Seaside Skincare: How a Day at the Beach Affects Your Skin

Let’s explore the benefits and potential drawbacks of beach exposure and look at some essential tips for protecting and nourishing your skin during those sunny seaside days.

Heading to the beach this summer? Whether it’s Bournemouth or Bora Bora, sand and seawater can have an effect on your skin. From the sun’s harsh UV rays to the drying nature of saltwater, working out how these elements impact your skin is crucial to maintaining a healthy appearance.

How does saltwater affect your skin?

Firstly, let’s look at the ocean itself. 2.5% of saltwater is made of sodium chloride and, even though it seems like a small amount, we all know just how strong that feels after an accidental mouthful of seawater.

Some of the positive effects it has on the skin include:

Exfoliating action: Saltwater acts as a natural exfoliant, so a swim in the sea can help remove dead skin cells and give the skin a softer feel.
Healthy minerals: There are numerous minerals present in the sea, from calcium to magnesium, which can have a potentially nourishing effect on the skin.
Oil remover: The drying effect of saltwater can reduce oil in the short term, which may initially help the appearance of acne.

The negatives to think about are:

Dehydration: The main thing saltwater does to your skin is dry it out. It strips away your skin’s natural oils which leaves it feeling dry and irritated.
Sensitive skin: Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema can be exacerbated by saltwater.
Enhanced sun effects: You may find that laying in the sun after a dip in the sea leaves you feeling exposed as it can wash away sun protection products you might have applied before.

What does sand do to the skin?

Anakin Skywalker may think sand is coarse, rough, and irritating - and he’d be right - but there are also some positives to it as there is with saltwater. These include:

Sand for stress relief: It cannot be understated just how soothing it can be to take your flip flops off and enjoy the feeling of sand between your toes - perfect for a bit of a mental health boost.
Good for circulation: Sand has the potential to improve circulation due to its gentle abrasive properties.
Another exfoliant: Sand can also be a mild exfoliant just as saltwater is, getting rid of dead skin and promoting smoothness.

Of course, the above benefits are short-term and whilst you probably enjoy the initial feeling after laying in the sand, the negative effects come out in full force later. These include:

Dryness: Just as with saltwater, sand dries out your skin and can leave it feeling itchy and dehydrated.
Trapped particles: Small particles of sand can get trapped in the folds of your skin, as well as your clothes if you don’t rinse properly before getting dressed again, which can potentially cause folliculitis.
Irritation: Alongside dryness, the abrasive nature of sand can cause microabrasions which can leave the skin sensitive and prone to infection.

Sand and saltwater skincare tips

It’s important to rinse off with clean, fresh water after you come off the beach in order to remove the salt and sand.

For the delicate skin on your face, we recommend using a gentle cleanser that has skin-loving ingredients to help reduce any damage the saltwater and sand may have caused. Our Original Face Wash contains aloe vera, which is often found in aftersun products due to its soothing and cleansing properties, perfect for a post-beach cleanse.

After this, apply your moisturiser to replenish and rehydrate. Always use a moisturiser with SPF and PA+++ to protect from both UVA and UVB rays.

For a post-beach shower, use a body wash or shower gel that will gently nourish the skin without aggravating any sensitivities from your beach day. Our Lemon and Bergamot Shower Gel is a great way to refresh your skin, leaving you feeling nourished and hydrated.