Summer was great for your soul, but your skin? Not so much. By now you’ve probably got some patchy pigmentation, drier skin, breakouts and that rough texture that gives away every time you forgot to reapply sunscreen. Between the SPF buildup, those glorious beach days, and tube commutes, your skin is probably crying out for help.
You see, post-summer skincare isn’t just about slapping on some moisturiser and calling it a day. It’s more like doing a complete seasonal wardrobe switch for your skin routine. Time to pack away those lightweight summer mists and bring in the big guns: richer formulas that actually repair, hydrate, and restore what summer took away.
Get this right and you’ll actually end up with better skin than you had before the summer.
Step 1: Cleanse Like You Mean It
Your skin has been through it this summer. Sunscreen residue, saltwater, chlorine, city fumes, it’s all sitting there, clogging things up and making your skin look dull. But here’s where most people mess up: they go too harsh with the cleansing and strip everything away, leaving skin even more irritated.
We love:
REHAB. Retreat Body Wash Sheets
These award-winning sheets transform into a creamy lather with water, cleansing while hydrating and brightening thanks to hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and papaya extract. Lightweight, zero-waste, and perfect for travel.
Where to buy: rehabyourhair.com – £24
Weleda Skin Food Shower Cream
If you prefer traditional bottles, this one turns your shower into a mini spa session. It cleanses without that tight, squeaky feeling that tells you you’ve gone too far.
Where to buy: boots.com – £7.50 / 200ml
Step 2: Exfoliate Smart, Not Hard
After months of SPF layering and summer grime, you need to get that dead skin off. But there’s a fine line between “glowing” and “raw,” and too many people cross it. The goal is to polish, not punish.
We love:
REHAB. Retreat Scalp & Body Scrub
These pre-portioned little balls take the guesswork out of scrubbing. Sugar and sea salt do the buffing while coconut oil keeps everything hydrated. No overdoing it, no waste.
Where to buy: rehabyourhair.com – £22 / 20 x 10g
Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator
For a more refined choice, this uses AHAs to do the work chemically. It’s gentler than physical scrubs but just as effective at getting that summer buildup off.
Where to buy: spacenk.com – £30 / 180ml
Step 3: Deal With Pigmentation
Summer always leaves its mark and we’re only taking tan lines. Whether it’s from that day you forgot sunscreen or just general sun exposure, those dark spots and uneven patches need attention now, before they become permanent residents on your skin.
The key is acting fast with ingredients that actually work: vitamin C, niacinamide, hydroquinone (prescription-only) or tranexamic acid. Don’t wait until winter when the damage is already set.
We love:
Dermatica Personalised Pigmentation Formula
This is where you bring in the professionals without actually going to a clinic. After an online consultation, they create a custom formula that might include prescription-strength ingredients like tretinoin or hydroquinone. It’s like having a dermatologist in your bathroom cabinet.
Where to buy: dermatica.co.uk – £24.99 (trial offer £2.90)
Step 3: Hydration Station
This is the heart of your post-summer skincare routine. Once the surface is clear, your body can finally soak up moisture properly. Layering lotion with oil gives spa-level results, locking in hydration and leaving skin luminous.
We love:
REHAB. Retreat Body Milk
This hits the sweet spot between lightweight and nourishing. It sinks in fast but leaves that subtle glow that says “I take care of myself. Apply to slightly damp skin for maximum absorption
Where to buy: rehabyourhair.com – £20 / 330 ml
Oribe Mirror Rinse Glass Hair Treatment
A one-minute post-wash gloss that transforms dull, dry strands into soft, luminous hair with plant-derived humectants and a hydration complex. Salon results without heaviness.
Where to buy: cultbeauty.co.uk – £63 / 175ml
Step 4: Don’t Forget the Eyes & Lips
Summer is especially rough on delicate areas, your under-eyes from all that squinting, your lips from sun and salt. These spots need their own TLC.
We love:
REHAB. Retreat Hydrating Under Eye Patches
Cooling hydrogel patches that de-puff, refresh, and hydrate in minutes. Keep these in the fridge for those mornings when you look as tired as you feel. Five minutes and you’re back to looking human.
Where to buy: rehabyourhair.com – £16 / 5 pairs
Weleda Skin Food Lip Butter Stick
Our lips went through it this summer. This rich balm repairs the damage and prepares them for autumn’s chill.
Where to buy: allbeauty.com – £3.75 / on amazon.co.uk from Sep
Step 5: Call In the Professionals
If your skin is really showing summer’s effects, sometimes the fastest route to recovery is handing it over to experts. A good spa treatment can undo months of damage in one session.
We love:
Cowshed Full Body Exfoliation
This is one of those treatments that never goes out of style, but it’s been given an update. They use Cowshed’s gorgeous botanical scrubs to get rid of all that dead, flaky skin from your head right down to your toes. The sea salt scrubs away all the rough bits while the oils help get things moving underneath. Your skin will feel ridiculously soft afterwards and actually absorb moisturiser properly for once. It’s just what you need after months of sun and heat.
Where to book: spa.cowshed.com
Step 6: Lock It All In
This is what a lot of us get wrong. We think summer’s over, so sunscreen’s over too. Wrong. UVA rays, the ones that cause aging are present all year round. If you want your post-summer reset to stick, daily SPF is non-negotiable.en isn’t just for July. UVA rays (the ones that cause ageing) are present year-round. If you want your post-summer skin reset to last, daily SPF is non-negotiable.
We love:
Ultra Violette Extreme Screen SPF 50+
This isn’t your typical chalky body sunscreen. It’s rich, hydrating, and actually makes your skin look better while it protects. Perfect for maintaining that post-treatment glow.
Where to buy: cultbeauty.co.uk – £21.60 / 150ml
Step 7: Make It Feel Like a Ritual
Post-summer skin recovery isn’t just about the products, it’s about creating a routine that feels indulgent enough that you’ll actually stick to it. This is where beautifully scented formulas come in, turning necessary maintenance into something you look forward to
We love:
Baobab Collection Gift Box, Saint–Tropez
Body lotion and hand wash that smell like a luxury hotel in the French Riviera. Mint, thyme, and blackcurrant notes make every application feel like a mini vacation.
Where to buy: eu.baobabcollection.com – £125 / 2 x 350ml
Fraise Sublime Candle by Ormonde Jayne
From London perfume house Ormonde Jayne, the Fraise Sublime candle is a mouth-watering blend of wild strawberries, freesia, waterlilies, and ylang-ylang that instantly shifts the mood. It’s indulgent, transportive, and the perfect fragrance to wind down your self-care ritual.
Where to buy: ormondejayne.com – £75 / 280g
The key is being consistent without being obsessive. Your skin doesn’t need a 12-step routine; it needs the right steps done regularly. Focus on cleansing properly, exfoliating smartly, hydrating thoroughly, and protecting always.
