My 7-Day Post-Summer Skin Repair Plan

Without a doubt, the summer months can cause significant damage to the skin due to the amount of time spent outdoors, in the sun, and in chlorinated pools and saltwater oceans. Brown spots are increased, the skin’s texture gets rough, and the skin can be left feeling tight and parched and look less-than-radiant. I’ve created this effective at-home treatment to repair the skin from summer sun damage that your skin is sure to love.

What this treatment does: This custom 7-day treatment is designed to repair damage from aging, sun and stress and reverse the visible signs of aging. It encourages new, healthy skin cell growth while revealing smoother, more even-toned skin.

What you’ll need:

1. A gentle facial scrub. It’s mandatory to use one with ROUND beads, such as polyethylene or jojoba beads. (Note: Anything with natural grains such as apricot, almond or seed/shell powders can scratch and irritate the skin and should not be used with this treatment plan.) All of the Renée Rouleau facial scrubs use round beads only…

Recommendation: Renée Rouleau Micro Crystal Cream or Mint BuffingBeads

2. An exfoliating peel or mask formulated for home use. Choose one containing either glycolic, malic, tartaric, salicylic or lactic acids and something that is formulated to be left on the skin for 5-10 minutes and rinsed off. Generally masks and peels are stronger and therefore more effective for this treatment than a lesser-strength acid serum that is meant to stay on the skin overnight. Read more about exfoliating acids.

Recommendation: Renée Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

3. A soothing gel mask. Masks come in the form of a gel, cream or clay, and while all have their benefit, for the purpose of this treatment I suggest using a gel mask due to its cooling, soothing and deeply hydrating properties.

Recommendation: Renée Rouleau Bio Calm Repair Masque

Total Cost: If you purchase the three recommended Renée Rouleau products, the cost will be $170-$173 (depending on which facial scrub you purchase).  Each product must be ordered on our website individually. Show now here.

4. Optional but highly recommended: An alcohol-free serum for your skin type. Since this treatment works to reveal fresher, younger cells, it’s important to protect and nourish them by applying a hydrating serum underneath your moisturizer at the end of the treatment.

Recommendation: See the collection of Renée Rouleau serums and choose one for your skin type. See our nine skin types.

Read: What is a Serum and Do I Really Need One?

THE TREATMENT: This is recommended for sun damaged, acne-prone, aging, oily, normal or dry skin types. (If you have thin, fragile skin, perform the sensitive skin treatment as suggested further down in this post.)

Night #1) Facial scrub + peel + mask

Step 1: Cleanse your skin with your nighttime cleanser. Rinse well. On damp, clean skin, apply a small amount of facial scrub (Micro Crystal Cream or Mint Buffing Beads) to the face and massage in gentle, circular motions for 60 seconds. Be sure to use on the crow’s feet area but avoid getting into the eye. Rinse well.

Step 2: Immediately apply a thin coat of Triple Berry Smoothing Peel to the entire face. Be sure to apply on the crow’s feet area near the eyes, but avoid getting onto the lashes or into the eyes. (Read why exfoliation helps with wrinkles around the eyes.) Leave the peel on for five minutes. (A tingling sensation is normal while the peel is on the skin.) After five minutes, rinse well with COOL water and gently pat skin dry with a soft towel.

Step 3: Apply a thin coat of Bio Calm Repair Masque to the entire face. Let dry for 10 minutes and rinse well with COOL water. Proceed with using an alcohol-free toner then apply a few drops of your favorite skin serum and follow with your nighttime moisturizer. At this point, skin should start to feel calm again, but reddening of the skin is normal.

Night #2) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for six minutes.

Night #3) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for seven minutes.

Night #4) Peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, you will NOT use the facial scrub. Leave the peel on for seven minutes.

Night #5) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for nine minutes.

Night #6) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for seven minutes.

Night #7) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for five minutes.

This concludes the treatment.

SENSITIVE SKIN TREATMENT: This is recommended for sensitive, fragile and easily-irritated skins. At least one hour prior to this treatment, put the Azulene Gel Mask into the refrigerator. This provides extra soothing relief for sensitive skin.

Night #1) Facial scrub + peel + mask

Step 1: Cleanse your skin with your nighttime cleanser. Rinse well. On damp, clean skin, apply a small amount of facial scrub (Micro Crystal Cream is best for sensitive skins) to the face and massage in gentle, circular motions for 60 seconds. Be sure to use on the crow’s feet area but avoid getting into the eye. Rinse well.

Step 2: Immediately apply a thin coat of Triple Berry Smoothing Peel to the entire face. Be sure to apply on the crow’s feet area near the eyes, but avoid getting onto the lashes or into the eyes. Leave the peel on for three minutes. (A tingling sensation is normal while the peel is on the skin.) After five minutes, rinse well with COOL water and gently pat skin dry with a soft towel.

Step 3: Apply a thin coat of Bio Calm Repair Masque to the entire face. Let dry for 10 minutes and rinse well with COOL water. Proceed with using an alcohol-free toner then apply a few drops of your favorite skin serum and follow with your nighttime moisturizer. At this point skin should start to feel calm again but reddening of the skin is normal.

Night #2) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for five minutes.

Night #3) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for seven minutes.

Night #4) Peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, you will NOT use the facial scrub. Leave the peel on for five minutes.

Night #5) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for five minutes.

Night #6) Peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, you will NOT use the facial scrub. Leave the peel on for five minutes.

Night #7) Facial scrub + peel + mask
Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for five minutes.

This concludes the treatment.

Things to know: Perform this treatment prior to bedtime so the skin can rest, relax and renew throughout the night. It is normal to experience skin sensitivity during this treatment which may include: sensitivity to warm or cool water, dryness, peeling, tightness and the skin may appear flushed and feel warm to the touch. All of these are considered normal as this is part of the exfoliating and skin repair process, and will subside within a week after completing the program. Discontinue the treatment if these side effects are not tolerable. Be sure to wear sunscreen (applied generously) during all daylight hours.

The results: Smoother, less-lined, more-even toned and glowing skin.

My skin loved it so much, when can I perform it again?

You will love the results of this repair treatment. For severely sun damaged skins, you can repeat again in three weeks, but no sooner than that.

Is your skin in need of serious repair and you live in the Dallas area? Schedule a Skin Repair Program in one of our skin care spas. Read more info here.

Which products are right for your skin? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

Need expert advice from a licensed esthetician? Schedule My Skin Prescription to get personalized advice in person, over the phone or via Skype or Facetime.

For more expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and join the discussion on our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

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Information courtesy of www.ReneeRouleau.com, a website with skin care tips, products based on nine skin types and advice from skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, Renée Rouleau.