We are in the midst of summer and finally, for many, the holidays are starting. The beach or the pool are still the most popular destinations, where you can spend a single day of rest or a whole week of vacation.
There is nothing more beautiful than being able to lie in the sun and hear the sound of the waves in the background, with the smell of the sea breeze tickling your nose. A tan is also a coveted goal, to give some color and vitality to the skin.
However, in all of this, a hidden enemy can lurk. Sunbathing helps our beauty and health, stimulating the production of vitamin D, but UV rays are not as friendly and can cause more or less serious damage.
Protection is fundamental. Sunglasses, hats, staying in the shade during the hottest hours, and using a good sunscreen are basic; however, many people forget the importance of also including a good after-sun lotion in this routine.
We are used to thinking that this product is only useful in case of sunburn, but this is a mistaken belief. In the following article, we will talk in more depth about the subject, in order to help people discover better what after-sun lotion is for and how it works.
What is after-sun lotion and what is it used for?
After-sun lotion is a cream that can be used on both the face and body and proves to be a valuable summer ally. Its task is to moisturize and refresh, restoring the right level of hydration and fighting the harmful effects of free radicals.
In other words, it has properties that allow it to restore the health of the skin after it has been stimulated by harmful agents, such as UV rays. Thanks to this cream, the tissues can maintain their natural firmness, preventing peeling.
What is important to know is that these aforementioned rays are capable of penetrating deeply and trigger mechanisms such as oxidative stress and the production of free radicals, responsible for premature aging.
Using a protective cream is the first big step to fight against this action and keep the skin young and healthy, but when you spend many hours in the sun, the skin still becomes dehydrated and minimally affected by these harmful effects.
Incorporating the habit of regularly using after-sun lotion completes the protection because it offers a soothing effect after a stressful moment, allowing you to recover hydration and heal damaged tissues.
When is after-sun lotion useful?
Common belief is that after-sun lotion is a product to be used only when you get sunburned, seeing it as a “treatment” for an accident. This is not wrong, as its active ingredients allow for faster healing, but it is also important to be aware that this cream is extremely useful every time you expose yourself to the sun, not just when you get burned.
After a day at the beach, the skin is inevitably more dehydrated and fatigued. Even if sunscreen offers protection, the skin is still stressed from prolonged exposure, so applying after-sun lotion helps to rehydrate the skin and restore its elasticity, keeping it not only protected but also healthy and radiant.
The results are maximized if the product is used on clean skin because it can penetrate more deeply, so it is best to use it immediately after showering.
Some tips for maintaining a tan
Getting a tan in the summer is a pleasure that many people seek because it gives a completely new complexion, adding liveliness, vigor, and unique beauty. However, it is not easy to achieve this goal without damaging your skin, so it is good to follow some small but useful tips.
In addition to using sunscreen and after-sun lotion, as we have extensively discussed, there are other useful practices that can be followed to help the process. During the shower, for example, it is best to use cleansers that are rich in nourishing and emollient substances.
The water should be lukewarm to avoid drying out the skin too much and causing it to peel. Another important step is gentle exfoliation once a week: doing a light scrub, not too aggressive, allows you to remove dead cells without affecting the tan, as it only removes the superficial layer.
Products based on sugar and Macadamia oil or Matcha Tea can be of great help as they can exfoliate, cleanse, and moisturize in one step.
To increase hydration and compensate for typical summer dryness, it can be useful to add an ultra-moisturizing cream to the routine, such as an Almond body butter or a body oil.
It is good practice to avoid products containing alcohol, such as certain perfumes, which can cause photosensitivity and fade the tan, and instead opt for alcohol-free scented body lotions.
Finally, when drying off, it is important to gently pat with a towel instead of rubbing to avoid peeling and removing the tan.
Italian Version
