I have a love-hate relationship with summer. Shocking I know, what’s not to love? Sunny skies, warm weather, daylight savings - it’s glorious (most of the time, Melbourne likes to keep us on our toes).
But every summer, I can almost guarantee my skin has some kind of reaction that instantly puts a dark cloud over the sunshine. Fun fact: my skin does not like heat, and it shows.
Tell Me More:
Alas, my recent trip to Europe was no different, except this time I was incredibly ill-prepared. I was in such a rush to pack, I went rogue and packed the most obscure skincare routine. I went with only ONE serum, and ONE moisturiser, which would be normal for some, but to me, it was ludicrous.
Usually, I travel with options! Two days into the trip my skin decides it’s had enough. Within 48 hours of being overseas, I had red, irritated, rough-textured, incredibly uncomfortable skin. My eyes swelled and my face, neck, chest, arms and hands were covered in a relentless rash. Did I mention I had a wedding to go to on day three? Yep. Great.
So there I am, in beautiful sunny Greece, living my best life, except for that fact that I wasn’t. I couldn’t enjoy any of it because I was stuck inside, away from the heat, trying to aid my crazy uncomfortable, sore, red, itchy, skin. If you’ve ever experienced a reaction, or even a breakout, you can appreciate how self-conscious you become, and how much it can affect your mood.
My Saving Grace:
Lucky for me, I was travelling with my cousin Nicola, who is also a sensitive skincare warrior (in case you haven’t seen her story, check it out here). She was my skincare guardian angel and came to my rescue with two products that would heal my skin within 48 hours.
I coated my skin in the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Overnight Serum and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Barrier Repairing Balm. Both of these products are designed to knock out irritation while neutralising redness and repairing your skin’s barrier.
Instantly, my skin felt more calm. The lightweight serum hydrated and soothed, while the rich nourishing balm felt like a protective barrier working to repair my skin. I felt instant relief from the burning, tight skin I’d been fighting for the last few days.