Moisturizer is essential and applying sunscreen should be second nature by now, but there’s plenty more you can do for your skin to effectively recover from sun exposure. There’s a difference between a golden glow and looking cooked, and ultimately, you’re the one who’s going to feel it: damaged skin can often be painted over with make up, but cracks, peels and burns don’t fade without a fight, and it’s best to head them off before they occur. Fortunately, there’s lots more to after-sun care now than just dipping into a vat of aloe vera. Depending on how your skin reacts to sun exposure, we’ve listed 10 face masks that will keep your skin supple throughout summer. Remember that overworking your skin can be just as dangerous as under-protecting it—find your ideal fix below, and enjoy the rest of your summer with healthy, well-loved skin.
Calm down with something caring
Once you’re out of the sun, it’s time to address any inflammation that may have gone unnoticed; the best way to deal with this is by trusting in ingredients you know to be soothing and good for even sensitive skin. Calamine and rose absolute makes LUSH’s Catastrophe Cosmetic ($8) an ideal cooling mask for most, with an added antioxidant burst of blueberries. Meanwhile, First Aid Beauty’s ultra-pampering Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask ($28) not only uses oatmeal to relieve itching, it also contains a generous amount of shea butter to let parched skin return to its former hydrated glory.
