In the depths of summer, the skin takes a beating: spots that the sun settles in, a complexion that flushes quickly over a long lunch outside, and tensions that do not always let go. Three ways to keep the upper hand.
1. Fading dark spots: age spots, melasma, and what can be done
Not all spots are alike. The most common in men are lentigines, or age spots: years of accumulated sun, combined with an age at which repair slows down, settle them mainly on the forehead, the temples and the upper cheeks. There is also melasma, more diffuse patches triggered by both the sun and the hormones, more frequent in women, though men are not spared, with roughly one case in ten. And in those who shave, an irritation can leave a post-inflammatory mark. In every case, rule number one remains SPF: without it, all the rest is pointless. To fade them, you target the pigmentation with dedicated actives: azelaic acid, which evens out the complexion, alpha-arbutin, and above all tranexamic acid, the rising benchmark of high-end brightening care. Vitamin C and niacinamide, already seen in previous issues, round out the picture, and you will find them at The Ordinary, SkinCeuticals or Paula's Choice. And for an established spot, a melasma, or a mark that changes in appearance, you do not play doctor: a dermatologist's opinion is essential.
2. Soothing the heat: what spices really do to the skin
A well-seasoned dish, enjoyed outdoors, and the face heats up. It is not merely an impression: spices, and the capsaicin in chilli, dilate the blood vessels and trigger what is called gustatory sweating, hence the flushing and the rush of heat. For most people this is harmless, and that sweat refreshes as it evaporates. But on reactive skin, or skin prone to redness, an excess of spice, often paired with alcohol and heat, sustains a flushed complexion and visible vessels. The answer is not to cut everything out, but to find the right balance: notice what makes you flush, and go lighter on heatwave evenings.
3. Releasing the pressure: the scalp massage
Even so, summer does not erase the stress: nights too short, the heat, the screens. Tension lodges in the face and the scalp, with a furrowed brow, tight temples and a clenched jaw. The scalp massage unties these tensions, eases the pressure and, by reviving the microcirculation, brings the complexion back to life. A few minutes with the fingertips are enough at home, while in the studio it is the heart of my Recovery treatment.
Summer fatigue shows on the face. In sixty minutes, a protocol of massage and drainage releases the tension and revives the complexion: relaxed features, a rested gaze.
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