How to look after your skin this summer

Wear sunscreen and a broad-brim hat to protect your skin against UV radiation. Image: Getty

Benefits of body therapy

When it comes to skin care, facials and body therapy are both popular ways of revitalising the skin and protecting the body’s biggest organ from heat and humidity.

One Spa day spas, located at RACV Resorts in Victoria and Queensland and at RACV Club, have partnered with LaGaia UNEDITED, to offer clients a modern luxury skincare range that is designed to hydrate, protect and bring your skin back to its optimal pH balance.

These radiant products and One Spa treatments ensure deep restoration, whether you have a Thermal Escape – One Spa’s signature exfoliation and thermal mud wrap treatment – or a facial, water or massage-therapy treatment.

A product, such as LaGaia’s Volcanic Exfoliate, can help get the skin prepped for summer, by clearing away dry skin cells and leaving the skin feeling replenished. It smells great too, with a light aroma of rose, ginger, and lavender essential oils.

One Spa day spas at RACV Resorts offer locally inspired rituals and unique water therapies. Image: Coco Productions

Use a lighter moisturiser

Spa therapists recommend you change to a lighter moisturiser for summer, to accommodate the increased humidity. Artificially heated environments over winter can be very dehydrating to skin, whereas in summer the humidity can help naturally hydrate the skin. A lighter formula keeps moisture locked in without feeling heavy when it’s hot and sweaty.

LaGaia’s Rose Quartz nourishing cream, which is used at One Spa, is the lighter option and packed with nourishing ingredients designed to restore your pH balance and protect your skin for up to 12 hours.

LaGaia Unedited founder Dr Jean Laing says skin can become hypersensitive when too many different cleansers, toners and moisturisers are used.

“Most of our face range is fragrance free and our entire range contains ingredients that are essential for all skin, like sodium hyaluronate for moisture and essential vitamins and minerals to boost cell function,” she says.

Dr Laing says ground rose quartz, amethyst, and lapis lazuli, which are all rich in silica, are added to some LaGaia products to boost the health of the skin.

One Spa exclusively offers the LaGaia UNEDITED range of luxury skincare. Image: Lucas Allen

Sun protection for face and body

There is sometimes confusion about whether sunscreen or a moisturiser should be applied first. The best way to protect your skin from harmful UV radiation is to apply a SPF 50 sunscreen after your moisturiser.

It is recommended that you use sun protection that’s specifically designed for the face, because facial skin can be more delicate than other parts of the body.

Dr Laing says People4ocean and LaGaia have created a range of sunscreens with high SPF protection that are suitable for all skin types. “At People4ocean all SPFs are designed for face and body, so pick your favourite,” she says.

Cancer Council recommends using sunscreen on days when the UV Index is forecast to be 3 or above, applying it 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapplying it every two hours.

“Once you apply People4ocean – being a physical protectant using zinc oxide – you can immediately go into direct sunlight with full protection,” Dr Laing says.

People4ocean and LaGaia are also mindful of their carbon footprint. Solar energy is used for their production process and their packaging is made from sugar cane resin.

Drinking water and staying hydrated, especially after exercise, is one way to look after your skin. Image: Matt Harvey

Tanning without sunbaking

With increased awareness about skin cancer, One Spa’s exfoliation treatment and spray-tan application is popular over summer. The trend is to go a shade or two above your natural colour for a nice natural glow.

Commercial solariums, which used UV radiation, were banned in Victoria in 2015 because of the risk of clients developing skin cancer, so spray tanning is now the way to go for those looking for a safe sun-kissed look.

“All UV rays accelerate skin degeneration and an aged appearance, so a ‘tan in a can’ really is the best way to get a summer glow,” Dr Laing says.

Hydrate from the inside

Drinking plenty of water is the key to healthy summer skin. The Better Health Channel recommends a daily fluid intake of about 2 litres for women and about 2.6 litres for men.

Healthy food, particularly vegetables, fruit, and leafy green salads, are also beneficial for the skin, providing hydration, antioxidants, and nutrition.

Try this delicious chicken salad recipe or easy Tonkatsu spiced baked salmon recipe, devised by RACV Club chefs, or Gabriel Gate’s steamed John Dory with a vegetable julienne recipe.