This article is a translation of the original French article “5 erreurs beauté en vacances qui abîment votre peau” and is intended for the French market. Treatments, availability and prices may differ at our London clinic.
Carrying on using retinol (even in the evening!)
Retinol has established itself as the star evening active ingredient for smoothing and regenerating skin texture. However, during periods of intense exposure or on seaside holidays, continuing your night-time retinol routine remains very risky.
By intensely stimulating cell renewal, retinol thins the upper layer of the epidermis. Once the stratum corneum has been thinned, the skin loses some of its natural defences and remains vulnerable to UV throughout the following day, even after cleansing in the morning. The result: increased sensitivity, redness and a high risk of reactive hyperpigmentation under the summer sun.
The Innerskin reflex: During sunny holidays, put retinol on hold completely, evening and morning. Replace your usual morning shield with the Antiox-Glow C15 Serum. Concentrated in pure vitamin C, this serum neutralises the free radicals generated by UV and preserves the radiance of your complexion, in complete safety.
Using a sun cream without pigments when you have melasma
If you are prone to pregnancy mask or localised hyperpigmentation, applying a conventional broad-spectrum sun protection may not be enough. The reason is simple: traditional UV filters protect against ultraviolet A and B, but they let through high-energy visible light, also known as blue light.
Visible light is a major trigger of melanin production in skin prone to melasma. To effectively block these wavelengths, it is essential to opt for a tinted sun cream. The iron oxides used as pigments in these formulas create an opaque physical screen that keeps the complexion even.
Spraying perfume or essential oils before sun exposure
Something as harmless as a spritz of perfume on your neck or applying a soothing essential oil before heading to the beach can have harmful consequences. Many aromatic components, notably citrus essences, contain substances known as furanocoumarins.
Under the combined action of UV and these molecules, the skin develops a toxic reaction called phytophotodermatitis. This shows up as burning redness followed by particularly stubborn brown spots. In summer, opt for alcohol-free mists and save your favourite fragrances for evenings indoors.
Overdoing mechanical scrubs to enhance your tan
The idea that you should scrub your skin vigorously every evening to prolong your tan remains a very persistent misconception. In reality, repeated grainy scrubs strip the hydrolipidic film and create micro-lesions invisible to the naked eye.
Faced with this repeated aggression, the epidermis reacts by thickening and producing more sebum, which encourages imperfections when you return from holiday. To remove dead cells gently, opt instead for a very gentle enzymatic exfoliation once a week, or leave this step to professionals as soon as you get back.
Neglecting evening skin repair in favour of textures that are too light
During hot summer days, it is tempting to swap your usual skincare for ultra-light formulas, or even to skip the evening step altogether. Yet between the heat, salt, chlorine and wind, the skin undergoes intense dehydration throughout the day and loses its ability to protect itself effectively.
The evening remains the key moment when cells regenerate. Providing soothing, replenishing and regenerating active ingredients helps rebuild the weakened skin barrier. Applying the Mesotides® Age Recovery Cream fits perfectly into this night-time ritual. Thanks to its targeted action on cell repair, it supports skin renewal, restores the epidermis's water reserves and prevents dehydration lines from forming while you sleep.
The Innerskin approach for a flawless return from holiday
Anticipating your skin's needs on holiday helps avoid most summer mishaps, but our support does not stop when autumn comes. As soon as the season ends, our Innerskin centres welcome you to take stock of the health of your skin.
Using a bespoke method combining biostimulation, deep hydration and cutting-edge technologies, our experts design a tailored journey to repair the invisible damage caused by the sun. It is the assurance of prolonging the freshness of your complexion all year round, with a radiant and perfectly natural result.
