As summer draws to a close, we reflect on the long days spent basking in the sun, BBQ-ing, hiking or relaxing by the ocean as a well-earned respite from work and hectic lifestyle. Between carefree schedule, too many gelatos and forgetting to reapply SPF, your skin might be a little rough and you may be seeing some texture and pigmentation appear. Souls fulfilled, the elements-exposed skin is now in need of some loving restoration.

The return to daily routine need not be time consuming but present a meaningful shift with optimised results. Here is a simple combination that provides an instant relief yet feels fantastic every step of the way and leaves every inch of you bright, smooth and replenished! Use it every day for a fortnight and you’ll see such a difference:

For best results: Press onto damp cleansed face and body, in mornings and evenings, and your skin will look almost poreless, plumper, smoother and gradually brighter. 

Wake-Up Droplets and Merry-Berry Plump boast a grouping of active ingredients that get you to your skin goals, blissfully: 

Vitamin C and Arbutin: suitable for all types of skin, and both are very effective in the treatment of discolouration of the skin. When Arbutin is combined with vitamin C, their efficacy is increased. 

Ellagic acid and Arbutin: clinical studies show a significant decrease in the level of melanin when combining Ellagic acid and Arbutin by shielding the skin from sun-induced pigmentation and free radical damage.

Ellagic acid and Salicylic Acid: a combination to help treat hyperpigmentation, tone skin and fade acne scars, simultaneously removing dead skin cells, and lightening skin areas with sun damage.

What the Cosmopolitan magazine beauty insiders say:

 

EAT YOUR WAY TO BRIGHTER SKIN

Foods to help recover from sun damage? Add tomatoes, carrots, blueberries and watermelon to salads to boost antioxidants for a healthy body and healthy, radiant skin. My favourite no-fuss lunch is watermelon gazpacho, as it takes no time at all to prepare - plus it reminds me of hot days by Adriatic sea.

Quick recipe: 

1-2 large tomatoes, cut into chunks

Slice of watermelon and 1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped

1/2 of bell pepper, chopped

1 small garlic clove, optional if you like the flavour

¼ teaspoons of sherry and red-wine vinegars, I sometimes replace with balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving

Coarse salt and ground pepper

Chilli flakes, optional

Toasted or crusty bread, optional

Shaved Manchego cheese, optional 

Step 1: In a food processor, puree tomato until almost smooth. Add cucumber, watermelon, bell pepper, garlic, vinegars, and oil and season with chilli, salt and pepper. Pulse until mostly smooth. 

Step 2: Chill soup in the refrigerator 30 minutes (or up to 8 hours). Adjust seasoning; thin with water if necessary. Brush bread with oil. Serve soup drizzled with oil and topped with cheese, with bread alongside.

Autumn is looking brighter already! Ciao for now...