Summer is here, temperatures are rising, and with them comes the desire for days at the beach, picnics in the sun, and evenings on the terrace... But before exposing yourself to the sun's rays, it's crucial to take care of your skin. Too often, we forget that it's our first line of defense against external aggressors. It deserves our full attention, especially at the start of the summer season when it's under more stress than ever. Preparing your skin for the sun isn't just a matter of aesthetics or comfort; it's primarily a matter of health and prevention.
Sun exposure can be beneficial, provided it's controlled. Uncontrolled UV rays accelerate skin aging, weaken the epidermis, and promote the appearance of blemishes and irritations. A suitable routine not only limits these effects but also strengthens the skin, restores its radiance and vitality, and promotes a harmonious and long-lasting tan. Let's delve into the details of this gentle, natural, and respectful preparation, in keeping with the Born to Bio ethos.
Restoring radiance to your skin: the essential role of exfoliation
After months sheltered under sweaters and coats, skin often tends to become dull, clogged with dead cells, and less receptive to skincare. That's why exfoliation is one of the first steps to take. It helps activate cell renewal, smooth the skin's texture, even out the complexion, and prepare it to better absorb moisture. But be careful, the goal isn't to strip the epidermis: gentleness is key. Exfoliating once or twice a week is more than enough. It's best to choose natural textures, enriched with plant powders or softening oils, which exfoliate while nourishing. It's a sensory, almost meditative step that reconnects you with touch and transforms sun preparation into a true skincare ritual.
Hydration: the invisible foundation of healthy skin
Hydration is undoubtedly the most important step in any skincare routine, whether it's summer or not. Before even thinking about tanning or sun protection, it's essential to ensure that the skin is well-nourished, deep down. Dehydrated skin is more fragile, more sensitive to the sun, and more prone to irritation or redness. Conversely, well-hydrated skin is supple, radiant, and resilient. Drinking water regularly throughout the day is essential, but it's not enough. It's also necessary to provide it with external care, rich in hydrating and soothing agents. Light, fluid textures that absorb quickly are particularly well-suited to the warmer months. Applying a lotion or moisturizing milk morning and evening then becomes a comfortable, almost automatic, habit. Maintaining this routine regularly prepares the skin to face the sun in better conditions, while also helping to prolong the radiance of your tan.
Nourish your skin from within with a sun-kissed diet
The link between beautiful skin and diet is undeniable. Certain nutrients play a major role in naturally supporting the skin's defenses. Foods rich in beta-carotene, vitamins A and E, and antioxidants help the skin react better to the sun and stimulate melanin production. Carrots, mangoes, apricots, spinach, and sweet potatoes are all excellent choices to include in your diet starting in the spring. These warm colors not only brighten up dishes but also actively prepare the body for sun exposure. Healthy fats, found in vegetable oils, oily fish, and seeds, also support skin elasticity and prevent dryness. It's not about following a special diet, but rather about gently adjusting your habits to give your skin what it needs to glow.
Anticipating exposure: protective measures to adopt from the first rays
When the warmer weather arrives, the temptation is strong to spend long periods in the sun to enjoy the return of the heat. However, the first few exposures are often the riskiest. Skin, still unaccustomed to UV rays, can react strongly: sunburn, tightness, redness, or even irritation. This is why it is essential to adopt a cautious approach from the very beginning of the season. This involves choosing appropriate sun protection, based on your skin type, with a high SPF. It is also recommended to avoid exposure during the most intense hours, between noon and 4 p.m., and to favor shaded areas or light but covering clothing. Skin doesn't need to be exposed to extreme UV rays to begin to tan. A gradual tan, acquired over several days, will be more beautiful, more even, and above all, longer-lasting. The goal is not to avoid the sun, but to enjoy it with respect and moderation.
After-sun care: a key step often overlooked
We often talk about sun preparation, but less so about post-sun care. Yet, it's in the hours following sun exposure that the skin expresses its most urgent needs. Even when well protected, it has been stressed, heated, and dehydrated. It has lost water, sometimes lipids, and needs to be soothed. Applying an after-sun product, rich in calming agents such as aloe vera, calendula, or floral waters, is a step towards rehydration, but also regeneration. It's a time to reconnect with touch, slow down, and help the skin reconnect with the sun. This treatment also helps prolong your tan by maintaining skin's suppleness. Apply it generously, without restraint, and can be combined with mists or thermal waters for an immediate feeling of freshness.
A gentle, natural and effective summer routine
No need to multiply products and steps. Summer is the ideal season to adopt a minimalist yet targeted routine. Gently cleanse, deeply hydrate, effectively protect, and soothe after sun exposure. These are the four pillars of a successful routine. By choosing natural skincare products made with organic ingredients, you give your skin the very best, without artifice or harshness. It's also a gesture for the environment, by limiting synthetic components, endocrine disruptors, and controversial sunscreens. Born to Bio offers a range of certified organic, accessible, and sensorial skincare products that perfectly embody this vision. Shower gel, body lotion, floral water, deodorant, after-sun care... Each product is designed to easily integrate into your daily routine, without overloading or unnecessary ingredients, in a spirit of simplicity and pleasure.
The beauty of well-prepared skin: more than a tan, a feeling
Sun-prepared skin isn't just more tanned. It's skin that breathes, that vibrates, that reacts supplely to the elements. It's skin that embodies well-being, that doesn't suffer from external aggressors, that navigates the season with radiance and lightness. By taking care of it before, during, and after sun exposure, we allow it to give its best. It's also a way to reconnect with yourself, to give yourself time, to cultivate simple yet powerful habits.
Born to Bio's favorite: our summer selection
Looking for a 100% natural, effective and sensorial sun care routine?
Born to Bio will be with you throughout the summer with its organic essentials:
- Apricot Kernel Body Scrub – Certified Organic : for soft, smooth skin, ready for tanning.
- Rich honey and shea body lotion – Certified Organic : light and nourishing, it leaves the skin supple and delicately scented.
- Aloe Vera Gel – Certified Organic : soothing, it comforts the skin after exposure.
- Tiare Deodorant – Certified Organic : effective and uncompromising freshness.
In conclusion: a summer in harmony with your skin and nature
Preparing your skin for the sun is ultimately a way of life. It's a balance between care, pleasure, protection, and freedom. It's choosing to live summer to the fullest, without compromising between beauty and health. By adopting a gentle, natural, and respectful routine, you're choosing lasting well-being, for yourself and for the environment. Born to Bio supports this approach with skincare products designed to enhance the skin without overloading it, harnessing nature's power to create radiance, all with simplicity.
👉 Check out an article from ELLE magazine on how to properly prepare your skin after sun exposure: 4 dermatologist tips to prepare your skin for the sun
Bonus: Check out this blog post by France24: "Preparing" your skin for the sun: many misconceptions and risks
And you, what's your favorite tip for preparing your skin for the sun? Have you already incorporated organic skincare into your summer routine? Share your habits and little rituals in the comments!
