Post-Summer Skin: How to Find the Best Skincare Products Online
Summer is finally coming to an end, and that means it’s time to switch up your skincare routine to prepare for fall. Activities like sunbathing, hanging out at the pool, and enjoying picnics can really take a toll on your skin, even if you wear SPF. So finding products to fight against damage and refreshing your skin is super important.
Our skincare experts at AesthetiCare are here to help you get ready for drier weather and keep your skin in the best shape possible. Read on to learn more about how to find the best skincare products for the perfect post-summer recovery.
What’s the big deal about post-summer skin care, anyway?
Although taking care of your skin is crucial throughout the entire year, it’s especially important to make tweaks as you go through the different seasons. Summer skin care and fall/winter skin care are quite different, so now is the perfect time to help your skin recover and prepare for cooler weather.
Let’s first talk about the skin itself. The skin is the largest organ in your body (the more you know, right? ), and it’s the first barrier of protection against the outside world. In other words, take care of your skin, and your skin takes care of you.
Your skin comprises three layers:
- Hypodermis: the innermost subcutaneous layer filled with fat cells to insulate your body
- Dermis: middle layer that houses collagen and elastin fibers
- Epidermis: outer layer of skin meant to protect your body from environmental elements
Unfortunately, time plays a huge role in how effective those layers are at doing their jobs. As we age, a few things begin to happen:
- Skin cells in the epidermis become thinner
- Collagen and elastin production slows
- Fat cells in the hypodermis shrink
What happens when you combine those changes? Well, our skin isn’t as protected against harsh environmental factors, we begin forming wrinkles and fine lines, and we lose the facial volume that keeps us looking young.
So with that all in mind, what is important to consider when transitioning from summer skin care to fall/winter skin care?
Well, there are three fundamental things you want to focus on:
- Reversing sun damage
- Adding and retaining moisture
- Brightening and removing dead skin
Combat sun damage
We all love glowy, tan summer skin, but underneath that glow could be some unnoticed sun damage. Light that travels from the sun comes in short and long wavelengths. The longer wavelengths, similar to radio waves, are harmless and won’t damage your skin. On the other hand, shorter wavelengths like UVA and UVB rays are the ones that are the problem. UV rays can penetrate deep into the skin and manipulate the underlying cells, causing negative implications for how your skin cells grow and look.
Even if you slathered on SPF religiously, you should still take extra steps to ensure your skin remains in tip-top shape. In fact, especially when you’re young, sun damage doesn’t show any signs, leaving people to neglect proper skin care because they still look great on the outside.
The most important thing about post-summer skin care? It’s all about prevention. It’s always easier to prevent damage signs such as wrinkles and dark spots than it is to get rid of them. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t have ways for you to reverse sun damage, too!
Some of our favorite, must-have treatments to help reduce the appearance of sun damage include:
Chemical Peels
Halo laser
Microneedling
Dermaplaning
These treatments boost the cellular turnover rate to remove old, damaged skin and reveal the fresh, untouched skin that lies underneath.
Lock in moisture
Along with sun damage, chlorine from pools, saltwater from beaches, and even your air conditioner can affect your skin’s overall health. Even with the extra moisture in the air, you may notice your skin being more dry and cracked than before. Therefore, you should definitely focus on moisturizing your skin. Moisturization not only helps eliminate dryness, it can also keep your skin cells plump so you stay looking younger for longer.
When it comes to shopping for skincare products online, here are a few ingredients you should look for to enhance moisture:
Hyaluronic acid: There’s nothing quite like the skin-plumping effects of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA has the capability to hold 1,000x its weight in water, which can help take off years from your appearance.
Glycerin: Glycerin is another humectant like HA, meaning it attracts and retains water. It also helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and protects against drying environmental forces.
Occlusives: Ingredients like shea butter, lanolin, and jojoba oil are great for sealing moisture into the skin. Keep in mind that these ingredients don’t actually provide additional moisture. Instead, they make sure that the moisture you do add doesn’t get pulled out.
Ceramides: Oftentimes, a damaged skin barrier is the cause of dry skin, which is common after summer wear and tear. Ceramides are a class of fatty acids that help repair your skin barrier to help your skin naturally retain more moisture.
Brighten a dull complexion
Once the tan fades, you may notice that your skin seems a little more dull than it was before summer began. Unfortunately, as summer turns into fall and fall turns into winter, that extra dryness can make the dullness even worse.
The first thing you can (and should) do is make sure you’re drinking enough water. When you’re dehydrated, your skin will also be dehydrated. Water is a natural way to get your glow back. Plus, it does wonders for your body and overall health!
However, if you are drinking enough water, you could have another problem. Dull skin typically comes from a build up of dead skin cells, which again may stem from sun damage. Exfoliation is key for getting rid of those skin cells to brighten your complexion. However, be careful with products that have beads or rough scrubs. While those may help with exfoliation, they can also damage your skin barrier and cause more harm.
A great way to exfoliate without harsh scrubs is through chemical exfoliants. Chemicals such as glycolic acid promote cellular turnover, and though they may slightly burn or tingle, they don’t disrupt the skin barrier. You can always find products that contain chemical exfoliates (they typically come in the form of a toner or pads), but if you really want to jumpstart your skin-brightening efforts, we highly recommend getting a professional chemical peel.
Tips on finding high-quality, professional skincare products online
There are tons of websites out there claiming to have professional skincare products online, but can you really trust them? The truth is, the internet is full of fraudulent websites that could hurt your pockets and even your skin.
Based on our experience as online skincare providers, here are some things you should keep an eye out for when shopping online.
Is the URL suspicious?
A URL shouldn’t be a paragraph long. Trusted skincare websites will keep their URL short and sweet. You also want to make sure the website starts with https://. This tells you the site is SSL encrypted, meaning when you put in your private information, everything is secure. If you don’t see the https://, check for a little lock icon on the left side of the URL. Without that security measure, don’t hit that check out button and fill out your personal information.
Do you recognize the products?
The professional skincare products listed online should be recognizable. Now, that’s not to say that some places won’t have their own private label, but that’s a little different. If every product your find on a website is from brands you’ve never heard of before, be weary. You should be able to research products and find them elsewhere. While AeshetiCare’s online shop offers our private label of medical-grade skincare products, we also carry well known brands that do wonders for giving you a post-summer glow.
You really know the products are trusted if the brand has their own website too. For example, we have a variety of Avene products formulated with pharmaceutical standards. At the end of the day, trusted products are often a sign of a trusted site.
Does the online shop have a physical location?
One of the best ways to determine whether or not you can trust an online shop is by searching for a physical location. When an online store also has people on site, you could even call them for extra advice while you’re trying to find your skincare products.
Not only do we offer high-quality professional skincare products online, we also have them in our top-of-the-line medical spa! You can always stop by our Lawrence office and speak with one of our skincare experts. Plus, we can even recommend aesthetic treatments to ensure you look glowing, radiant, and youthful for years to come.
Find the best post-summer skincare products online with AesthetiCare
When in doubt, shop our online store. That way you always know you’re getting the best medical-grade skincare products without worrying about whether or not they’re legit. At AesthetiCare, skincare is what we do, so we’re fully equipped to transition your skincare routine from summer to fall.
Along with skincare products, we offer different aesthetic treatments to get you closer to your skincare goals. Our services are more than skin deep. The relationships we build with every single client helps us understand their needs to better serve them; not to mention, we love meeting new people and hearing their stories!
Contact us or use our virtual consultation tool to tell us about your needs and schedule a free one-hour consultation.
