Despite everything we know about UV exposure, many of us still get a little too much sun from time to time. Even if you’ve slathered on SPF, it’s possible to feel the effects of sun exposure on your skin after a day spent outside. Give your skin some extra TLC with the tips below.
How Does Sun Exposure Affect Your Skin?
Most people have already experienced the primary effect of sun exposure on the skin firsthand: the telltale redness and inflammation that means you’ve gotten a sunburn. Even on cooler or overcast days, UV rays can penetrate the skin’s surface, damaging DNA cells in the skin and leading to burns¹. The skin may feel hot to the touch or even painful, and as the initial burn subsides, you may experience itching and irritation. While the worst of it is usually over within 24 hours, symptoms can linger for up to three days or longer in severe cases.
Even if you don’t experience sunburn, exposure to UV rays affects the skin in other ways. The sun’s rays can damage collagen, reducing elasticity and accelerating the aging process. As a result, wrinkles and fine lines may appear more prominent after too much time in the sun. These physical effects are known as photoaging².
Plus, the sun and heat can zap moisture, causing dryness that depletes the skin’s natural barrier and impedes the regeneration process. The face, shoulders, and shins are especially prone to dryness³.
Fortunately, there are a few sun aftercare steps you can take to nourish your skin which will help mitigate these effects.
How Can You Refresh Your Skin After a Day in the Sun?
Drink Water
Hydrate from the inside out by drinking plenty of water after you’ve been outside. While most people need eight, 8-ounce glasses of water a day, you may need more when the sun has dried your skin out—especially if you’ve been active⁴. You can also eat hydrating foods, like watermelon and cucumbers, to replenish the water in your body.
Take a Cool Shower
Cleansing the skin is important for removing impurities following time spent outdoors. Just be careful to avoid hot temperatures and any scrubs or chemicals that could aggravate your skin, which is likely to be more sensitive after being in the sun.
Moisturize the Skin
Nourish sun-drenched skin with products specially formulated to supply extra hydration. Our Sea Minerals Mist is a good start for immediate sun aftercare and a refreshing feel on your face and body. Follow it up with our Seabiotic® Water Cream for 72 hours of deep hydration and moisturize your body with our seaweed-infused Undaria Algae™ Body Oil. The formula is rich in antioxidants and helps soften and nourish the look of skin.
Lock in Hydration
It’s not enough to apply a quick moisturizer when you’ve had too much sun exposure. A little extra care can go a long way in minimizing the sun’s drying effects. As your skin recovers, incorporate some additional steps in your routine for post-sun skin care. For instance, after the burn calms down, you can start restoring skin’s hydration using our Undaria Collagen™ Body Lotion. This ultra-hydrating formula is available in both scented and fragrance-free options and is clinically proven to visibly firm skin within four hours. Restore moisture to the sensitive skin on your face using our Dayglow Face Oil™, which contains Omegas 6 and 9 to support a strong barrier.
Protect Against Further Damage
Any time you have to be outdoors, take extra care to cover up. Wear breathable, UV-resistant clothing, try to stay in the shade, and avoid direct sun exposure during the midday hours. Always apply sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply as instructed throughout the day.
Treat Trouble Zones
Since wrinkles and fine lines can be more pronounced after being in the sun, give your skin some extra defense against the signs of aging. Our award-winning Ocean Eyes Age-Defying Eye Serum tackles all signs of aging around the eye area and provides a cooling, refreshing finish, while our Hyaluronic Sea Serum provides an instant increase in hydration while smoothing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Whether you’re outside for work or play, your favorite OSEA products will have you feeling refreshed and restored. Enjoy deep hydration and barrier support for calmer skin after a day in the sun.
Citations
1. Cirino, E. (13 July 2022). Yes, You Can Get a Sunburn Even on a Cloudy Day. Healthline. Retrieved on July 12, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health/can-you-get-a-sunburn-on-a-cloudy-day
2. Photoaging (Sun Damage) Fact Sheet. Yale Medicine. Retrieved on July 12, 2023, from https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/sun-damage
3. Sun-Damaged Skin. Drugs.com. Retrieved on July 12, 2023, from https://www.drugs.com/health-guide/sun-damaged-skin.html
4. Heat Stress: Hydration. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on July 12, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/userfiles/works/pdfs/2017-126.pdf