When it comes to protecting our skin from the sun’s harmful rays, sunscreen is the first line of defense that often comes to mind. However, relying solely on sunscreen is not enough to ensure our skin remains healthy and youthful-looking in the long run.
While sunscreen is essential for protecting against immediate sunburn and long-term skin damage, a comprehensive skincare routine is crucial for overall skin health, especially during the summer months.
Join us as we explore why sunscreen alone is not quite enough and how additional products can be incorporated into your routine to repair and protect your skin before and after sun exposure.
The importance of summer skin health
Everyone loves a good tan, but there is a certain level of risk that can come along with a sun-kissed complexion, making it important to prioritize our skin health when we spend extra time outside in the summer. This is because a healthy skin barrier acts as protection against environmental damage, including UV radiation, pollution, and harsh weather conditions. When our skin is healthy, it is better equipped to protect itself and regenerate effectively. Sun exposure, even with sunscreen, can still lead to damage such as dehydration, premature aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer.
This makes it essential to adopt a holistic approach to skincare that includes not only sunscreen but also products that nourish, repair, and protect the skin from multiple angles. This can help ensure long-term skin health and luminosity, helping you maintain a radiant complexion all year long.
Pre-sun exposure: Preparing and protecting your skin
Properly prepping your skin before sun exposure is an essential step that is often overlooked. Other than prioritizing sunscreen use, products with antioxidants, such as pine bark extract and vitamin C, can help protect skin from free radicals while ingredients like hyaluronic acid help improve skin hydration.
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Brighten Antioxidant CE Plus Serum: Beach Day Booster
- One product that stands out in this regard is the Brighten Antioxidant CE Plus Serum. This brightening serum is packed with powerful antioxidants, such as Vitamins C and E, which help neutralize free radicals and protect your skin from oxidative stress caused by sun exposure. Plus – its smoothing, soothing, and brightening ingredients can help your skin glow before hitting the beach.
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- Key ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, pine bark extract, hyaluronic acid as well as brightening botanicals green tea, algae, ginkgo leaf, and tomato fruit extract.
- Benefits: Enhances the skin’s natural defense against UV damage and hyperpigmentation, promotes collagen production, and improves skin tone.
- Application tips: Apply in the morning after cleansing and before sunscreen for optimal protection.
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Up the Anti® Broad Spectrum SPF 30: Pre-Sun Essential
- A standout product in the realm of sunscreens is the Up the Anti® Broad Spectrum SPF 30 from the Prescribed Solutions Collection. This sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection, shielding your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Its lightweight formula makes it perfect for daily use, providing a non-greasy finish that doesn’t clog pores. It can also help firm, tighten, and improve your overall skin tone.
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- Key ingredients: Micronized titanium, zinc dioxide, and panthenol.
- Benefits: Helps prevent sunburn, helps reduce risk of skin cancer, and helps prevent premature aging caused by sun exposure.
- Application tips: Apply generously 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every two hours, or more frequently if swimming or sweating.
Post-sun exposure: Repairing and soothing your skin
Even with diligent sunscreen use, your skin can still experience the negative effects of sun exposure, such as inflammation, dehydration, and oxidative damage. This makes it crucial to include products in your routine that soothe and repair your skin after a day outside.
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Brighten C+AHA Renewal Serum: After Sun Soother
- The Brighten C+AHA Renewal Serum is an excellent choice for post-sun skin care. This serum combines the brightening power of vitamin C with the exfoliating benefits of AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids), helping to repair sun-damaged skin and promote a more even skin tone that can enhance your glow before an evening out.
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- Key ingredients: Vitamin C, glycolic acid, lactic acid, pine bark extract, aloe, hyaluronic acid as well as brightening botanicals green tea, algae, ginkgo leaf, and tomato fruit extract.
- Benefits: Helps reduce the appearance of sun spots and hyperpigmentation, promotes skin renewal, and improves skin texture.
- Application tips: Apply after cleansing to allow the active ingredients to soothe your skin after sun.
Nighttime sun care: Overnight skin repair
A comprehensive post-sun skincare routine is incomplete without addressing the importance of nighttime care. Our skin undergoes repair and regeneration processes while we sleep, making it the perfect time to use targeted treatments.
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Retriderm Serum Max: Summer Nights Savior
- For those looking to further repair and rejuvenate their skin after sun exposure, the Retriderm Serum Max is a powerful addition to your nighttime skincare routine. This serum contains retinol, a derivative of Vitamin A, which is known for its ability to help accelerate skin cell turnover and stimulate collagen production. What’s better than waking up to more radiant skin?
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- Key ingredients: Retinol (Vitamin A derivative).
- Benefits: Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, softens and smoothes skin texture, and enhances skin firmness for a plumper look.
- Application tips: Apply in the evening after cleansing, starting with a lower frequency to allow your skin to adjust, and gradually increase usage as tolerated. When using a retinol within your routine, it is especially important to be sure that you are using sunscreen – so don’t forget your morning SPF!
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Brighten Triple Action Eye Serum: Brightening Bedtime Bestie
- The delicate skin around the eyes is particularly susceptible to sun damage and signs of aging. The Brighten Triple Action Eye Serum is specifically formulated to address these concerns, making it an essential part of your nighttime regime.
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- Key ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, kojic acid, licorice extract, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants as well as additional brightening agents.
- Benefits: Reduces the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines, while hydrating and firming the skin around the eyes.
- Application tips: Apply a small amount around the eye area in the evening, gently tapping with your ring finger to ensure even distribution and absorption.
Protect your skin with Biopelle’s Summer Edit
While sunscreen is a critical component of sun protection, it is not sufficient on its own to ensure long-term skin health and luminosity. Noting that even with the use of sunscreen, free radicals from UVA and UVB rays are only reduced by 55%, therefore antioxidants are needed on a daily basis to further reduce these free radicals from forming.
A holistic skincare routine that includes products to prepare, protect, and repair your skin is essential, especially during the summer months. Incorporating products such as Brighten Antioxidant CE Plus Serum, Brighten C+AHA Renewal Serum, Retriderm Serum Mild, and Brighten Triple Action Eye Serum into your summer skincare routine can help you achieve and maintain healthy, more radiant skin.
Get started building out your own Summer Skin HERE.