No matter how long you’re in the sun, it’s imperative you protect your skin — both before and after sun exposure. We asked Organic Esthetician and Skin Care Educator Katie Sobelman for her best summer skin care tips and favorite products that will leave your skin looking radiant and rejuvenated. With experience in salons, high-end boutiques, and luxury spas, Katie is our go-to for holistic skin care advice.
Pre-Sun Care
Prepping your skin before heading out into the sun should be about more than just applying SPF. Look for products free of chemical sunscreens and made with ingredients that support your skin and promote its barrier function, your skin’s last layer of defense against the outside world. Chemical sunscreens can cause irritation, interfere with hormone creation, and when worn in the ocean, can cause harm to aquatic life as well. Always opt for a chemical-free SPF, like non-nano zinc or titanium dioxide. Here are a few of my favorites:
A lightweight, multi-tasking mineral SPF lip serum that plumps, hydrates, and protects the delicate skin on your lips against sun, blue light, and pollution.
More than just a sunscreen, this chemical-free daily SPF is made with skin-changing actives clinically shown to help repair past damage at the cellular level, brighten the skin, plump fine lines, and defend against pollution, blue light, and UV damage.
For those wanting a little color with their protection, this tinted moisturizer offers the perfect natural tint paired with chemical-free broad spectrum SPF. This hydrating formula that leaves your skin with the perfect dewy finish.
Post-Sun Care
Whether you just need a deeper cleanse to remove the day’s sunscreen or a nourishing treatment to soothe exposed skin, having a few post-sun products in your skincare arsenal will keep your skin healthy all summer long. These are my personal go-tos:
An organic, plant-based cleansing oil that provides a comprehensive cleanse, removing dirt, makeup, and sunscreen, without stripping your skin’s delicate lipid barrier. Infused with organic neroli, sweet orange, bergamot, ylang ylang, and frankincense essential oils, this cleanser’s intoxicating aroma will transport you to Morocco with every cleanse. It’s also a fantastic way to prevent your daily SPF from clogging your pores.
An alternative to aloe vera, colloidal silver promotes natural healing in the skin. This soothing gel is a fantastic treatment for cooling hot skin and reducing irritation, as it speeds up the healing time of sunburns.
Made with greek yogurt, an amazing anti-inflammatory, and beta-glucan, a nourishing humectant derived from oats, this organic sheet mask is a fantastic treatment to soothe sun-exposed skin.
Pro Tip
Pop your sheet mask in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes before applying to increase the cooling effects of this calming treatment.
This article was originally published in the summer 2021 issue of Molly My Mag under the title “Luscious Locks” and has been expanded by our team here.
