If you’ve been negligent about sun protection over the years, you may have noticed some signs of sun damage starting to creep up on your face. This can take a variety of forms, from premature wrinkles to skin that becomes discolored with dark spots. Either way, sun damage quickly ages the skin. If you don’t do anything about this, things will only continue to worsen.
What can you do to reverse the look of sun damage and restore the youthful complexion that you once took for granted? Read on as Lavelier shares some top tips.
Get Serious About Sun Protection
First and foremost, stop allowing the sun to damage your skin. No matter what you do, you’re never going to be able to repair the appearance of sun-damaged skin if, at the same time, the sun is continuing to wreak havoc on your skin.
While there may be plenty of sunscreens out there to choose from, try to pick one that you genuinely enjoy using. Find a formula that looks and feels good on your skin. This will encourage you to regularly reapply it throughout the day. The Lavelier Divine Day Defense SPF 30 is one worth trying. It’s an SPF moisturizer, meaning that it feels just like a regular lightweight moisturizer when applied. However, in addition to moisturizing your skin, it will also shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays while providing some important antioxidants.
With that said, even the best sunscreen in the world isn’t able to provide 100% protection against sun damage. If your skin is already showing signs of damage, you’ll need to go the extra mile. Stay out of the sun during its hottest hours. Depending on where you live, these are usually between 11 am and 3 pm. Sun-protecting accessories, like wide-brimmed hats and large-frame sunglasses, can be very helpful in giving your skin some extra shelter.
Add Retinol to Your Routine
While there are a number of ingredients that are commonly touted as being capable of repairing the appearance of sun damage, none of them can compete with retinol. This vitamin A derivative is revered for being the most effective. It tackles the visibility of sun damage in a few different ways. Not only does it lighten the look of dark spots and discoloration but it also smooths away the appearance of wrinkles and leaves loose, sagging skin feeling tighter and firmer.
Since the potency of retinol commonly causes various side effects (dryness and irritation are often experienced), pick a retinol-infused product that’s designed to keep these to a minimum. The Lavelier HydroTherm Completion Creme, for example, combines retinol with sodium hyaluronate and coral seaweed extract. Both ingredients are loved for their hydrating properties. Meanwhile, chamomile, cucumber, sea buckthorn, and coconut extracts counter the feeling of inflammation to keep your complexion calm and happy.
If your skin is sensitive and can’t tolerate retinol, consider retinyl palmitate instead. It’s a gentler form of vitamin A that isn’t quite so potent. It takes longer to produce visible results but it also won’t irritate your sensitive skin. You’ll find the ingredient in several Lavelier products, including the Moisture Allure Cream.
Slather Your Skin With Antioxidants
One of the reasons why retinol works so well is because of its powerful antioxidant properties. Numerous studies show that the topical use of antioxidants can mitigate the appearance of UV-induced skin damage and oxidative stress.
Ideally, antioxidants should be incorporated into both your morning and evening skincare routines. In the mornings, when used alongside a sunscreen, they’ll leave your skin feeling even better protected. Meanwhile, in the evenings, they’ll keep your skin cells feeling supported as this is the time when they naturally focus on repair and regeneration.
So, other than vitamin A, which antioxidants should you be using?
Vitamins C and E are known for being particularly beneficial at dealing with the look of sun damage. Plant-based polyphenols, such as those found in many botanical extracts, can work wonders on the complexion too. The Lavelier Oceana VitaGlow C Serum contains all of these. It has also been formulated with a blend of hydrating plant oils to give your skin a dewy and supple finish.
Exfoliate With Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
Exfoliation removes the outermost layer of skin. This is where the majority of sun damage can be seen. While a single exfoliation session isn’t going to instantly turn back the clock on your complexion, regularly exfoliating will, over time, leave your skin looking brighter, more even, and less wrinkled.
There are various exfoliants out there to choose from. However, when dealing with the appearance of sun damage, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are what you need. While skincare newbies may be intimidated by the thought of using acids on their skin, most AHAs are actually far gentler on the skin than many of the face scrubs on the market! Keeping things gentle is key. Irritating your skin in any way will only exacerbate the visible damage that you’re dealing with.
One exfoliator that we would highly recommend for sun-damaged skin is the Lavelier Oceana Refining Coral Peel. The AHA used in this formula is mandelic acid, which is known for its gentle nature. It has a large molecular size that prevents it from penetrating too deeply into the skin. This will save you from the irritation and inflammation that the more potent AHAs can cause. With that said, it still works beautifully at exfoliating the skin. Just one use will leave your skin looking more radiant. Meanwhile, regular usage will help to diminish the visible signs of sun damage.
Seek Out Ingredients That Lighten the Look of Discoloration
While antioxidants are a great way to lighten the look of discoloration, there are other ingredients that do this too. If you’re hoping for younger-looking skin as quickly as possible, it would be advisable to add a few of these ingredients to your skincare routine.
Licorice root extract is one. Studies show that licorice root extract not only blocks the appearance of sun damage and keeps the skin feeling better protected against the sun, but it also helps to fade the visibility of UV-induced discoloration and inflammation. If you want to even out the look of your skin, licorice extract can help. Give it a try with the Lavelier Seagrass Phyto Silk – a silky, lightweight moisturizer that’s packed with an array of antioxidants too.
Niacinamide is another ingredient worth knowing about. Also referred to as vitamin B3, this is another ingredient that has been proven to reduce the visible effects of sun damage on the skin. It works to smooth and firm the feel of the skin too, making it well worth using. You’ll find niacinamide in a few Lavelier products, including the Blue Algae Beauty Skincare Duo. This skincare set has been designed to counter the appearance of environmental damage, with a boatload of antioxidants to help it do this!
Give Your Skin Some Extra Hydration
While wrinkles and dark spots caused by sun exposure are usually the main points of concern, dehydration is another common problem associated with sun damage. The sun severely depletes the skin’s moisture levels, which can have a number of effects on the complexion.
If your skin type is dry, dehydration will only make that dryness worse. You’ll end up with skin that looks flaky, rough, and dull. Meanwhile, if your skin type is oily, dehydration will activate your sebaceous glands and encourage them to produce more oil. In the long run, this will leave your skin even greasier.
Let’s not forget that moisture is a must for every single process carried out by your skin cells. If you want to reverse the look of sun damage and bring about a more youthful complexion, you’ll need to ensure that your skin cells are receiving plenty of moisture.
Adding the Lavelier HydroTherm Sauna Serum to your skincare routine is one way to do this. It’s packed with humectants, meaning ingredients that bind moisture to the skin. Between sodium hyaluronate, coral seaweed, collagen, and peptides, it will quickly hydrate and plump up your complexion to leave you with a radiant glow.
Another way to ramp up your skin’s hydration levels is with a hydrating face mask, just like the Coral Luminous Face & Eye Masque. Sheet masks help to physically push hydrating ingredients deeper down, leaving the skin feeling thoroughly quenched.
Turn to Microneedling
Speak to a skincare professional about your options for reversing the look of sun damage and one of the solutions that they’ll likely recommend is microneedling. Also known as dermarolling, this technique works to stimulate skin cells in a way that leaves them feeling more capable of repairing environmental damage. Whether you’re struggling with the appearance of wrinkles, loose skin, discoloration, or anything else, microneedling can help.
Does this mean that you have to shell out for regular microneedling sessions with your dermatologist? Back in the day, yes. However, there are now many derma rollers available that can be safely used from the comfort of your own home.
Treat yourself to the Lavelier HydroTherm Sauna Collection and you’ll have your very own derma roller. This one has 0.25mm needles, which is a great place for beginners to start. This needle length will improve how smooth, firm, and elastic your skin feels. It will also encourage the absorption of the other skincare products you apply. Start by using it two to three times a week and it won’t be long before you notice some visible changes in your complexion.
Tackling the Appearance of Sun Damage With Lavelier
If you ignore the signs of sun damage on your skin, they’ll quickly worsen. Your wrinkles will turn deeper, your discoloration will become darker, and your loose skin will soon be even saggier. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to reverse the appearance of sun damage, making it important to get started ASAP. Begin with the tips that we’ve shared above and you’ll soon have younger-looking skin that you can truly be proud of.
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