The routine we need after the summer holidays

Going back to work

The sun, the sea salt, and chlorine from the pool, combined with a diet, that let's face it, was not always balanced, are the perfect recipe for endless fun but also for minor damages, which we will fix together following simple tips and tricks, to properly start the new work and school season.

Products to clean the body and face, how to make the right choice?

After spending a lot of time under the sun, we may notice brown spots, light wrinkles, or even small pimples on the skin. I'm not just talking about the face, but also the décolleté, the back, the bikini area, and maybe even the legs. And just like that, without noticing, we have damaged the skin barrier, but there is no need to panic! It is enough to choose the right products to return the skin as it was!

It is important to choose a body wash with a hydrating and regenerating formula, which would ideally contain Glycerin, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Aloe Vera, or even natural, non-comedogenic oils, such as Avocado Oil or Jojoba Oil. All these ingredients make the skin moisturized. Specifically for the body, I would suggest Cetaphil Body Wash (the one with the sky blue cap) or similar formulations, especially if you are burnt and flaking. It may feel unusual at first, because, unlike commercial foaming shampoos, these types of formulations do not lather, but trust me, your skin will be spotless!

Damaged skin faces different kinds of problems, therefore sometimes we will have to use heavy-duty products. In case you notice acne on your back, you can choose a body wash formulated with Salicylic Acid, which will help you get rid of these pimples.

I would follow the same concept in the suggestions I have for the face, but from my experience as a pharmacist, I guess that sun protection on the face has been a little more regular than on the body, therefore for the face we can perhaps choose more complex formulations, which target specific issues. For example, acne-prone skin needs a gel, or even foam face wash, formulated with ingredients such as Zinc Complex, Salicylic Acid, or Glycolic Acid. A product I would like to suggest is La Roche Posay washing gels from the Effaclar line.

Let's not think only about this type of problem! Another category that has suffered the summer is people with Rosacea, not only from the sun, but also from spicy foods, or alcohol consumption. One of the new cleansers found at Ditë e Natë is the line Cetaphil Redness Control, which maintains skin hydration and simultaneously treats redness.

Morning and evening skincare routine.

When I say that we should choose moisturizing shampoos and cleansers, that's only the tip of the iceberg of our skin nourishing process. Time to give our skin a "sandwich". This was not a joke! It is a name that we "skincare lovers" like to use for the layers of products that we put on our face.

The first layer is the moisturizer, the second is the serum, and the last is another layer of moisturizer. If you are an expert, meaning if you have experience in the use of skin care "actives", such as Retinol, Glycolic Acid, Vitamin C, etc. you can remove the bottom layer of the "sandwich", meaning the moisturizer, but if you're trying it for the first time, you should start with small steps because otherwise, you'll do more harm than good.

Nighttime routine

During our nighttime skincare routine, we can alternate the use of Glycolic Acid and Retinol serums.

As for Retinol, why not choose from the most economical lines such as Cerave . The important thing is to understand why the world went crazy for Retinoids and why we pharmacists like to suggest them so much. To put it in a few words, it accelerates skin regeneration, bringing quicker to the surface new, healthy, and tight skin. Note well! In the morning, we must apply sunscreen, otherwise we will make the spots on our face worse than we had them. This though it’s a topic for the morning routine!

Regarding AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), of course, my favorite is Glycolic Acid, but at the same time, I think it's not for everyone! So if you haven't tried a micro peeling acid before, you can start with a serum with Mandelic Acid and after you get used to this active ingredient, a little later you can experiment with products formulated with Glycolic Acid.

We finish the nighttime routine by applying moisturizing cream.

Morning routine

In the morning, you can wash your face with only water. Not simply to give yourself 5 more minutes of sleep, but to leave on the skin its natural oils, which are very important for the regeneration process. Moreover, if we have a good nighttime routine, we have the job done, but if we sweat a lot, we should use a face wash. Nevertheless, it's not a must!

When it's time to hydrate, we put our moisturizing cream on wet skin, so that we can keep the moisture "stuck" inside the skin cells. It's like putting the lid on the pot when we are cooking, so it doesn't steam.

A very good daily moisturizer is Caudalie Vinohydra Sorbet Cream. After we apply the moisturizer, I would suggest putting on sunscreen! And no, there are no excuses, because all the spots we are fighting are caused by the sun. The motto? Very simple! Sun protection in every season and every day!

If we want our morning routine to be a little extra, after the moisturizer, we can apply a cream with Vitamin C, which thanks to its anti-oxidant effects will help us not only protect the skin from external agents but also help with skin regeneration.

Time to give your hair some love

Let's go back to the summer holidays. The sea salt, the chlorine from the pool, the heat of the sun, as well as wet buns, make us feel relaxed, but at the same time, they make our hair brittle. It is good that now that we are back from vacation, we can cut the damaged ends and return to our scalp and hair care routine. Let's start!

Special shampoos for hair loss and damaged hair

A regenerating shampoo should contain ingredients that help strengthen and regenerate hair fibers. It is enough to apply and massage it with our fingertips on the scalp as well as through the entire length of the hair and then rinse it with lukewarm water. Watch out! Lukewarm, not scalded!

When it comes to shampoo formulations that treat damaged hair, as well as help prevent hair loss, here are some anti-hair loss ingredients to keep in mind:

Keratin is one of the most important ingredients in the formulation of hair shampoos, as it helps to restore the structure of the hair, filling the gaps created by the damage caused to it, giving the hair more strength and elasticity.

Argan oil, another powerful ingredient, is rich in fatty acids and vitamins that help hydrate and nourish hair, making it softer and shinier.

Let’s nourish our hair with Balms, Masks and Serums

Our damaged hair needs a little help! Undoubtedly, the right shampoo gives us a clean and regenerated base, but in these conditions, our hair needs extra care. Following a simple rule, we use hair conditioner every time we wash our hair, and having said that, let's not wash our hair more than 3 times a week. If we need to wash them more frequently we can.

In the variety of brands that you can find in Ditë e Natë Pharmacy, be sure to choose the one that meets your needs. One option would be Klorane Réparation balm.

As for the serum, I think now that the hair is more porous and brittle, apart from applying it to not completely dry hair, we can apply it to the ends, even on days when we don't have to wash our hair. Serums are lightweight and can be used more often. They serve to soften hair, reduce static electricity, and add shine.

We can try applying Phytokeratine Extreme to the ends of the hair. These are daily products that help the hair maintain its elasticity and structure.

Last, but not least, during these "difficult days" for your hair, we can apply a hair mask once a week. It is an extra step, but with the hair loss we are facing, as well as the damage it has received from this hot summer, once a week we can give it a little more care. A very interesting plant-based formula is Apivita's moisturizing mask with Hyaluronic Acid.

We are now ready to face any challenge, full of confidence, with our new look!

MSc. In Pharmacy Beki Kokona