how to downplay a sunburn
It’s happened to the most vigilant of us. You get caught up in your fun at the beach over the weekend and come home looking like a lobster. Even worse, you have a presentation on Monday! Oh no! Fortunately, there is a way to tone down the redness. Instead of resorting to your usual skin care regime, follow this step by step to take care of your sensitive rosy cheeks so you don’t make matters worse and can hold your head high in the office.
Step One: Cleanse
Start off by washing your face with a gentle face cleanser. Now is not the time to use exfoliants, astringents, or anything with acne fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide- these products could further irritate your skin.
Step Two: Moisturize (a lot!)
When taking care of compromised, damaged skin, the key is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Start off with a good hydrating serum, like M.Steve’s Anti-Aging Serum. This humectant based serum is made from high quality, pure aloe vera and will give your skin an extra dose of much needed water. For a moisturizer, you can’t go wrong with Rilastil’s Deliskin- it will begin to tone down the redness immediately and is super soothing for sensitive skin. Avoid products that have any added fragrances!
Step Three: Sunscreen
Have you learned your lesson? Put it on now… and don’t forget again!
Step Four: Prime
Primers provide a barrier between your skin and your makeup, help lock in moisture, and a green tinted primer will help balance redness in the skin. Smashbox’s Color Correcting Foundation Primer works great. Use a pea sized dab and press it into the skin, concentrating on the cheeks, nose and forehead.
Step Five: Apply Make-up Sparingly
The less make-up, the better, but if you must use makeup, choose a golden toned tinted moisturizer or foundation. The yellow tones will also help balance redness in the skin. Use a Beauty Blender sponge to stipple and blend. Nix the blush for a while as it will emphasize the sunburn and instead opt for a light dusting of matte bronzer (again choosing golden tones). Finally, for your lips, choose a golden hued moisturizing balm like Fresh’s Honey Lip Treatment.
Last but not least, drink lots of water and keep your head held high… it will all be over in a few days.
