Improve Your Skin With My 5-Day Post-Summer Skin Repair Plan

The summer months can cause significant damage to the skin due to the amount of time spent in the sun, heat, chlorinated pools, lakes, and saltwater oceans. Even if you were super diligent about protecting your skin from the elements by wearing sunscreen, reapplying it often, UV protective clothing, a big hat, and sunglasses, the reality is that spending all that time outside still puts your skin in a vulnerable position due to the increase in free radical activity.

Because of this, brown spots are increased (due to heat), the skin’s texture gets rough, and the skin can be left feeling tight and parched (looking less-than-radiant). I know this all too well as I do a ton of bicycling outside in Austin and my pigmentation is all fired up! Since the skin has incredible repairing mechanisms, I’ve created this effective at-home treatment plan to kickstart them and repair the skin from summer sun damage which I’ll start doing soon once the temperatures cool down a bit.

The results: This five-day treatment encourages new, healthy skin cell growth to reveal smoother, more even-toned skin just in time for fall. The #ReneeRouleauGLOW, for sure!

The Three Products You’ll Need (and One More You’ll Probably Want, Too)

These are the three products you’ll need for your five-day skin repair plan, plus one bonus product that makes a great add-on.

1. A Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub

First and foremost, it’s important to use a facial scrub with ROUND beads. This is one of the times where “natural” is definitely not better. Pits of apricots and walnut husks are ground up into tiny little pieces to be used in facial scrubs, but the edges can’t be rounded in the process. This means that when you use it on your skin, it causes scratches and makes lacerations that can cause irritation. Not good. I also don’t recommend using plastic beads because of the negative impact they have on the environment. Instead, I like to use round jojoba beads. They work beautifully on even the most sensitive skin (and are biodegradable).

As for facial scrubs, they can get a bad rap. Learn why I believe scrubs should definitely still be part of your routine.

Product Recommendation: Mint Buffing Beads

2. An Exfoliating Peel

Some people might not have ever used a product like this, but it’s crucial if you really want to get the full results from this treatment plan. Many companies make special exfoliating treatments that use ingredients like glycolic, malic, tartaric, salicylic, or lactic acids. The best product to look for in this case is one with a high concentration of acids. This will usually be a specialized mask or peel treatment that is left on for five to ten minutes and rinsed off. Generally, masks and peels are stronger (and therefore more effective for this treatment) than a lesser-strength leave-on acid serum or toner that is mild enough to stay on the skin while you sleep.

Product Recommendation: Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

3. A Soothing Gel Mask

Most masks come in the form of gels, creams, sheets or clays. While all have their benefits, for the purpose of this treatment I suggest using a gel mask due to its cooling, soothing, and deeply hydrating properties. This treatment is intense (in a good way), so a calming, anti-redness mask is best to round it out.

Product Recommendation: Rapid Response Detox Masque and Bio Calm Repair Masque

Bonus Product (Optional But Highly Recommended)

An antioxidant vitamin C serum is a great add-on treatment if you have it. Since this treatment works to reveal fresher, younger cells, it’s best to protect and nourish them by applying a potent dose of stable vitamin C under your moisturizer at the end of the treatment. In addition, vitamin C is excellent for suppressing melanin cells to help put pigment cells asleep. Basically, it’s good for visibly fading brown spots and discoloration. Many of you are probably already using one, so this makes a great addition.

Product Recommendation: Vitamin C&E Treatment

How to Perform the Five-Day Treatment

While this treatment plan can be done by anyone, there are special considerations I suggest taking if you have very sensitive skin. Because of this, I’ll provide two versions of my post-summer skin repair plan.

If Your Skin is: Sun-Damaged, Acne-Prone, Aging, Oily, Normal or Dry

This is the original version of the post-summer skin repair plan and the one that will be used by most skin types.

Night #1: Peel + facial scrub + mask

Step 1: Cleanse skin with your regular nighttime cleanser. Rinse well.

Step 2: Immediately apply a thin layer of the exfoliating 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 ten minutes. (A tingling sensation is normal while the peel is on the skin, although not all will feel this.) After ten minutes, rinse well with COOL water and gently pat off dripping water but DO leave skin still damp.

Step 3: On damp skin, apply a small amount of the facial scrub to the face and massage in gentle, circular motions for sixty seconds. DO NOT apply pressure. Just let the beads gently roll over the skin. Be sure to use on the crow’s feet area (gently) but avoid getting into the eye. Rinse well.

Step 4: Apply a thin layer of the gel mask 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 thin layer of a vitamin C serum for an antioxidant infusion/brightening and follow with your nighttime moisturizer. At this point, the skin should start to feel calm again, but reddening of the skin is considered perfectly normal.

Why this works:

The idea here is that first,  you’re chemically dissolving and loosening up damaged, pigmented cells. Then, you’re gently lifting them off the skin with a physical exfoliating scrub. Next, you’re treating those new baby cells to water-based hydration to ensure your skin’s barrier stays intact and healthy. Then, the vitamin C helps work deep within the skin to fade pigment. All in all, you’re visibly repairing summer sun damage.

Night #2: Peel + facial scrub + mask

Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for eight minutes.

Night #3: Peel + facial scrub + mask

Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for six 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: Peel + facial scrub + mask

Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for eight minutes.

This concludes the treatment! Say hello smoother, less-lined, more even-toned skin with a radiant glow. You will want to avoid using any exfoliants (chemical or physical) for at least four nights.

Things to Know

Keep these things in mind to get the best results from your treatment.

• 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. This may include sensitivity to warm or cool water, dryness, peeling, tightness, and skin that appears flushed or feels warms to the touch. All of these are considered normal as this is part of the exfoliating and skin repair process, and should 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.
• Certain skin types may experience some dryness throughout the process of this treatment, but this is considered a normal part of the cellular turnover process and should subside a few days after the five nights.
• Many of my clients love it so much and notice a huge improvement and immediately ask me when they can perform it again. If your skin has a lot of discoloration and is not particularly sensitive, you can repeat the five-day treatment in two weeks.
• For maintenance on all skin types, I recommend repeating this every change of season.

If Your Skin is: Sensitive or Easily Irritated

If your skin is sensitive, fragile, and easily-irritated, here’s how I recommend modifying the treatment. The same products listed above are recommended, but the main two tweaks are as follows:

1. At least one hour prior to this treatment put the gel mask into the refrigerator. This provides extra soothing relief for sensitive skin.
2. If after day one of the treatment, your skin is feeling particularly sensitive, then only leave the peel on the skin for four minutes for the remaining four nights.

Did you know there are actually four types of skin sensitivity? Find out which one you have.

Night #1: Peel + facial scrub + mask

Step 1: Cleanse skin with your regular nighttime cleanser. Rinse well.

Step 2: Immediately apply a thin layer of the exfoliating 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 eight minutes. (A tingling sensation is normal while the peel is on the skin, although not all will feel this.) After eight minutes, rinse well with COOL water and gently pat off dripping water but DO leave skin still damp.

Step 3: On damp skin, apply a small amount of the facial scrub to the face and massage in gentle, circular motions for sixty seconds. DO NOT apply pressure. Just let the beads gently roll over the skin. Be sure to use on the crow’s feet area (gently) but avoid getting into the eye. Rinse well.

Step 4: Apply a thin layer of the gel mask 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 thin layer of a vitamin C serum for an antioxidant infusion/brightening and follow with your nighttime moisturizer. At this point, the skin should start to feel calm again, but reddening of the skin is considered perfectly normal.

Night #2: Peel + facial scrub + mask

Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for six minutes.

Night #3: Peel + facial scrub + mask

Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, leave the peel on for five minutes.

Night #4: Peel + facial scrub + 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: Peel + mask

Follow the same instructions; however, on this night, you will NOT use the facial scrub. Leave the peel on for four minutes.

This concludes the treatment for sensitive skin. Say hello to smoother, less-lined, more even-toned skin with a radiant glow!

Things to Know

Keep these things in mind to get the best results from your treatment.

• 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 skin that appears flushed or is 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 immediately if these side effects are not tolerable.
• Be sure to wear sunscreen (applied generously) during all daylight hours.

So there you have it! A five-day treatment program to repair your skin from summer sun damage and go into fall with a certified #ReneeRouleauGLOW. I hope the results from this treatment give you confidence and make you feel great in your own skin. Looking for more treatments you can do at home? Consider this DIY chemical peel if you have a tube of prescription retinoid lying around.

Renée Rouleau

Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”