Yes it’s summertime, and the living is easy, but skin can have its share of seasonal related problems. As skin care professionals, it is our job to both educate clients and provide proper skin care treatments.
The summer is one of the most problematic times of year for our skin – many clients experience overexposure to the sun, uneven skin tone, skin redness, and problem skin.
Below I share skin care advice to share with clients during the summer and how to help clients by addressing these skin conditions.
1. How do you educate clients on preventing sun damage?
If your clients enjoy being outdoors, they need to take extra precautions to protect their skin, such as wearing protective clothing, hats, sunglasses and always use a good sunscreen. If this sounds as sexy as wearing a Hazmat suit, fear not. Protective clothing for summer is lightweight, and is bolstered by a good, hard-working full-spectrum sunscreen worn underneath.
Sunscreens are an absolute must for helping protect skin from skin cancer and preventing the appearance of wrinkles!
However, it’s important to note that some sunscreens can wreak havoc on your complexion. Recommend sunscreens that are mineral and anti-oxidant rich and beware of sunscreens that include: fragrance as it may be a photosensitizer, Isopropyl Myristate as it may be comedogenic, or PABAs which are known skin irritants.
It’s also important to remember that sunscreen is not a “one and done” application. For sunscreen to be effective it needs to be reapplied throughout the day. SPF measures the length of time a product protects the skin, so if your client normally starts to turn pink in 10 minutes of sun exposure, with an SPF 15 it will take 15 times as long (2.5 hours). I recommend reapplying SPF 30 sunscreen at least every hour and before and after taking a dip in the water.
I also like to recommend adding a daily deep pore cleansing mask, such as the Repêchage® Hydra Medic® Sea Mud Perfecting Mask, to the summer regime to help offset any clogged pores from increased sunscreen use.
2. How do you treat clients who come in for sun damage/overexposed skin?
For clients who may have sunburn or overexposure to the skin, you want to first utilize a cooling gel, like Repêchage® Skin Relief Soothing Gel, which contains soothing, cooling and hydrating ingredients like Deep Sea Thermus Thermophillus, Aloe Vera, Cucumber and Green, Rooibos and White Tea extracts. It’s essential to focus on hydrating the skin to restore the moisture barrier.
The Repêchage® Vita Cura® 5 Phase Firming Facial utilizes seaweed to help reduce the visible signs of aging. Seaweed is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to help soften the skin, and ingredients like Pentapeptides can help skin appear firmer and smoother, while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, something that overexposure can enhance.
And of course, encourage your clients, no matter what their age is, to continue using Peptides in their daily skin care routine. Using a Peptide and Seaweed-packed sheet mask, like our new Triple Action Peptide Mask, will help hydrate, while it helps firm and brighten the appearance of the skin, helping to reduce the visible signs of premature aging— especially ideal for your former sun-loving clients!
3. How do you treat uneven skin, redness and problem skin the summer?
Uneven Skin Tone
As I mentioned before, always encourage clients to use sun protection, and for those who experience hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, help get them to get back on track by recommending skin brightening products for at-home use, such as our Repêchage® Biolight™ Collection.
At the salon, recommend professional facial treatments for skin brightening, such as the Repêchage® Biolight® Miracle Facial the Repêchage® Biolight® Luminex Mask, an express peel mask hybrid treatment, or the new Biolight® Express Brightening Facial. Each treatment is designed to help reduce the appearance of uneven tones, dark spots and hyperpigmentation. All are based on natural ingredients, such as Bellis Daisy, Licorice Extract and Willow Bark Extract, to help lessen the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone.
Sensitive / Red Skin
Heat, UV light and the free radicals associated with exposure to sunlight and pollution can all irritate skin, especially skin that is sensitive. Softening, hydrating ingredients such as Laminaria Digitata Seaweed, Silver, Quercetin, Mirabalis Jalapa and Chamomile, which can be found in the Repêchage® Red-Out® Facial, can help reduce the appearance of redness caused by travel, climate changes, sun exposure and pollution. The new Repêchage® Red-Out® Express Soothing Facial is an express option for clients looking for a faster solution to help with their sensitive skin concerns. Both treatments help to reduce the appearance of skin redness.
When providing facials, I also recommend for estheticians to avoid hot steamers, brushing, scrubs, microdermabrasion, harsh peels, aromatherapy and perfumes. Do not massage the skin with your hands as this can create flushing. Instead, you may want to use a Silver Ball Massager. This massage tool stays cool to the touch and can help provide consistent, correct pressure.
For at home, recommend skin care with these ingredients as well, such as the Repêchage® Red-Out® Cleanser , Repêchage® Red-Out® Serum and Red-Out® Soothing Sheet Mask. Remind your clients to avoid using scrubs, washcloths and hot water in their cleansing regimen. This will help calm the appearance of their skin.
Problem Skin
Estheticians can help lessen the appearance of breakouts by deep cleaning the skin, and, just as important, restoring the skin’s moisture barrier. At the spa or salon, clients should enjoy a monthly facial combining skin softening Seaweed and Green Tea with deep cleansing minerals and clays such as Kaolin, Ichthammol, Diatomaceous and Illite which can be found in the new Repêchage® FUSION™ Express Bar and Spa Masks, as well as the Repêchage® Hydra Medic® Facial for Oily Problem Skin.
At home, clients need to help maintain skin balance with gentle deep cleansers, moisturizers and masks, such as the Repêchage® Hydra Medic® Face Wash For Oily Problem Skin, the Repêchage® Hydra Medic® Mattifying Moisturizer and the new Repêchage® FUSION™ Matchafina Cleansing Mask.
So remember to educate clients all season long, and remind them how important it is to pay attention to their skin!
Have more questions about the summer and skin care? Leave them for me in the comments below!
