's of After-Sun Skincare

1. Hydrate from the inside out by drinking plenty of water.

2. Use cool compresses or take a cool shower to reduce inflammation and soothe the skin. Gently cleanse your face to remove any remaining sunscreen, salt, and impurities. 

3. Apply a soothing, antioxidant-rich serum or mask to calm and nourish your skin. Opt for products containing aloe vera, chamomile, or lavender to calm irritated skin.

4. Moisturize with a lightweight, water-based formula to replenish lost hydration. 

5. Don't forget to care for your lips with a nourishing balm or mask. Your lips are susceptible to sunburn too!  Apply a lip balm with SPF throughout the day and use a hydrating lip mask at night.

woman wearing on ice under eye patches firming and smoothing eye gels

Five Don'ts of After-Sun Skincare

1. Don’t skip moisturizer: dehydration can lead to premature aging and dullness.

2. Don’t over-exfoliate: skip harsh scrubs or exfoliants, as your skin may be sensitive after sun exposure.

3. Don’t Use Harsh Products: Stay away from products with alcohol, retinoids, or strong acids immediately after sun exposure. Don't wear heavy, occlusive products that can clog pores and trap heat. 

4. Go Too Hot: Avoid hot showers or baths after sun exposure, as hot water can further strip your skin of its natural oils. Opt for lukewarm water instead.

5. Don’t Neglect Your Eyes: The delicate skin around your eyes is prone to sun damage. Use a cool compress to reduce puffiness and a hydrating eye gel to replenish moisture. Cool Summer has the perfect after-sun Serve Chilled trio of Rosé, Bubbly, and On Ice. These cooling eye patches that will depuff and hydrate under eyes.

Patchology to the Rescue: Soothing After-Sun Solutions

We offer a range of products that are perfect for your post-beach skincare routine. Here's what you need to use to keep your skin healthy and glowing all summer long.

Our Press Reset mask, infused with Aloe Vera, Shisandra Berry, Sage, Lavender, and Vitamin B5, provides a calming, rejuvenating sensation while restoring vibrancy and promoting a balanced glow. This Moodmask is made for after-sun use with a natural boost of aloe vera. 

After a fun day soaking up the sun's rays at the beach, it's crucial to replenish and protect your skin's barrier. That's where Playing Defense mask comes in! This potent mask is fortified with a powerhouse blend of antioxidants that work in synergy to counteract damage from environmental stressors like UV exposure and pollution. Vitamin C gets to work brightening and evening out your sun-kissed complexion, while ferulic acid enhances its stability. Vitamin E nourishes and safeguards your skin, helping to neutralize free radicals that can lead to premature aging. Treat your skin to some serious TLC after your beach adventures by masking with Playing Defense - it's like giving your barrier a reinforced shield of defense!

Rosé Sleep Mask: Keep your lips soft and supple with our hydrating lip gels or overnight Rosé Sleep Mask. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid, these treatments lock in moisture and leave lips feeling soft and smooth. This overnight lip mask boosts your lips’ natural glow with an antioxidant-rich combination of Resveratrol (sourced from grapes!) and an ultra-hydrating dose of Hyaluronic Acid, ensuring your lips stay soft and supple.

Hydrate Lip Gels: Care for your lips while restoring their natural glow with a soothing blend of vitamins and antioxidants. These eye gels provide essential hydration, locking in moisture to leave lips feeling soft and supple with peptides, green tea extract, and niacinamide.

By following these after-sun skincare tips and incorporating Patchology products into your routine, you can ensure your skin stays healthy, hydrated, and glowing all summer long.

woman wearing a sheet mask illuminating patchology five minute mask

What Patchology Products Are Best to Use After Sun?

When it comes to after-sun skincare, Patchology offers a range of products that are formulated with nourishing and soothing ingredients to help restore and revitalize your skin after a day in the sun. 

Here are some of the key ingredients found in our products that make them ideal for post-beach pampering:

1. Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is a renowned soothing ingredient that can help calm and cool down sunburned or irritated skin. It's found in our Press Reset mask, providing a refreshing and rejuvenating sensation.

2. Shisandra Berry: Rich in antioxidants, Shisandra Berry helps to restore vibrancy and promote a radiant complexion. It's included in the Press Reset mask to counteract the damaging effects of sun exposure.

3. Botanical Extracts: Our masks feature a blend of botanical extracts like Sage and Lavender, which work in harmony to soothe the senses and promote a balanced, tranquil glow after a day in the sun.

4. Vitamin B5: Also known as Panthenol, Vitamin B5 is a hydrating, soothing, and protective ingredient found in the Press Reset mask, helping to replenish moisture lost from sun exposure.

5. Antioxidants: Several Patchology products, including the Mood-Mask Me-Time kit, contain antioxidant-rich ingredients like Pear Fruit Extract and Seaberry Extracts. These help to neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from further damage caused by sun exposure.

6. Hydrating Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, a powerful humectant found in masks like Get Dewy With It, helps to deeply hydrate and replenish moisture levels in the skin after a dehydrating day at the beach.

7. Niacinamide: This multi-tasking ingredient found in the Hydrate Lip Gels and the Just Let It Glow mask helps to even out skin tone, improve texture, and boost radiance, all of which can be beneficial after sun exposure.

8. Resveratrol: Derived from grapes, Resveratrol is an antioxidant powerhouse present in the Rosé sheet mask, eye gels, and even the Rosé Sleep Mask, helping to protect and rejuvenate sun-exposed skin.

By incorporating these soothing, hydrating, and antioxidant-rich ingredients into your after-sun skincare routine, you can help calm inflammation, replenish moisture, and restore your skin's natural radiance after a day at the beach.

Your Afterglow Skincare Routine

After a day of sun, salt, and sand, your skin deserves some pampering. Patchology's beach-ready essentials are here to soothe, replenish, and revitalize, ensuring that your post-beach glow lasts long after the waves have subsided. Embrace a targeted after-sun care routine to protect and restore your skin's natural radiance.

To protect and restore your skin after sun exposure, it’s crucial to adopt a comprehensive after-sun skincare routine. Hydrating, soothing, and nourishing your skin with the right ingredients can make all the difference. Patchology’s range of products, from the Press Reset mask to the Mood-Mask Me-Time kit, offers targeted solutions to address the various needs of post-sun skin. Whether it’s cooling down with aloe vera, exfoliating gently with fruit extracts, or deeply moisturizing with hyaluronic acid, these products are designed to revive and rejuvenate your skin.

In just a few minutes, you can give your skin the care it deserves after a sunny day. Incorporating these products into your routine will help maintain your skin’s health and glow, ensuring you look and feel your best all summer long. Embrace the sun safely and confidently with Patchology’s after-sun skincare essentials.

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