Should you Embrace the Summer Skin Break?

If you’re off on holiday – or maybe even if you’re not – should you give your skin a week or two off from its normal routine? Taking a summer skin break sounds like an appealing idea. Isn’t this what we call skin minimalism, anyway? But buzzwords aside, what do skincare experts think of cutting back on your skincare – or is it silly to abandon one’s usual routine on holiday?

I was wondering about the concept of a summer skin break because when I go away, I rarely do more than keep my skin clean, use an antioxidant in the morning, buckets of sunscreen during the day, then shower and moisturise in the evening. Also, I’d rather use the space in my case for an extra pair of shoes than a chunky skincare washbag, and unless I’m sharing a bathroom with a friend who works in skincare or aesthetics (it happens), I don’t want to look like the lunatic with 50 products when they’re getting by just fine with five. (I exaggerate, but it happens, see this video of me and the lovely Jo Good comparing washbags on a yoga retreat last year).

But then my skin is fairly well behaved, so I get away with this high/ low normal-to-holiday swap.

Is it a good idea to give your skin a ‘break’ when you go on holiday, and forget your usual routine? When I ask the outstanding facialist Mina Lee, she looks a bit concerned at the idea.

“That’s a very difficult question because it depends on the skin’s condition,” she says. “It also depends on the weather.”

‘”If you’re somebody who has a skin condition, you can’t just suddenly cut down on your skincare routine. If you make an extreme change, your skin will suffer more. So if you have healthy skin, yes, of course you can give it a break and enjoy your holiday, enjoy the sunshine and the vitamin D and the less product you use, the better your skin can ‘breathe’.

“But if you have a very sensitive skin then you change it on holiday… I wouldn’t suggest that. So it depends on your skin condition and your lifestyle and also how your body’s immune system is working, too. Your skin is the largest organ and if you haven’t got a good immune system, that means your skin will react easily. So you really need to understand that before you start playing around with your skincare routine.”

Nurse practitioner Sara Cheeney, who runs the Pure Perfection Clinic in Rossett, wouldn’t advise taking a summer skin break either: “Just get a travel pack of your usual products,” she says.  And, if you are looking for an extra charge of hydration either before or after you’re away, skin boosters are her top recommendation.

What more advice on how to ensure your skin looks its best this summer? Head to The Guide to find more tailored articles to help.