Vacation beauty: Your summer-night routine

It’s not just the sun that does damage – heating the skin causes a similar response and, in the long term, all the same problems of premature aging. So it goes without saying that when you’re at the beach or the pool, you should ensure to have a swim or find some shade at least every hour. Back in your villa or hotel room, it’s key to cool the skin down with a tepid (never hot) shower, staying in long enough to really take down any residual heat from the day.

Keep your skincare, especially hydrating sheet masks and serums, in your in-room fridge if you have one, as using them chilled helps to keep post-beach skin soothed and cool, and is wonderfully calming on any patches of sunburn. And don’t just limit it to your face: 111Skin’s Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Mask is also designed for the neck and chest, both of which can be real hot-spots for sunburn and dehydration.

Skincare that contains antioxidants, calms inflammation or protects from pollution is a vacation essential, as these will deep-treat and repair. The best way to use them is in a serum formula, as the light texture is ideal for warm weather. The secret is to reapply your serum up to three times, one after the other, to really saturate the skin, taking care to hit the tops of the cheeks and neck as these tend to be very dry areas. You can also apply them to the chest and shoulders to keep summer skin looking dewy.

It’s an often overlooked step, but as one leading skin scientist told me, after-sun acts like the best age-protecting skincare. Being specifically formulated to repair sun damage, they are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories (and even the best sunscreens and shade do not provide 100% protection). He also advises using them post-vacation too, to maximize their repair benefits. Even better are those after-suns that blend skin treatment with pretty skin finishes; La Mer The After Sun Enhancer is brilliant as it cools and deeply hydrates the skin, plus it leaves a shimmer and blurring effect. It looks so good, in fact, that I use it whenever I want to bare my legs, all year round.

If, like me, you like to get a little color while on vacation, topping up with a good self-tan makes a big difference, because it means you can limit the time you spend in the sun. The new-gen tanning drops are especially good to use as you can blend them into any favorite cream, plus they give skin an authentic ‘tan’ tone. Dr Sebagh and Tan-Luxe do excellent versions that can be blended into a serum, cream or even after-sun.