7 Easy Ways to Fix Sun Damaged Skin & Hair

While we may not be ready for the summer to come to an end, our skin and hair could actually be looking forward to it! For all of the bliss and fun of summer, (beach days, bike rides, pool time, brunch al fresco, anyone?) our skin & hair takes a serious beating from so much exposure to sun.

Here are a few product suggestions to work rehab on your post-summer beauty woes, from lackluster locks to sun-damaged skin…

Even out your skin tone

You can’t instantly eradicate signs of sun damage aka freckled and uneven complexion, but sloughing off is a start. It removes the top layer of dull, discolored skin, allowing active ingredients to penetrate more easily and make your complexion look healthy and renewed. Kick-start your routine by exfoliating every day for a week and then cut back to one or two weekly sessions as required.

Try First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Polish that uses natural exfoliants including shea nut shell powder and willow bark extract to gently buff and polish the skin to reveal a smoother, brighter, more even finish. Free of any parabens, sulfates or phthalates, this gentle exfoliator is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin. ($24, sephora.com)

Amp up moisture

Skin that has been exposed to mega doses of sun needs intense nourishment and repair. Give your skin some much needed TLC by adding a daily dose of moisturizing lotion that soothes and restores your skin’s hydration level, making it ready to withstand cooler fall temperatures. Use post-shower, while skin is damp, to lock in hydration.

Try Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion – Designed to soften your skin, this nourishing lotion combines Milk, Honey and Vitamin E, along with Coconut and Grape Seed Oils for an ideal blend of nutrients. It has a non-greasy and non-sticky formula that absorbs quickly and keeps skin hydrated all day long.

Lighten Up

Seeing spots? Work on reversing all that sun damage with a concentrated brightening serum or treatment to help diminish dark spots and prevent future ones from popping up. Apply in the morning (under sunscreen) and also at night. As the sun-induced discoloration develops in the deepest layers of the skin, it takes at least 8 -10 weeks to see results so be patient and stick with your routine. It’s recommended to continue the treatment year-round to keep new spots from forming.

Try Societe Clinical skincare TRIPLE C Vitamin Therapy Serum that blends three different, stabilized forms of Vitamin Cs – Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate to create a synergistic combination that remains stable for longer periods, offering high antioxidant, collagen boosting properties without irritation.

Another spot treatment that I really like is Exuviance OptiLight Tone Corrector ($62) that combines Vitamin C and retinol to help fade brown spots and uneven patches.

Keep up your SPF routine

Just because summer is dwindling down doesn’t mean the sun is as well! Sunscreen is your skin’s first defense against premature aging so be sure to continue using daily broad-spectrum SPF, since any sun exposure will thwart your spot-clearing attempts.

Try Josie Maran Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+ – A lightweight, chemical-free daily sunscreen infused with argan oil which hydrates dry skin, fights signs of aging and also improves skin tone by moisturizing for a radiant complexion.  This sunscreen is extra mild and fast absorbing and can also double as a great makeup primer. It is suitable for all skin types.

Quench parched strands

Summer elements zap moisture from hair, leaving you with dry, brittle locks. Plus, chlorine and salt water lift the cuticle, seep in, and dry tresses even more. My all-time favorite haircare product to infuse moisture back is WEN Cleansing Conditioner but even if you do not want to go the cleansing conditioner route, I would highly recommend using a hydrating, sulfate-free shampoo & conditioner that won’t strip your hair of its natural moisture and shine.

Try Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo & Conditioner. Infused with aragn oil and shea butter, this all-natural sulfate-free duo hydrates, smoothes and repairs dry, damaged strands, leaving hair manageably soft.

Treat your tresses with TLC

When hair is very dry, the cuticle is open and strands feel rough and unruly. Once a week, take the time to slather on a deep-conditioning hair mask to bring life back to sun-parched hair. Apply the deep conditioner to damp hair, then wrap with a plastic wrap for a few minutes to help the ingredients penetrate.

Try L’Occitane Aromachologie Repairing Mask. With a natural complex of 5 essential oils including Lavender, Geranium and Ylang-ylang, this rich and silky cream nourishes and deeply restores capillary fiber to leave your hair shiny, soft and smooth.

Another of my favorite is Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque that is an all-natural, argan oil based intensive treatment perfect for dry, damaged or over-processed hair.

Banish Brassiness

Whether your strands are blond or brunette, colored or natural, it’s likely that you’ll notice some fading by the end of summer. That’s because the sun breaks down pigments in the hair while constant chlorine exposure dulls color and texture. The best way to richen up sun-bleached hair is a demi-permanent color that deposits tone and shine while smoothing the cuticle, making hair look and feel healthier. Plus, it will neutralize brassy tones. Then go for an at-home gloss treatment to boost all-over shine and vibrancy.…without a hefty salon price tag.

Try Clairol Natural Instincts Shine Happy Clear Shine Treatment ($9, drugstores) for a quick and easy fix to restore lost luster and smoothness!

Disclosure : Societe Clinical Vitamin C Serum is a press sample.