You’ve had an incredible summer. Days filled with sunny weather, sea salt-soaked days at the beach, sweaty sports that left you feeling victorious, and yet your skin is looking defeated. 

Your summer was epic, but it’s taken a toll, and you just want that flawless look you once had back.

While all the damage of a season in the sun cannot be erased, there are some things you can do to boost the condition of your skin and have you looking great once again. 

Try these tips to give your skin the TLC it needs to heal.

1. Sunburn

Sunscreen is your skin’s best friend in the summer, but let’s face it, sometimes you forget. If you find yourself with a wicked sunburn, which will obviously leave you with damaged skin, you need help. 

The first thing is to treat the burn with aloe to try to help it heal. In addition to aloe, there are other foods and herbs that treat sunburns. Mix and match some of the foods and herbs that can help your skin feel better and heal faster until you find your personal sunburn relief. 

Once the burn is gone, exfoliate to remove the damaged skin. Just make sure you’re doing this gently because you don’t want to remove burned skin that hasn’t fully healed. 

Next up, a moisturizing routine with Simple Beauty Age-Defying Retinol Moisturizer to support collagen rejuvenation. It's good to make a retinol moisturizer a part of your regular skincare routine, as retinol helps to reduce the appearance of the lines and wrinkles that can be caused by sun damage. Simple Beauty's formula includes the added protection of botanicals that helps to soothe skin while also helping to aid the absorption of the retinol. 

2. Brown sun spots and discoloration

Those pesky brown spots that show your age are called hyperpigmentation. They’re caused by too much sun exposure and melanin from your body reacting to that sun.

There are some over-the-counter topical treatments you can use that can help reduce the darkness of these spots. The Simple Beauty Skin-Brightening Spot Corrector is formulated with a combination of kojic and palmitic acids that work together to diminish and discourage dark spots before they even begin to form. You’ll notice a brightened and smoother complexion. 

You want to speak with a dermatologist who can prescribe a corticosteroid or recommend laser therapy or chemical peels for severe situations.

3. Pimples and acne 

Hot weather makes us sweat, and for some people sweat causes pores to clog, and pimples arrive as a response. If you have “sun-induced” acne, then a clarifying body wash is a must. 

A moisturizing Daily Purifying Cleanser can be your skin’s best friend. It should remove all traces of makeup, sweat, and dirt while keeping your skin hydrated. You don’t want to cleanse with a harsh product or something with alcohol because dry skin is the enemy.

4. Dry skin

Speaking of dry skin, salt, and sand can dehydrate your skin and leave it feeling tight and dry. Obviously, moisturizing is the key to fighting dry skin, but you need moisture from within as much as you need it from the outside. 

Start with a good at-home moisturizing honey mask that will trap in moisture as well as add some. 

Once you’ve started working on the outside, turn your attention to the inside. Are you getting the recommended 64 ounces of water? If not, up your fluid intake. Then, focus on foods that are loaded with moisture to replenish your body. Some great foods for moisturizing include watermelon, avocados, oily fish, kale, cucumbers, coconut oil, nuts, grapefruit, and strawberries.

To put it simply

Everyone looks forward to good weather and being able to get outside and enjoy it. That healthy glow from the sun is also an appealing look that, unfortunately, can do more lasting damage than it’s worth. 

Your first defense against sun damage is always a good sunscreen that’s applied every two hours for optimal protection. If you forget your sunscreen, you might be facing a sunburn, age spots, acne, and dry skin. 

These sun-related conditions can all be treated and helped, but some damage may remain. The best advice to help you protect and nourish your skin when you’re spending a lot of time outdoors is to keep it “well-fed” and hydrated. Add moisture through masks, Simply Beauty's Age-Defying Retinol Moisturizer, and a healthy diet.

In addition to keeping your skin hydrated, don’t skip your nightly cleansing ritual. You’re exposed to more dirt and sweat than you might realize in the summer. Using Daily Purifying Cleanser before bedtime is more important than ever and makes it easier for your skin to absorb your moisture treatments.