THE SECRET TO SUMMER SKIN
As I write this, I’m sitting on the balcony of a beautiful white-washed villa in Ibiza overlooking an inviting turquoise blue pool, surrounded by white and fuchsia bougainvillea. I've just begun the second leg of my holidays and after publishing this article I will be stashing my laptop away, taking out a good book and whiling away hours relaxing on a beach. Bliss. But in thinking about les vacances, one thing that has been and is still at the top of my list is how I take care of my skin. It’s imperative to take care of our skin all year long, but even more so in summer, when the sun’s harsh rays are at their strongest.
You might remember I’ve written about the Franco-Chinese skincare brand, Cha Ling in the past – here & here. What I love most about this skincare brand is that they not only create timeless products for every day use and care, but they also release products for each new season. Our skin changes and adapts, just as nature does with each stage of the year, so it makes sense to tailor the products we use on it. Today I’m going to talk about their summer essentials; products that will not only keep your skin silky smooth and moisturised, but will also prep it for heightened sun exposure.
In traditional Chinese medicine, summer is the season of maturity (think ripe fruit, flowers in full bloom and leaves at their greenest) and the height of vitality. This 5,000-year-old practise directs and inspires all of Cha Ling’s ethos and skincare development. All of the products in their summer range offer refreshing and moisturising properties to cool and calm summer’s heat.
My Summer Skincare Essentials:
Having tried both the winter and spring mask, I can tell you that Cha Ling masks do the job. They give your skin a much-needed moisture boost – think a fruit smoothie for the skin.
With a refreshing gel texture, the summer mask not only plumps the skin, but it also restores the skin’s hydrolipidic balance. The hydrolipidic film acts as your skin's bodyguard against the elements. It helps lock in moisture, so applying a mask that helps maintain and restore its properties is crucial for summer months.
*Apply with a brush and leave for 10 minutes, then remove excess with a damp cotton pad.
I love a good mist lotion – nothing feels better than spritzing a cooling lotion on your face in high temperatures. It’s great for beach days and will prep your skin for further skincare steps. And the fresh Pu’Er tea ingredient acts as an active protective shield against oxidative damages.
Red Tinted Lip Balm
I don’t go anywhere without a lipbalm, or red lipstick in my handbag. So this red tinted lip balm couldn’t be better suited to my daily life. It’s essentially two in one – giving the same hydration as a lipbalm, but with added colour. Obviously lighter and less heavy than the matt lipstick I usually wear, it’s enriched with mango butter and camellia oil to provide long-lasted hydration, making it perfect for hot weather.
I love to switch up my perfume in warmer months for a more refreshing scent. Although I’d happily wear this one all year round, it has a particularly fresh and airy scent, which blends the femininity of a tea flower and the woody intensity of Pu’Er tea cake to create a delicate balance that is perfect for balmy warm evenings spent dining next to a beach. There’s also a travel size available perfect for stashing in your handbag for a last minute spritz to freshen up before heading from the beach to the bar.
The plumping essence is the ultimate remedy for quick skin hydration, when you don’t have time to do a mask. The active ingredient of red algae extract rapidly plumps and hydrates skin whilst forming a protective moisturising film on the skin, which gives almost the same moisturising levels as the summer mask.
*Apply to cleansed skin in the morning and evening.
Apply morning and night to keep skin moisturised when over-exposed to the sun. Its milky texture provides a cooling effect that will actively calm and replenish your skin’s natural moisture after a day spent in the sun.
Cha Ling is available at le Bon Marché Rive Gauche or online here.
Created in collaboration with Cha Ling. Photos by Rachelle Saevil, edited by me.
