It's no secret that in summer our skin changes. Sweating, dryness, sunburn, hyperkeratinization, etc. All these factors impact your skin barrier.
The one that affects us the most is probably the effect of UV rays. Invisible, they can cause damage to your skin such as redness, burning, hyperpigmentation and accelerate your skin aging, which means accentuating the appearance of spots and wrinkles. Why? Because they are known to thicken the skin and dry out the skin in the summer. This is why you often have fewer imperfections in the summer, but it also means that your hydration level decreases, your skin no longer retains enough water and your skin barrier no longer does its job properly.
So, hydration is essential to maintain healthy skin, even in summer. Luckily for you, we followed the advice of Dr. Kemi Fabusiwa who shared the best active ingredients to have in your routine to take care of your skin barrier during periods of high heat. Come on, let's decipher it all together.
Ceramides
Did you know? Ceramides are lipids naturally present in the skin that are essential for the formation of a healthy skin barrier. This barrier protects the skin from external aggressions such as UV rays and pollution, while maintaining hydration. According to Dr. Fabusiwa, ceramides play a crucial role as the skin’s “natural moisturizing factors,” promoting water retention and preserving the barrier function. They act as a cement between skin cells, ensuring their cohesion and preventing moisture loss. After sun exposure, when skin can be dehydrated and vulnerable, ceramides help restore and strengthen this skin barrier.
Panthenol
Panthenol, also known as provitamin B5, is a beneficial ingredient for the skin. Originally developed to promote wound healing, it effectively helps prevent dehydration by maintaining skin moisture levels. It is also an excellent antioxidant, protecting the skin from environmental damage such as pollution and reducing oxidative stress, which is responsible for uneven skin tone such as spots and pimples. Don't look far, our fluid cream is your summer ally with its formula enriched with panthenol.
Allantoin
Allantoin is a compound that is naturally present in the human body and in certain plants. It is an ideal active ingredient to help soothe and protect the skin. It is particularly beneficial for sensitive or irritated skin, as it promotes healing and helps reduce redness and inflammation. It is therefore perfectly suited to sensitive and acne-prone skin. Another positive point, according to Dr. Fabusiwa, this ingredient is very effective in preventing transepidermal water loss, which we discussed above.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid, which needs no introduction, is an essential compound in maintaining the skin barrier. Naturally present in your body, this moisturizer has the ability to retain up to 1000 times its weight in water.
It also helps prevent moisture loss and maintain the skin's necessary water balance. This barrier, composed of lipids, ceramides and proteins, acts as a first line of defense against external aggressions such as pollution and free radicals, while facilitating the absorption of essential nutrients.
With its ability to penetrate deep into the skin and intensely hydrate, hyaluronic acid not only improves skin texture and elasticity, but also helps soothe irritation and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Adopt our rehydrating mask at the beginning of your routine. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, it intensely hydrates and protects your skin. Result: skin that is hydrated at all levels, plumped up, more supple and comfortable! You can even leave it on as a night mask.
The high molecular weight of hyaluronic acid forms a moisturizing film that retains water in the cells, while the low molecular weight penetrates deep into the epidermis to boost collagen production.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E, or tocopherol, is an essential active ingredient in skin care that is often underestimated. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E plays a crucial role in skin hydration and healing, making it especially beneficial for dry, dehydrated skin.
It helps protect skin cells from damage caused by free radicals, unstable molecules generated by environmental factors such as pollution and the sun's UV rays. By neutralizing these free radicals, vitamin E prevents premature aging of the skin and maintains its youthful and healthy appearance.
In combination with vitamin C, vitamin E becomes even more effective. Together, these two antioxidants work synergistically to strengthen the skin barrier and improve the skin's ability to protect itself against external aggressions. This combination also helps reduce sun damage, reducing the appearance of pigment spots and improving skin texture.
