Sunbathing, partying, sleepless fun nights at the seaside… Yes, summer was a blast. We all wish it could last a bit longer.

However, as the end of August approaches, we all usually start preparing for a new season and a new work day or school day.

And although summer may be fun, it can also take its toll on your skin in several ways: sunburns, dry skin, chapped lips and clogged pores.

It is precisely when you start noticing these changes that you realize summer is over and now you have to do something to help your skin regenerate.

Ah, Summer… a Blessing and a Curse

Now, all of us like to spend most of our days, if not all of them, chilling next to a pool, drinking a refreshing drink.

Hey, who can blame us? This year has been… trying, to say the least.

But, if that was the case, and you ended up spending most of your time at the pool, we are sorry to say that this could have influenced your skin in numerous, quite bad ways.

For instance, chlorine, which can usually be found in pool water, actually removes the oils from the surface of your skin, making it dry and patched.  Some may call it ironic (we’re looking at you, Alanis!), but, while swimming in a pool, you’re actually drying up your skin.

Also, you have most likely spent your summer holiday sunbathing and being under direct sunlight, so don’t be surprised if you notice some freckles. Skin has its own way to protect itself from the sun, and that is by creating more of the pigment called melanin. This usually leads to appearance of sun spots, freckles and problems with pigmentation.

In addition, high temperatures cause excessive sweating which, alongside the summer heat and bacteria, make way for skin problems, different inflammations and irritations.

However, don’t be too frightened, as there are relatively simple ways to counteract the poor effects of the summer.

Drink plenty of water

Yeah, we know, left and right you’ve been hearing that you should drink water.

Well, that’s because you really, really should.

It is extremely important to remember that water is essential to you overall health. Dehydration influences all aspects of your life since it can cause all sorts of problems like headaches, dry mouth, lethargy, weakness in muscles and dizziness. Lack of an appropriate intake of water can also cause your skin to get dry and lose that natural glow. This effect is especially noticeable in the summer.

That is why the first thing you have to do, when the summer vacation is over, is to make sure you drink plenty of water. Without appropriate water intake, your skin may appear dull and dry, causing more wrinkles and fine lines.

So, try to drink as much water as you can, and bear in mind that the recommended amount of water is about eight glasses per day. So, wait no more and fill up that glass!

Eat healthy

While drinking water is extremely important, it is simply not enough. In order to keep your health in check, it is important to eat healthy and, in that way, detox your body.

As the old, old saying goes – you are what you eat.

In order to remove the toxins form your skin and help it be healthy and glowing again, make sure you eat plenty of vegetables, sprouts and fruits on a daily basis.

Products that have enormous detoxifying properties include cabbage, beets, apples, garlic and onions. Carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin are rich in beta carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant, while kale and spinach are important in skin cell development.

Also, Vitamin C is incredibly important for every aspect of your health, so make sure you take in this-super power vitamin in all shapes and sizes. The best sources of Vitamin C include blueberries, broccoli, kiwi, oranges and strawberries. In fact, there are many skin products that include Vitamin C and there is a good reason for it – it produces collagen and strengthens the blood vessels that supply your skin. It makes skin look younger and reduces the wrinkles on the skin surface.

All those nights by the beach and cocktails in your hand will definitely be something you will remember for the rest of your life. However, in order to improve the condition of your skin, you will have to say goodbye to alcohol and sugar – forever!

We’re just kidding.

Don’t worry, it’s just for a little while. Sugar-loaded drinks and foods cause glycation (a process of breaking down the proteins in the skin), which, in turn, causes wrinkles and many other skin problems. That is why you should say a (temporary) goodbye to such food.

Get enough sleep and exercise

Exercising is important not just in the process of detoxifying your skin, but also for maintaining general health. It boosts blood circulation and helps your body release the toxins by sweating, which is by far the best way to do that. Better blood circulation also means better skin, because skin surface is receiving proper nourishment, making your skin restore its former glow.

How many times have we all pulled an all-nighter, and the first thing we notice in the mirror is the dull skin and eye bags we wish we didn’t have? Sleep deprivation seriously influences your skin, so for a proper skin-detox, it is important to have enough sleep.

Irregular sleep patterns can seriously affect your general health, because the main process of detoxification is conducted in the liver while you are asleep. If you don’t sleep enough, the liver cannot finish the detoxification process which compromises everything, even the state of your skin.  So, for the time being, try to go to sleep in time, and give your body a fair chance to regenerate. We are sure the dull look of your skin will disappear in a matter of days.

Exfoliate

Even though your skin has received its fair share of Vitamin D on the beach, you cannot help but notice the uneven tone on some parts of it, and that it has become rough and dull.

That’s where exfoliation comes in.

In this day and age, there are many exfoliating products from physical to chemical ones you can choose from. Physical exfoliation products are maybe a better solution if you have acne prone skin or some allergies, since they are all organic and reduce the risk of skin irritation and an allergic reaction. By scrubbing off the dead layers of skin from the surface, you are helping your skin breathe and you are also unclogging pores.

And with unclogged pores, other products can go deeper into your skin, so that your detox process can go even faster. That is why you always have to have in mind to exfoliate at least once a week. Without exfoliation, you risk buying and applying an expensive product and not getting the desired result.

In addition, exfoliation increases cell circulation, allowing oxygen to enrich the blood and nourish the skin’s surface. It also stimulates lymphatic drainage, which is an important part of the detox process. This improves the health of your skin cells significantly, helping your skin become more radiant.

You can use organic exfoliants based on nut or coffee grains, sugar, even salt. The possibilities are endless and the best thing about this is that you can make incredible exfoliating mixtures using ingredients you already have at home. This detox step is really a huge money-saver.

Keep your skin moisturized at all times

After you have exfoliated your face and body well, the next important step is to apply a good moisturizer on your face and body.

As we have mentioned in the beginning, the UV rays, saltwater or chlorine have probably affected the state of your skin, making it extremely dry and patched, so a good moisturizer should be a proper way to go. By using different creams and lotions with different nourishing ingredients, you will help your skin regenerate and become soft again, feeling as fresh as it used to be.

It is important to remember that you need to apply moisturizer on you face and body daily, especially after the summer vacation and a prolonged exposure to the sun.

But, make sure you choose an appropriate product for your skin type.

For those of you who have problems with extremely dry skin, and who have felt the detrimental effect of the sun’s rays a bit more strongly, make sure you use both day and night cream, which will successfully help your skin prevent the loss of moisture.

This doesn’t mean that people with oily and acne-prone skin should not use moisturizer. On the contrary, having oily skin doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t have problems after sun exposure. Sun exposure, chlorine and salt influence this type of skin in a slightly different way. The layer of skin underneath the surface becomes dehydrated and inflamed, and causes problems on the surface. That is why people with oily skin should look for a moisturizer that penetrates the deeper layers faster.

Deal with sun damage

As we said, it is usually by end-August that people start noticing changes on their skin, pigmentation, freckles and dark spots.

Fortunately, there is a solution to that, because there are many products on the market that are designed to make these changes less visible.

And, of course, just because summer is ending, that doesn’t mean you should forget about sunblock. In fact, many people don’t know this, but UV rays can influence your skin even through the clouds!

There are many skin care products on the market that have SPF factor in them, but be sure to choose the right one. Many studies have shown that the safest and most advisable SPF products that will suit most types of skin are the ones with SPF 30 mark on them. Everything less than that doesn’t protect you from the sun enough.

Don’t forget to treat your lips

Not many people actually take the time to find a lip balm with SPF.

Needless to say, that is quite the mistake.

Always remember to apply that type of lip balm before you spend time in the sun.

The second step to protecting your lips includes exfoliating, as well as moisturizing.

But make sure this becomes a part of your daily skin routine, because lips need detoxifying too.

By exfoliating you will remove the dry, dead skin from the surface of your lips and prepare them for further application of other products. Once the exfoliating process is done, apply a good lip balm. It is recommended that you use lip balms rich in Vitamin E, and mineral oils which will nourish your lips and keep the moisture of your skin intact.

A good lip balm also prevents the bacteria from penetrating the surface of your lips.

Remember to apply a good face mask

Whether you have oily or dry skin, you will definitely need to apply a good face mask on a weekly basis. It will help you solve some of the problems you started to have during the summer.

A good face mask will help you remove all of the dirt and bacteria from the surface of your skin and unclog your pores. Of course, there is a difference between face masks for oily and dry skin so pay close attention before you buy.

Basically, oily skin is in need of good nutrients like kaolin, bentonite and activated charcoal. On the other hand, dry skin requires a different approach. Clay and charcoal are gentle and nourishing enough for those with dry skin. Dead Sea mud has also become increasingly popular. Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid are also something you should look for among the ingredients if you have oily skin.

There are also many recipes for DIY face masks which you can easily prepare at home.

And if you decide to include all these steps into your post-summer detox skin-care routine, your face and body will soon look as fresh and radiant as ever.