Post-summer skincare

Now autumn is here it’s time to look at post-summer skincare with some new releases to repair, self-tan, and protect your skin as we head into winter…

Who doesn’t dream of undoing careless sun damage and just hanging onto the memory of summers past – not having them etched around our eyes and mouths?

Now autumn is here it’s time to look at post-summer skincare with some new releases to repair, self-tan, and protect your skin as we head into winter.

Firstly, repair.

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion ($17.59) is a pump bottle-dispensed moisturiser for the body with soothing oat essence. I put this on my arms which, while not quite itchy, were at that irritated stage just before the itch begins. It feels very calming and soothing. Aveeno is available from supermarkets and pharmacies.

Avene Rich skin recovery cream Calming Formula ($55.60) is both incredibly rich and fantastically soothing; and really gentle on even sensitive skins. Use it if you have fair, thin, redness-prone or irritated skin from climate, over-cleansing, dryness or dermatological treatments. Whilst it gives immediate relief, what’s even better is that you know it is giving long-term relief by restoring the hydrolipidic film. I also like that it contains no parabens, fragrance, or colour. Avène is available from selected pharmacies nationwide, see www.avene.co.nz.

The Jojoba Company Botanical Hydrating Face Mask ($59.90) I definitely recommend this product. I think it’s the nicest clay mask I’ve used. This brand is based upon golden jojoba oils and this Hydrating Face Mask is a clay mask with gingko biloba, marine collagen, vitamin B5 and organic honey. The range also includes the pure Jojoba Oil at a very reasonable $24.90 for a large 30ml flask which I have been using during pregnancy on my face and body, and an Intense Overnight Renewal Creme ($69.90) as a plumping night cream.

Clarins White Plus HP Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel is an exfoliating lotion to remove dead skin to leave skin refreshed and invigorated. It tightens open pores to leave skin much smoother and looking radiant. The Clarins White Plus range, particularly loved by the Japanese and other Asian markets, is a brightening range formulated to give skin a translucent, rosy glow. It contains botanicals tamarind, white nettle and mimosa tenuiflora to assist skin in naturally exfoliating, gently.

Secondly, self-tan.

Now the summer sun is fading, so is your tan. Build it up naturally with self-tanning products for the face and body.

Prepare your body for self-tanning with a good quality body scrub to maintain soft, smooth skin.

Pure Fiji Coconut Creme Scrub ($35.50) contains pineapple extracts to unclog pores and buff away dead skin cells, and hydrate skin with coconut creme and nut extracts. It is free of parabens and sulphates and is a Green Earth product, sourced from botanical ingredients grown by Fijian communities. Pure Fiji is available from spas and resorts throughout NZ. Call 0800 7873 3454 or www.purefiji.com for stockists.

Dove Essential Nutrient’s Protective Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 at $13.28 must be the lowest-priced tinted moisturiser I’ve seen. This is an alternative to using a face self-tan or wearing foundation. It combines light moisturisers with SPF 15 and broad spectrum UV protection with a light tint without the heaviness of foundation. Dove is widely available from supermarkets and pharmacies.

St Tropez Gradual Tan ($60.30) is an everyday moisturizing self-tanner from this legendary name in tanning. Apply it daily after exfoliating to maintain your tan with the easy-to-use streak-free lotion. The large sized (200ml) tube of self-tan combines tan with skincare benefits, providing hydration to skin. It doesn’t contain any sunscreens, so don’t forget to apply some, even in winter.

Thirdly, protect.

Murad Sun Undone

This attractive boxed set ($84) is like a first aid kit for post-summer skincare that repairs and protects damaged skin. The four travel-sized products are designed to reverse environmental damage such as dullness, dark spots and wrinkles, using Murad’s Resilient-C Complex in a cleanser, serum, SPF 30 moisturiser and SPF 15 eye cream.

The Murad Active Radiance Serum has a remarkable new Vitamin C technology that delivers 50 times the free radical neutralizing power of prior generations. Following this regime has been clinically proven in over 91% of users to fade the appearance of sunspots and age spots in four weeks. Murad is available for purchase online at www.murad.co.nz or any Caci nationwide.

So repair and protect your skin after a damaging summer. Because dry, rough and papery only looks good on leaves.

Megan Robinson, 18 March 2011.