I’ve never given much thought to the benefits of aftersun lotions for mature skin, even though I’m turning 46 this Friday. To be fair, I have fair skin—you may call it cholera-pale, depending on the day—and a history of skin cancer in my family. Therefore, I’ve never been much of a sun-worshipper. Even in high school, I’d cringe when my friends slathered on baby oil and laid out in the sun, as was standard in the ‘90s. To this day, I’ll take a book and a beach umbrella, thank you very much.
But now that it’s the height of summer, I’m becoming more conscious of any sun exposure I do get. I’m not exactly stretching out on Brazilian beaches, but I do enjoy long, summery walks, rooftop drinks, and general lazing about in my backyard. Of course, I always wear SPF and diligently follow the two-finger rule. But when my skin started to feel a bit dry, I had to wonder if a little sun-chasing skincare was in order.
Vogue’s Favorite Aftersun Products
Why Mature Skin Needs Different Aftersun Care
I figured Shelly Anne Myrie-Lido, spa director at the sunny St. Regis Longboat Key, would have some advice. “Sun exposure can dehydrate the skin, so restoring hydration and moisture after time in the sun is important,” she said. In addition to drenching my UV-exposed skin with body lotion, hand lotion, and facial moisturizer—all La Mer, if she had her way—Myrie-Lido encouraged me to use targeted treatments on my face to soothe and repair the skin after sun exposure, and make signs of aging less visible over time.
As a beauty editor, I am blessed with an overflowing stash of some of the best hydrating and active products for mature skin, period. Did I really need to pick up more products specifically marketed as aftersun skin-care? According to Supriya Rastogi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger in New York City, it’s not just marketing. “Aftersun products are formulated for acute post-UV care,” she told me. “They are higher in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients, with a cooling, fast-absorbing texture built to calm actively inflamed skin.”
Thus educated, I’ve adjusted my skin-care routine for the summer. Ahead, find the rules I’m living by and the products I’m using to help smooth things over after a day in the sun.
Rehydrate and Repair the Skin Barrier
When mature skin is exposed to the sun, transepidermal water loss and inflammation increase, which can leave skin feeling tight, dry, rough, or dehydrated. Since aging skin is slower to replenish lost moisture—we can thank a compromised skin barrier for that—hydrating products become especially important. “Immediate rehydration and barrier support can help mature skin feel more comfortable, supple, and soothed after a day in the sun,” says Rebecca Zhou, founder of body-care brand Soft Services.
