What skincare products should you take on your summer holiday?

We all love being out in the sun soaking up some rays, especially on holiday! There are very few things better than lying out by the pool or relaxing on the beach with a refreshing drink and letting your worries melt away. Just make sure to keep on top of your skincare! Holiday skin should be fresh, dewy and radiant, not dry, sore and damaged. So to get the perfect sunkissed skin, it’s important to properly prepare your travel skincare products!

Unsure of where to start? Why not consider one of our skincare treatments? We tailor our treatments to each of our patients with medical-grade ingredients and products, to achieve powerful and long-lasting results that you’ll love! In the meantime, here at AP Skincare we’ve put together a list of everything you’re going to need and why. And while some things are obvious, like SPF, there are a few other products you can pack to get the glowy and healthy holiday skin you deserve.

1. Pack your SPF and lots of it!

We’ve said it once but we’ll say it again! SPF is the single most important product you could take with you on holiday. Not only is it going to help you avoid getting burnt, but it’s also going to protect all the hard work you’ve been putting into your skin. Suncream is your bare skin’s only barrier from the sun, and while you may not see the damage happening immediately – it’s definitely happening.

So to avoid any unnecessary damage or premature ageing it’s important to wear an SPF that’s going to offer you all the protection you need – and that’s nothing less than factor 30 according to the NHS. They state that as a guide, six to eight teaspoons of suncream is needed to cover the whole body (this means any exposed skin). This should be done at least 30 minutes before you go out in the sun and repeated every 2 hours for optimum protection from UV damage.

2. A hydrating cleanser –  to keep your skin looking fresh

Another holiday skincare essential is a good cleanser. And no we aren’t talking about face wipes! The build-up of sweat, suncream and seawater needs to come off to keep your skin looking its best. So you need a gentle but hydrating cleanser in your skincare kit. This is going to leave your face feeling fresh and supple at the end of a long hot day – and that’s what you want before you jump into bed. Avoid anything that’s going to dry out your skin or be too rough, like harsh exfoliants for example. Your cleanser should be gentle enough that you can double cleanse without it leaving your face feeling sensitive, dry or irritated. A good cleansing and hydrating mask is also a great holiday companion.

3. Hyaluronic acid – to lock in the much-needed moisture 

Travelling can be harsh on the skin. Plus, it’s a well-known fact that the recirculated air on planes dries out the skin – and that’s before you even get out in the sun! So it’s important to come equipped with everything you need to keep your skin hydrated whilst you’re away. We’d recommend a face mask and some lip balm for the plane. Just to counteract any dryness and make the journey extra relaxing!

Our recommendation for holiday hydration serum is hyaluronic acid. It might sound frightening if you’ve never heard of it before, but rest assured that the body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, it’s what helps to lubricate our tissues and helps them retain water.

It’s calming and soothing on the skin too despite the name! Hyaluronic acid also helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, so it’s worth working it into your routine in general. Still, the reason it’s a tried and tested choice for holiday skin is because one gram of hyaluronic acid can bind up to 6 litres of water. Seriously! That’s going to give your skin the boost it needs to keep it looking its best despite being out in the sun all day.

4. Aftersun – to keep the rest of your body nourished

A holiday classic. Everyone loves the smell of aftersun, don’t they? There’s nothing quite like the feeling of lathering yourself in a cooling aftersun when you’re straight out of the shower – it’s the epitome of the summer holiday experience! Still, aftersun is just a fancy word for body moisturiser, and after a long day out in the sun, your body definitely needs it! It’s no good focusing so much effort on your face and neck if you aren’t going to give the rest of your body the same attention. You can pick up a traditional aftersun at the shops, or if you’d like something with a bit more oomph, you can opt for aloe vera gel instead.

Aloe vera is considered a miracle plant by many, it’s anti-inflammatory, it’s soothing and cooling and it’s rich in antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E). It’s great for both the body and the face – especially if you’re someone with skin that’s on the dryer side. This is another great product to use all the time but comes in especially handy when you’re on your holidays. And as a bonus, it’ll help you retain your tan for longer by keeping your skin healthy and moisturised!

No amount of skincare can reverse sun damage though, so it’s vitally important that you remember to lather up on your suncream! If you do that and follow the other steps we’ve laid out, you’ll have beautiful glowing skin in no time. If you’re looking to get a head start on your glowing holiday skin, why not pay us a visit at AP Skincare for one of our many skincare treatments? We offer anti-wrinkle injections, skin pigmentation treatments, non-surgical facelifts, acne treatments and more!

Our treatments are clinician-led, meaning we don’t rely solely on over-the-counter solutions, and we use medical-grade ingredients which can only be prescribed by trained clinicians like us. If you’d like to know more or book an appointment, call our friendly team on 01254 29 000, or pop into our skincare clinic in Blackburn!