Back-to-school beauty routine: What steps should you take?

After the whirlwind of summer, your skin needs some extra pampering. Adopting a specific beauty routine is therefore crucial for regenerating and protecting your skin.

First of all, it’s essential to deeply rehydrate your skin. Exposure to the sun tends to dry out the skin, even with adequate sun protection. A hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid, applied morning and evening, will help restore the skin’s moisture balance.

Next, you should remove the dead skin cells that have built up during the summer season. An exfoliator used regularly is highly recommended to restore the complexion’s radiance while helping moisturisers to be absorbed more effectively. Opt for gentle, natural formulas to ensure the exfoliation isn’t too harsh on your skin. 

Finally, don’t forget to deeply nourish your skin with a rich treatment, such as shea butter or argan oil. This final step is essential for strengthening the skin’s barrier, protecting your skin from external aggressors and preparing it for the change of season.

• Hydrated and supple skin: After the summer, rehydrating your skin helps to compensate for water loss caused by sun exposure and heat, ensuring your skin remains hydrated, supple and radiant.

• Radiant complexion: Thanks to the exfoliation in your routine, your skin regains its natural radiance, free from the dead skin cells that have built up over the summer.

• A lovely sun-kissed complexion: Regular exfoliation, followed by regular moisturising, helps maintain your summer tan for longer by preventing flaking.

• Flawless skin: Cleansing your skin thoroughly as soon as the new term begins helps prevent the appearance of spots and blackheads, caused by a build-up of sebum and impurities.

Preparing for the change of season : By nourishing and strengthening your skin now, you repair its damaged cells and prepare it to cope with winter and the coming temperature changes.

To find out more, discover how to get back into a healthy diet as the new term begins.

Hydration and Nutrition

Aloe Vera: Aloe vera, a miraculous plant renowned for its moisturising and soothing properties, deeply nourishes the skin, leaving it soft and supple. Aloe vera is also effective at soothing irritation and promoting healing, making it a must-have for regenerating the skin after summer.

Hyaluronic Acid: Capable of retaining nearly 1,000 times its weight in water, hyaluronic acid plays a key role in maintaining the skin’s moisture levels. By acting on the density, firmness and hydration of the epidermis, it gives the skin its smooth, plump appearance. 

Keratin: Keratin is a natural protein that is essential for the health, strength and beauty of our skin, hair and nails. Incorporating keratin-enriched skincare products into your autumn routine will help revitalise your skin and hair. 

Detox and Purification

Green Clay: Green clay is ideal for purifying and detoxifying the skin. Used as a mask, it absorbs impurities, regulates excess sebum and tightens pores. It is an effective natural treatment to restore your skin’s radiance after the summer. 

Steam Baths: The gentle technique of a facial steam bath helps to open the pores and eliminate accumulated toxins. It prepares the skin for deep-acting treatments, whilst stimulating blood circulation and purifying the complexion.

Healthy eating habits: For clear skin, opt for a diet that is detoxifying and/or rich in antioxidants (red berries, green vegetables) and fibre. Avoid processed foods and opt instead for foods such as green tea, lemon and cruciferous vegetables for their detoxifying properties.

Tips for beautiful skin

Exfoliation: Exfoliation is essential for removing dead skin cells, promoting cell renewal and maintaining a radiant complexion. Opt for gentle exfoliants made from sugar or oat flakes to avoid irritating the skin.

Gua Sha: Using a quartz Gua Sha will help stimulate blood circulation and draw toxins out of your skin. As well as firming the skin, it improves the radiance of your complexion and reduces puffiness and wrinkles.

Minimalist make-up

By opting for light make-up as the new term begins, you’ll avoid suffocating your skin and increasing the risk of breakouts. Choosing a minimalist make-up look will allow your skin to breathe whilst enhancing your lovely tanned complexion.

Wellness routine

To start the new season looking your best, keep making time for moments of relaxation. Yoga, meditation and walks in the countryside can help reduce stress and maintain inner balance. Also remember to stay well-hydrated throughout the day and get enough sleep to allow your skin to regenerate.

To feel beautiful, there’s nothing quite like feeling good in your own skin! 

To find out more, read our article: Beauty rituals that celebrate women every day

For the face: Aim for clear skin

1. Use a gentle cleanser such as our Gentle Prebiotic, Zinc & Cucumber Cleansing Gel. This purifying cleanser effectively cleanses all skin types without drying them out or causing tightness.

2. Apply a moisturising face mask: Once or twice a week, you can make your own homemade masks using ingredients with moisturising, soothing and regenerating properties. Discover, for example, our Marine Alginate Peel-Off Mask. Simply add a little water before applying it evenly to your face, leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse off with clean water.

3. Choose a toner, such as our 5% Niacinamide, Zinc & Hyaluronic Acid Toner, to complete your cleansing routine, remove impurities and prepare your skin for your skincare products.

4. Choose a moisturising serum such as our concentrated hyaluronic acid serum, which is ideal for hydrating your skin and preserving your tan. Its anti-ageing properties help to fill in wrinkles, improve elasticity and reduce the effects of the sun on premature ageing of skin cells. Meanwhile, our concentrated Vitamin C 10% & Astaxanthin serum can boost your complexion’s radiance, regenerate your skin, stimulate collagen synthesis, reduce dark spots and combat the free radicals responsible for skin ageing.

5. Apply a moisturising cream or gel such as: organic aloe vera gel: fresh, fluid and light, it’s easy to apply and absorbs quickly into the skin. It is ideal for soothing dry, sun-heated and dehydrated skin, reducing dark spots and protecting the skin against free radicals. What’s more, our hydrating face and body cream can be applied morning and evening to clean skin, after your serum. Enriched with aloe vera and peppermint hydrosol, it will provide your skin with deep, long-lasting hydration.

6. Choose our ‘Peau nette’ complex - 60 capsules: ideal for oily or blemish-prone skin, this dietary supplement is a unique blend of plants, minerals and active ingredients known to detoxify the skin and improve the condition of acne-prone skin.

For the body: Focus on hydration

1. Hydration

After your shower, gently massage your body with a mild, plant-based body lotion that’s gentle on your skin.

2. Exfoliation

Once a week, you can gently exfoliate your body with a sugar scrub to maintain an even, radiant tan and healthy skin, free from dead skin cells.

3. Nutrition

We highly recommend alternating between moisturising and nourishing skincare products. For this, nothing beats carrot oil (oily macerate), which is rich in nutrients and particularly effective at keeping your skin supple and hydrated.

For your hair: Focus on repair and nourishment

When you return from your holidays, your hair is weakened, brittle and lacks its usual shine. It therefore needs to be repaired to regain its strength, shine and softness.

1. Apply an oil treatment using Chébé oil macerate. Apply 3 tablespoons to the lengths and ends of your hair, then leave it on for at least 30 minutes (ideally overnight).

2. Wash your hair with the nourishing & repairing solid shampoo. Apply to your wet hair and scalp. Work into a lather using gentle movements, without rubbing your hair too hard. Rinse with lukewarm water. Repeat if necessary.

3. Nourish your hair with the Hair mask. A nourishing treatment rich in plant-based oils to restore shine and hydration, this versatile balm can be used as a leave-in treatment or as a rinse-out mask.

4. Deeply moisturise the hair shaft with our hyaluronic acid serum, which also works wonders on dry and damaged hair.

5. Protect your hair ends from dryness using our hair care oil. Massage a few drops into your ends, working your way up the lengths of your hair. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes.

There are a few things you should avoid to protect your skin:

• Avoid overly harsh scrubs: Opt for gentle exfoliants so as not to irritate skin that’s been weakened by the sun.

• Don’t skip moisturising: After the summer, your skin particularly needs deep hydration. Don’t neglect this step, morning and evening.

• Be wary of heavily perfumed products: They can irritate your skin; opt for fragrance-free formulas or those with natural, gentle fragrances.

• Use acids in moderation: Skincare products containing AHA or BHA acids can be too harsh after the summer. Use them sparingly to avoid damaging the skin barrier.

• As for your hair, put your heat-styling tools away in the cupboard. There’s no need to put further strain on your hair with straighteners, curling tongs or a hairdryer. Let your hair air-dry naturally.

The start of the new season is THE perfect time for a deep-cleansing treatment. My personal tip: once a week, apply a moisturising mask with a nourishing blend that will leave your skin soft and radiant. Also take the time to gently massage your face to stimulate blood circulation – it gives you a healthy glow and helps you relax. 

After graduating from ESCP Business School in 2020, Louise began her career as a writer in 2021. Today, she writes a newsletter where she shares cultural recommendations and more personal articles, such as dating apps, therapy, and career guidance. She also writes for the media, brands and agencies on subjects such as well-being, mental health, culture, and society.