"After Sun": why and how to repair your skin after summer

Summer is over. After exposing your skin and hair to the sun's assault, the time has now come for repair. With a good "after sun" routine, you can both prolong the beneficial effects of the sun and make your tan last, while reducing its negative effects. How? Let us explain.

Why do you need to repair your skin?

Be careful, though: the sun also sends us UVA rays that accelerate the ageing of our skin. Not only do they destroy the collagen fibres that make it up, but they also deplete the vitamin C reserves in our dermis. A lack of collagen makes the skin less elastic and encourages the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, in other words the main visible signs of ageing.

UVA rays accelerate oxidative stress on cells and promote the glycation of collagen, which makes it less effective. Knowing that collagen production already declines naturally with age, this accelerated degradation only intensifies the ageing of the skin and hair. That's why it's especially important to take care of your skin after the summer season.

Collagen at the heart of your after-sun routine

There are several ways to make sure you keep your skin healthy after summer. The first, to care for the skin's outermost layers, is to use collagen creams that quickly restore its vitality. That's the case with the Covéline anti-ageing collagen cream, which has an immediate firming effect as well as providing extreme hydration. But keep in mind that cream only acts on the outer layers of the skin.

For a complete repair, while stimulating collagen production over the long term, the best solution is to use dietary supplements, and collagen powder in particular.

Since the sun creates particular stress and depletes vitamin levels, an enriched formula is strongly recommended. That's the case with the Collagen Vital Beauty formula, which contains marine collagen biopeptides, natural vitamin C (Acerola), hyaluronic acid and zinc, for complete recovery.

• The high concentration of active ingredients in Collagen Vital and the synergistic action of the selected actives will repair the deep layers of your dermis and combat oxidative stress.
• The marine collagen biopeptides will restore the dermal collagen network and give it back its density and support. They thus help smooth away the budding micro-wrinkles caused by the summer sun.
• Vitamin C, for its part, has an antioxidant action and traps the excess free radicals present in the body.
• Marine hyaluronic acid will speed up your skin's hydration and provide a firming effect.
• Finally, zinc helps with the general maintenance of the skin and its radiance.

This formula is therefore perfectly suited for the back-to-school season. We also recommend opting for a one-month course to be sure of reaping all the possible benefits.

If you want a targeted action on hair health, we also recommend the Collagen Vital Hair & Nails formula. The marine collagen biopeptides are then combined with Biotin, which revives the hair and reduces the brittleness caused by sun damage, and with plant-based actives (horsetail, rocket and broccoli) that provide sulphur compounds, flavonoids and silicon for an antioxidant effect that stimulates hair growth and strength.

Don't neglect your lifestyle either

While creams and dietary supplements help, a healthy lifestyle is also an important factor in reducing the signs of ageing. If we look good during the summer, it's not only because of the sun, it's also because we're less stressed.

It would be a shame, as soon as "normal life" resumes, to fall back into bad habits. Manage your stress, keep eating healthily and exercise as much as possible. It's often hard to juggle all these demands between work and family, but it's important to keep these goals in mind.

You can also take advantage of the new season to change your habits. Why not, for example, seize this opportunity to remove the chemical products from your bathroom in favour of natural and more eco-friendly items? Your home will only be healthier for it, which will ease your mind. When you feel good, it shows on your face.

A chance to remind ourselves once again that all bodies are beautiful. Embracing your age means freeing your mind and, paradoxically, taking a step towards youthfulness.