Photosensitizing active ingredients, exfoliating or alcohol-enriched formulas, here are all the cosmetic products that should not be applied to your skin before exposing yourself to the sun.
If you have to avoid exposure during the hottest hours of the day (between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.) and remember to put on sunscreen every two hours when you tan to get a nice tan, you must also prevent the appearance of pigment spots. Contrary to popular belief, they are not always due to too much sun but sometimes also to the use of certain unsuitable cosmetics.
Not all beauty products can be safely applied to your skin and hair before tanning as some contain photosensitizing substances which make the skin more sensitive to the sun. To avoid ending up with blemished skin at the end of summer, it’s best to take the right steps and review your beauty routine in spring and the first rays of the sun. Checklist of beauty products not to apply before going to tan.
The perfume
It is certainly the product that we continue to use mechanically in summer even when we pay attention to what we put on our skin. But a cloud of perfume sprayed on her neck and cleavage or a touch of eau de toilette deposited in the crook of the wrist are bad ideas before going to tan. Indeed, many perfumes contain fragrant molecules from essential oils (often from citrus fruits) which are photosensitizing for the skin. By applying perfume directly to your skin before tanning, you take the risk of weakening your skin and in addition to promoting sunburn. Think about it!
Retinol-based anti-aging skincare
If it is known to be effective and trendy to fight against wrinkles and sagging skin, retinol is an anti-aging active ingredient that is photosensitizing. It is therefore better to avoid weakening your face with a treatment containing this vitamin A derivative during summer holidays and tanning sessions. As a general rule, do not apply moisturizer to the face before going out in the sun, but rather apply sunscreen. In the evening, thoroughly cleanse your skin to remove sun filters and apply a repairing treatment to the face, neck and décolleté.
Monoi
If its smell transports us in thought to paradisiacal beaches and makes us want to apply it to tan more quickly, it is important not to put monoi on your skin or hair before a tanning session. This naturally scented moisturizer (which is obtained by macerating tiare flowers in coconut oil), will not promote tanning but increase the risk of burns and sunburn.
As for the hair, it will also dry it out even faster if you coat it with monoi before going to tan. On the other hand, do not hesitate to apply it as an after-sun care to nourish your skin and enhance your tan. Equally harmful to the health and beauty of your skin, milking fat is also to be banned before a tanning session for the same reason even if it is (fortunately) used less and less.
Beauty products containing fruit acids
If they are not photosensitizing strictly speaking, the fruit acids contained in certain serums will however make the skin more sensitive to UV rays by exfoliating its superficial layer. This is why these facial treatments are not recommended in case of sun exposure in summer. Use them instead in the evening, to boost cell renewal and bring radiance to the complexion.