Posted by Laura Porter
on August 24, 2026
By Laura Porter | Professional Skin Therapist | 6-7 minute read | Updated August 2026
Summer… It's definitely a time of year most of us enjoy. I love being outdoors, sitting in the garden, enjoying holidays and making the most of the sunshine whenever we get it. But if there’s one thing the years have taught me, it’s that enjoying the sun and looking after your skin can absolutely go hand in hand.
The sun isn’t the enemy. In fact, we all need a little sunshine. It’s spending hours lying in it without protection that’s the problem. Whether you’ve been relaxing on a beach abroad, pottering around the garden at home or simply walking the dog every day, your skin has probably been exposed to a lot more than usual over the last few months.
Now that summer is starting to come to an end, you might be looking in the mirror wondering why your skin suddenly feels different. Maybe your holiday glow has disappeared, your skin feels drier than normal, you’ve noticed pigmentation appearing where it wasn’t before, or perhaps your complexion just feels tired and lacking its usual radiance. If that’s you, don’t panic—it’s something I see every year in the clinic.
I’m certainly not here to tell you off. We’ve all forgotten to top up our SPF at some point, stayed in the sunshine a little longer than we planned or come home from holiday with skin that’s feeling a little sorry for itself. Instead, I want to share the routine I personally follow after summer and the advice I’ve been giving my clients for years to help their skin recover.
Love,
Laura x
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Why Summer Takes Its Toll on Our Skin
One of the things I talk about the most is the importance of protecting your skin barrier. I always describe it as your skin’s invisible shield. When it’s healthy, it locks moisture in, keeps irritants out and helps your skin stay soft, comfortable and glowing.
What’s really interesting is that your skin has its own way of trying to protect itself from the sun. When you’re exposed to UV rays, your body produces melanin, which is what gives you a tan. It’s actually your skin’s natural defence mechanism. The problem is that over many years, repeated sun exposure can leave melanin unevenly distributed, which is why pigmentation and sun damage become more noticeable as we get older.
One thing I hear all the time is, “My skin looked amazing on holiday, but now it looks awful!” And there is actually a reason for that. During and immediately after sun exposure your skin is working overtime, producing new skin cells and often looking brighter and healthier. Then, once you’re back home and your skin begins returning to normal, the dryness starts to appear, the glow fades and your skin barrier lets you know it’s been working very hard.
The good news is that skin is incredibly clever. Give it the right ingredients and a little consistency, and it has an amazing ability to repair itself.
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The Cleanse I Never Skip
The first thing I always do is double cleanse. It’s honestly one of the biggest game changers in any skincare routine, especially during the summer months when we’re wearing SPF every single day.
I always begin with No.1 Before You Cleanse because its job is exactly what the name says—it removes that first layer of make-up, SPF, excess oil and everything your skin has collected throughout the day. It melts everything away without leaving your skin feeling greasy or tight, and it prepares your skin perfectly for your second cleanse.
Healthy skin really does start with clean skin, but that doesn’t mean stripping your skin until it feels squeaky. In fact, that’s one of the biggest mistakes I see people making.
That’s why I created No.2 Daily Cleanser to be completely different.
I wanted it to cleanse thoroughly while still respecting your skin barrier. It’s packed with soothing, hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients, including Ginger Root Extract, which is naturally rich in antioxidants and helps protect the skin from environmental stress while leaving it looking brighter and healthier. Alongside this, Oat Kernel Extract helps calm sensitive skin, Panthenol supports the skin barrier and a clever hydration complex helps lock moisture into the skin.
The result is exactly how healthy skin should feel—beautifully clean, soft and comfortable, never stripped.
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Give Your Skin Time to Recover
After summer, my skin always tells me when it needs a little extra TLC.
That’s when I reach for No.4 Collagen Mask.
One of the ingredients I love most is Aloe Vera. We’ve all heard about using Aloe Vera after catching the sun, and that’s because it’s brilliant at helping calm and comfort skin while giving it a much-needed boost of hydration.
If you’ve spent a little longer in the sunshine than we agreed you would (and don’t worry, I won’t judge!), this is the product I always recommend reaching for.
I’ll often apply it in the evening while I’m relaxing, and if my skin is feeling particularly dehydrated, I’ll even leave it on overnight. By the morning my skin feels softer, calmer and much more comfortable. Sometimes our skin doesn’t need lots of different products—it simply needs the opportunity to recover.
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The Serum I Reach for Every Day
Your daily barrier strengthening serum
Once my skin is feeling hydrated again, I always follow with No.7 Youth Elixir Serum.
If I had to choose one hero ingredient in this formula, it would be Niacinamide. It’s one of my favourite skincare ingredients because it really is a multitasker. It helps strengthen the skin barrier, supports hydration, improves uneven skin tone and can even help reduce the appearance of pigmentation that often becomes more noticeable after summer.
Alongside this, Squalane helps replenish moisture without feeling heavy, while Hyaluronic Acid attracts water into the skin to keep it looking plump and hydrated. I’ve also included peptides and a marine ferment extract to help support healthier-looking, more resilient skin over time.
What I love most about this serum is that it doesn’t shout about what it’s doing. It simply sinks into the skin, feels beautiful and quietly gets to work every single day. I’ve always believed that when your skin barrier is healthy, everything else starts falling into place. Your skin feels calmer, looks brighter and becomes much better equipped to deal with everyday life.
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Protection Will Always Be My Most Important Step
If you’ve ever been into the salon, you’ll know there’s one thing I never stop talking about…
SPF.
You can invest in the best skincare in the world, but if you’re not protecting your skin every morning, you’re making life much harder for yourself.
That’s why No.8 Moisturise + Protect is completely non-negotiable in my routine. It hydrates my skin beautifully, protects it from UV rays and sits perfectly under make-up, so there’s really no excuse not to wear it every day.
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Don’t Stop at Your Jawline
The best news?
Every single FAB Skincare product is suitable for both your face and body.
So next time you’re cleansing, applying your serum or moisturising, simply carry on down your neck and across your chest. It’s such a simple habit, but your future self will definitely thank you for it.
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My Final Thoughts
Summer is for making memories, not worrying about your skin.
Whether you’ve spent it on a beach, in your garden or chasing the children around the park, your skin has been working incredibly hard to protect you. Now it’s your turn to return the favour.
Be gentle with it. Cleanse properly. Keep your skin barrier healthy. Wear your SPF every single day and remember that consistency will always beat perfection.
Healthy skin isn’t something you achieve overnight. It’s something you build through small daily habits, and those habits will always be rewarded.
As I always say…
Healthy Skin Always Wins.
