Credit: Getty
3 min read
A skin expert explains why our skin feels ‘better’ on holiday, and how to properly protect it.
There really is nothing like the feeling of stepping out into the world and feeling the sun on your face. Whether you’re on holiday, taking a staycation or even lapping up the rays in your local park, just a little warmth and vitamin D is enough to have most of us embracing our main character energy.
But aside from the weather, sightseeing opportunities and much-needed R&R, there is another reason I always look forward to going away: the break it gives my skin.
Wearing nothing but SPF on a beach somewhere, away from the pollution of the city, always makes me feel like my skin looks ‘better’. While I don’t use fake tan, I have to admit that I’ve always preferred my face with a bit of bronze to it, when my natural freckles are highlighted and I just look (and feel) brighter.
But when it comes to whether my skin really has been ‘improved’ by a week in the Mediterranean, the science tells a different story.
As it turns out, the notion that our skin is ‘healthier’ abroad is something of a myth.
Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, a skin expert and founder of Adonia Medical Clinic, defines ‘healthy skin’ as having “a balanced oil content, intact skin barrier and [the ability] to effectively perform its core functions of thermoregulation and protection for the body”.
As she tells Stylist, the aesthetics of how skin feels and looks – whether it glows, it’s smooth or has a tan – often leads us to mistake it for ‘health’. In reality, these states are not at all correlated, and tanned skin may even be a sign that we’ve had too much sun.
Being on vacation often means less stress and more relaxation, which can have a healthy impact on our overall wellbeing and, consequently, our skin’s appearance
However, according to Dr Ejikeme, there are of course positives. “There are many factors that make us feel great on holiday and feeling rested, eating well and spending time with loved ones can all have great effects on the body including the skin,” she explains. “Moderate sun exposure can have positive effects on the skin, such as increased vitamin D synthesis. Additionally, being on vacation often means less stress and more relaxation, which can have a healthy impact on our overall wellbeing and, consequently, our skin’s appearance.”
As I suspected, vitamin D, less pollution and wearing less make-up can all also contribute to healthier-looking skin. This is because vitamin D plays a crucial role in skin health as it supports various functions, including cell turnover and collagen production. “Less pollution means fewer environmental toxins and pollutants that can damage the skin and contribute to premature ageing,” shares Dr Ejikeme. And it makes sense: wearing less make-up allows the skin to breathe and reduces the likelihood of clogged pores and breakouts.
Credit: Getty
How to protect your skin while on holiday
From combating dryness to protecting against UV, we know how important caring for our skin is all year round. When abroad or even just in the summer seasons, this becomes even more imperative.
While SPF can feel like it ‘clogs’ your pores, Dr Ejikeme insists that applying sunscreen in thin layers and allowing each layer to dry before adding more can also help prevent this heavy or greasy feeling.
Alongside this, she advises cleansing your skin thoroughly every day to remove sunscreen, sweat, and impurities, as well as moisturising regularly, especially if you’re in a dry or sunny environment, to replenish lost moisture and maintain skin hydration.
“Don’t forget to protect your lips with a lip balm containing SPF,” she adds.
This article is part of Skin Freedom, a Stylist Love Women series that aims to champion the reality of women’s skin in all its glory.
Images: Getty
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