Face mask after sunbathing: neutralize the harm of ultraviolet light

No one knows when the first after-sun face mask was made, but it is known for certain that the fashion for tanned skin appeared in the mid-1920s. And it was – unwittingly – introduced by the legendary Coco Chanel when she stepped out onto the Croisette in Cannes after a cruise on the Mediterranean.

The face of the famous designer, darkened by exposure to the sun, looked so unusual that her photographs immediately flew around all the publications, and Parisian fashionistas began to sunbathe intensively. Since then, a tan has been perceived as a symbol of health and luxury life…

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Recipes for face masks after sunbathing: vitamins

Considering that tanning reduces the elasticity of the skin, dehydrates it and leads to the formation of wrinkles, all recipes for face masks after tanning contain components that help increase turgor and elasticity, moisturize and restore the process of epidermal renewal.

After Sun Face Mask with Vitamins A and E

Vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (tocopherol) in the form of an oil solution, which can be purchased at any drugstore, are used in many homemade skin care products. These vitamins are powerful antioxidants and can increase collagen production, so the benefits of after-sun face masks with these vitamins are undeniable.

To prepare such a mask, grind a tablespoon of oatmeal in a coffee grinder, pour in two tablespoons of warm water and let it swell a little. Add an egg yolk to the resulting gruel and drop 3-4 drops of an oil solution of vitamins (or squeeze out the contents of one capsule of "Aevit" - a ready-made mixture of these vitamins). Mix everything thoroughly and apply to the skin of the face for 15-20 minutes. It is better to wash off the mask first with warm water, and then with cold water.

Please note: during pregnancy and lactation, you should not use face masks after sunbathing with vitamin A!

After Sun Face Mask with Natural Essential Oils

Extensive use of grape seed, shea and wheat germ oils

In homemade cosmetic masks, including face masks after sunbathing, it is explained by the high content of the same vitamin E. In addition, grape seed oil and shea butter contain natural antioxidants procyanides and linoleic acid, and wheat germ oil contains allantoin (glyoxalyl diurea), under the influence of which the stratum corneum of the epidermis becomes softer and dead cells are easier to remove. All together it provides the skin with a normal level of moisture and helps restore damaged cells.

To prepare such a face mask, you need to replace the vitamins in the mixture from the first recipe with five drops of one of the named essential oils.

Recipes for face masks after sunbathing with lycopene

What is lycopene and what are its benefits for the skin? Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment that provides the red color of the pulp of tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, grapefruit, dark grapes, red peppers, pomegranates, etc. This natural antioxidant is an excellent assistant in the fight against free radicals, promotes intracellular metabolism, growth and renewal of epidermal and dermal cells.

Tomato After Sun Face Mask

To prepare this useful face mask, you will need one small ripe tomato (ground), a raw yolk of one egg and some oatmeal or regular flour. Pour boiling water over the tomato, remove the skin and grind it to a puree (with a blender). Then mix the tomato part with the yolk and add oatmeal or flour to give the desired consistency. Apply the mixture to the skin of the face for about a quarter of an hour, then wash off with water.

Strawberry After Sun Face Mask

The process, during which a woman simply takes a strawberry and smoothly smears the fragrant pulp on her face, can hardly be called a cosmetic procedure - in form. But in essence, it is an effective, useful and, most importantly, simple face mask after tanning. If you want, you can mash a couple of berries and add a little liquid honey or aloe juice.

After Sun Face Mask Made From Raw Potatoes

To prepare this mask, you need to grate one raw potato on a fine grater, add the raw yolk of one egg and one tablespoon of warm milk. Apply the mixture to your face in a slightly warm form - for a quarter of an hour.

Potato Starch After Sun Face Mask

Mix a tablespoon of potato starch with the same amount of heavy cream or sour cream. Stir until smooth and apply to the skin of the face for 20 minutes. Wash off the mask with warm water, then rinse the face with water at room temperature.

Kiwi and Buckwheat After Sun Face Mask

Kiwi fruits contain a lot of vitamin C, there is vitamin E; the composition of buckwheat can be discussed at length. A mask made of kiwi and buckwheat will help restore the skin's water balance and smooth out fine wrinkles caused by tanning.

To prepare this mask, you will need one kiwi fruit and a tablespoon of raw buckwheat ground in a coffee grinder (roasted buckwheat is not suitable). Mash the kiwi pulp well, add the resulting buckwheat flour (if you have dry skin, add a teaspoon of olive oil), mix until smooth. Apply and wash off the mask in the usual way.

After Sun Face Mask with Chamomile and Sage

According to this recipe for face masks after sunbathing, you should take a tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers, sage and peppermint and grind them into flour using a coffee grinder. Then brew a teaspoon of the resulting mixture with a small amount of boiling water and let it brew under the lid for 25 minutes. Add a few drops of olive or linseed oil to the gruel of medicinal herbs and apply to the skin of the face for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and rinse with cool water.

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Benefits of Face Masks After Sunbathing

To ensure that no one doubts the benefits of face masks after sunbathing, it is worth saying a few words about the tan that appears on our skin as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

The Earth's atmosphere lets through long-range ultraviolet waves and a small portion of medium-length waves. While medium waves penetrate only the outer layer of human skin (epidermis), long waves reach the dermis, a deeper layer located under the epidermis. At the same time, under the influence of medium-range waves, the synthesis of the skin pigment melanin increases in special skin cells (melanocytes). And this is nothing more than a protective reaction of the skin, which we are accustomed to calling a tan.

During prolonged exposure to the sun in summer, the skin begins to be intensively affected by long-range waves. Skin tissue cells cannot withstand this and their DNA is damaged. Firstly, oxidative processes accelerate in skin cells, increasing the level of free radicals. Secondly, the process of so-called photoaging is launched: the fibers of the fibrillar proteins collagen and elastin in the papillary layer of the dermis begin to quickly deteriorate, overtaking their natural production. As a result, collagen reserves are reduced, and the skin loses its density and elasticity.

To prevent this, first of all, you need to protect your skin from excessive ultraviolet radiation (i.e., don't lie on the beach for hours). A face mask after sunbathing will also come to the rescue.

Reviews of face masks after sun

According to some reviews of homemade masks, the best results are obtained when using vegetables and fruits in combination with essential oils. It is the presence of oils in masks that helps reduce dryness and tightness of the skin after going to the beach. Other reviews of face masks after sunbathing testify in favor of using vitamins A and E, which can be added to any mask.

You can judge the increase in skin elasticity after using such masks - at least twice a week - only by sensations: the skin really does become more elastic.

Sun rays are as necessary for a person as air and water. But ultraviolet rays can also harm a person, and here it is all about its quantity. Do not forget that ultraviolet waves are two-thirds responsible for skin aging. So a face mask after tanning will never be superfluous.