Beach holidays are for low-stress, relaxing on the beach, cold drinks and good books. But whilst we relax, our skin and hair work overtime. Sun exposure, heat, salt, chlorine, sweat and late nights can quickly lead to dryness, breakouts, redness and premature ageing if we are not prepared.
Your beach skincare routine doesn't have to be complicated. With a few smart product choices and some new habits you can protect your skin and keep it looking healthy.
The Three Rules: Protect, Cleanse, Hydrate
Ideally you want to be protecting your skin and hair from the sun and chlorine as much as possible. Thorough but gentle cleansing of your face and body morning and night, and then rehydrating your skin to repair. Being consistent will be key to looking and feeling your best.
Protect
Check out our Men's SPF Explained article for more information on sunscreens. You also can't go wrong with physical protection from rash shirts, wetsuits, shirts, hats and sunglasses. This may seem obvious, but don't forget about your lips (invest in an SPF lip balm, or use a zinc), your ears, and the tops of your feet, which see the sun the most.
When you go swimming, apply sunscreen to the top of your head. It's amazing how many people get burnt heads. Part lines are completely exposed to the sun, and you are most likely not wearing your hat in the pool or ocean.
If you can't find a moisturising sunscreen with high protection, you can always apply your normal moisturiser and then apply your sunscreen.
Our recommendations:
-
This is a great matte moisturiser for daily use. Apply your 50+ over the top.
-
For scalp and hair protection: Sun Bum Scalp & Hair
-
You can also do hair masks that protect your hair from UV, such as the Kerastase Mask
Cleanse
Removing the sunscreens and other product buildup is key to keeping breakouts at bay. You either need to double-cleanse face and body, or try an oil-based cleanser that can break through the sunscreen. You can also use an exfoliating face tool (like this one) or an old school washer to remove stubborn product buildup.
Our recommendations:
Hydrate
Hydrate both internally with lots of water and externally on the body and face with hydrating creams. Look for creams with aloe vera, antioxidants, ceramides and vitamin E.
Our recommendations:
