After a week or two of complete relaxation, it can be an unwelcome surprise to find your skin has returned from holiday looking considerably less relaxed. There’s no doubt we put a lot of prep into our skin pre-holiday. But what happens when we get home?
‘A summer holiday can leave skin looking dehydrated, dull, congested and more pigmented,’ says top dermatologist and brand founder Dr Sam Bunting. ‘UV exposure can deepen existing pigmentation, while travel and changes in routine can all disrupt the skin barrier.’
And the effects can hit mature skin the hardest. As GP and aesthetic physician Dr Christine Hall explains, ‘Mature skin is simply less resilient. As we age, sebaceous glands produce less sebum, collagen reserves drop, cell turnover slows and the skin barrier becomes more fragile. Because mature skin repairs more slowly, the damage hits harder and lingers longer.’
When skin is looking and feeling worse for wear post-holiday, it can be tempting to pile on the products in an attempt to speed up recovery. But before you do, we asked the experts what mature skin really needs to recover.
Why does my skin feel worse after holiday?
While on holiday, your skin might look like it has a summer glow, but Dr Hall says that appearances can be deceptive. ‘Heat, humidity and a fresh tan give it that lovely temporary sun-kissed glow, which masks what’s actually happening underneath. Once you’re home, the cumulative effects start to show.’
It will come as no surprise that UV exposure takes a toll on the skin, but there are other, less obvious holiday factors at play, too. ‘Chlorine strips the skin’s natural lipids. The cabin environment on a flight is often around 20% humidity, roughly a quarter of what your skin is used to. This pulls water straight out of the skin, as does air conditioning once you land,’ explains Dr Hall.
‘Add alcohol and lack of sleep on a long-haul flight before landing straight into a hot climate, and skin can be far more dehydrated than people realise,’ she adds.
One factor you might not expect is the heat itself. ‘Heat alone can trigger or worsen pigmentation, particularly melasma, even with diligent SPF use, because the inflammation and dilated blood vessels it causes stimulate the pigment-producing cells directly,’ says Dr Hall.
How do I reset my skin after a holiday?
Your first instinct might be to amp up your routine. But Dr Sam warns that doing too much too soon could actually be counterproductive.
‘The biggest mistake is trying to fix everything at once,’ she says. 'It can be tempting to reach for strong acids, scrubs and multiple actives to tackle pigmentation or dullness, but this can further irritate stressed skin.’
As Dr Hall puts it, ‘There’s no prize for jumping straight back into your strongest routine.
Instead, you’ll want to strip back your routine. According to Dr Hall, recovery comes down to three key steps: ‘Repair the barrier, hydrate, then protect – exactly in that order,’ she tells GH.
‘First, simplify your routine and focus purely on barrier repair,’ says Dr Hall. Here, she recommends checking the ingredients list: ‘You’ll want to look for ceramides, lipids, panthenol, centella and beta-glucan.’ She highly recommends the Dr Althea 345 Relief Cream, noting it’s brilliant for skin that feels sensitive or congested.
To bring hydration back into the skin, Dr Sam recommends her own Flawless Moisturiser Intense as a brilliant option for dry, dehydrated or compromised skin.
Dr Hall also recommends humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. ‘Eqqualberry Swimming Pool Toner is a great option if you want something that leaves skin feeling genuinely plump,’ she says.
And don’t abandon the SPF once you’re home. ‘SPF50 should be applied every morning, without exception,’ says Dr Hall. ‘This is the window where new pigment is still forming, so daily protection is what stops it consolidating, don’t think of sunscreen as something you’re “finished with” now the holiday’s over.’
‘Once skin feels calm again, I would reintroduce gentle renewal, something like an enzyme exfoliant or a PDRN or niacinamide serum that supports repair while it brightens, rather than harsh acids,’ she adds.
How long will it take for my skin to recover post-holiday?
When it comes to skincare, we all know that patience often pays off. Post-holiday recovery is no exception.
Dehydration and dullness usually improves within a few days to weeks of consistent, gentle care,’ says Dr Hall. Barrier repair takes longer, two to four weeks, significantly longer if it’s been significantly disrupted.’
For mature skin, pigmentation will take the longest to improve. As Dr Hall explains, ‘The cell turnover cycle can run to 60 days or more, so realistically allow eight to twelve weeks for the complexion to properly settle, and longer still for stubborn pigment.’
A good routine and a little patience will go a long way.
