POST-BEACH GLOW
or just dehydration in disguise?
By Cleo – SPF maximalist and part-time beach flirt
There’s this moment — right after you’ve come back from the beach, sand still between your toes, salt clinging to your hair — where you catch yourself in the mirror and think: “Damn. I look good.” That bronzed, slightly pink, dewy thing going on? Summer glow unlocked. But a few days later, your cheeks are tight, your T-zone's freaking out, and your “glow” is starting to look suspiciously like… inflammation. So let’s talk about the difference between a real post-beach glow and the kind of fake, flaky radiance that’s just your skin crying for help.
Step 1: The glow trap
It’s easy to confuse sun-kissed with sun-stressed. After a day at the beach, your face might look plump and radiant — but often, it’s just dehydration playing tricks. Your skin tightens, blood flow increases, and boom: faux glow. Add wind, UVexposure, and salty air, and your skin barrier is basically whispering: “SOS.”
Step 2: Salt, sweat & sabotage
Salt water? Not as innocent as it looks. While it can feel amazing on acne-prone skin at first, it strips your skin ofmoisture and messes with its pH. Sweat? A+ for natural detox, F- if it sits on your skin too long. And let’s not even talkabout that one time you “forgot” to reapply sunscreen. All of this combined can leave your barrier fragile, inflamed, and begging for a break.
Step 3: Hydrate like you mean it
If you want to keep the glow without the crash, post-beach care is non-negotiable. We’re talking cold cleansers (hi, Moonrise Dew), barrier-friendly hydration (Sunkiss Remedy, ILY), and skipping harsh actives for a few days. Your skin doesn’t need to be exfoliated — it needs to be hugged. And moisturized. Generously.
Step 4: The slow-burn glow is better
Forget the one-night stand of skincare — the summer glow you want is the kind that sticks around and supports your barrier. That kind that comes from drinking water, reapplying SPF like it’s your job, and storing your jellies in the fridge for post-sun bliss. Trust me, your future skin will thank you.
TIPS :
Next time you think you’re glowing after a beach day, do the “smile test”: if your cheeks feel tight when you smile, it’s dehydration, not radiance. Fix it before it flakes.