The festive season is all fun and games until we return to reality alongside a case of uninvited post-holiday skin woes (and probably post-holiday blues, too). From late nights, lack of routine, and often a change of environment to overindulgence in sugar, the perks of summer holidays can mean a complexion trade-off for many.

Ahead, we round-up five key tips for clients in need of a little skin TLC right now.

Switch-up your cleanser

Any credible skin therapist knows the importance of cleansing. Aside from wearing sunscreen daily, it’s the most critical step in any routine, especially in summer when sweat and excess sebum is rife. For compromised skin, many cleansers on the market can be too harsh, stripping, or filled with unnecessary chemicals and fragrances that can cause adverse reactions. Even if clients have a long-time favourite, recommend they switch to a gentle, hydrating cleansers temporarily. Go for cleansers with humectants, which help keep water in the skin, as well as those free of artificial fragrances, parabens, and phthalates.

We like: Augustinus Bader The Cream Cleansing Gel and Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser

Don’t buy into ‘detox’ skincare

While skin might be in need of a detox or reset, clients should avoid the temptation of buying up on ‘detox’ branded products like sheet masks. While you of course will know their individual skin needs best, it’s common for people to mistakenly gravitate to drying products when they actually need hydration. Products like detox masks can leave the skin feeling tight and often include cheap ingredients that compromise the skin barrier even further. Doubling down on hydration by using a serum twice daily with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides or vitamin B-3 (niacinaminde) may be a worthwhile recommendation.

We like: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier and Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense

Avoid excessive exfoliating

Peeling skin post too much sun exposure is never a pleasant experience and the first instinct for many is to apply a gritty exfoliant. However, an abrasive product will only do more damage to already sensitive skin. Instead, tell clients to opt for a gentle chemical exfoliant or strip it right back with just a soft face cloth to reduce the chance of manually damaging the skin.

We like: Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 available at Sofitel Spa

A spot treatment approach

Sadly, skin doesn’t love cocktails and chocolate as much as taste buds do. Thankfully, there’s a super simple solution to getting rid of the temporary terrors. The skin barrier is probably still sensitive from the excessive sun exposure, so go in with a specialised spot treatment to directly treat the blemishes, rather than cover the whole complexion in a harsh spot-eliminating formula.

We like: MediK8 Blemish SOS

SPF!

Lastly, but most importantly, sun protection is vital. Protection and prevention is the key to repairing post-holiday skin now and in the long-term.

We like: Aspect Sun Hydrating Face SPF50+ and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+