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Your guide to skin care and shampoo after sun exposure

Long days spent in the sunshine can leave skin and hair feeling stressed and dehydrated. Restore balance and comfort with our expert-approved routine for post-sun recovery.

By Alexandra Julian

10 Minute read

While warm summer days invite us to spend more time outdoors, prolonged time in the sun can leave your skin and hair feeling the effects of dehydration and UV stress. Gentle and effective skin care after sun exposure is the key to restoring comfort and balance.

Your post-sun routine should focus on calming, hydrating and replenishing what the elements have taken away. As pioneers in certified organic beauty, we have spent decades perfecting gentle formulas that work to support and nourish - perfect for helping your skin and hair recover after a day in the elements.

At a glance

Start with a gentle cleanse

After a day outdoors, your skin needs to be cleansed of sunscreen, sweat and environmental pollutants - but it also needs to be treated with care. Sun exposure can make your skin more sensitive, so a harsh, stripping face wash is the last thing you need.

Instead, choose a cleanser that purifies without upsetting your skin's delicate balance. Our Scent Free Cleanser has a soft, creamy consistency that feels instantly calming. This COSMOS Organic certified cleanser is clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin and effortlessly melts away make-up and SPF, leaving your face feeling soft and comfortable - never tight.

★★★★★

“Even after a few days of use my skin is GLOWING. So soft, gentle and calming. I cannot recommend it enough. (And it's good for the environment.) Do yourself and the planet a good deed today and buy this cleanser - it will change your life.”

Christina F · Verified Buyer

Reviewing: Scent Free Cleanser 150ml

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Replenish lost hydration

Your skin can lose a significant amount of moisture when exposed to the sun, leading to a feeling of tightness and the appearance of fine, dehydrated lines. The best way to counteract this is by layering hydration back into your post-sun skin care routine.

Start with a dedicated serum. A few drops of our Scent Free Hyaluronic Booster Serum pressed into clean, slightly damp skin will deliver an intense moisture boost. This fragrance-free formula uses Hyaluronic Acid to plump and hydrate without irritation.

Follow up with a restorative night cream to seal in all that goodness. The Scent Free Truffle Night Cream has a beautifully light, silky texture that calms and nourishes as you sleep. It supports your skin’s overnight repair processes, helping you to wake up to a complexion that feels soothed and refreshed.

★★★★★

“This night dream was found in a search for a fragrance free, soothing night cream. Did not expect this to beat out all other brands I’ve tried. It’s gorgeous.”

Sarah O · Verified Buyer

Reviewing: Scent Free Truffle Night Cream 50ml

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Soothe your body from top to toe

It isn’t just your face that needs attention. An effective after sun lotion will cool and calm the skin on your body, reduce redness and  help to prolong the life of your tan by preventing peeling.

Our COSMOS Organic certified Hydrating After Sun is a post-sun essential. It sinks in beautifully without any stickiness, offering an instant cooling sensation from organic Peppermint. Rich in Aloe Vera, it provides deep hydration to soothe sun-warmed skin, and contains Inositol, which is clinically proven to reduce tan fade by 50%.


To learn more about the science behind post-sun care, read our guide to how after sun works. 

Revive sun-stressed hair

Just like your skin, your hair can be damaged by UV rays, sea salt and chlorine. This can weaken its protein structure, leaving it looking and feeling dry, brittle and frizzy. A strengthening shampoo and conditioner are vital to restore its health and shine.

Our Protein-Boost hair care range is specifically designed to fortify and repair. The Protein-Boost Shampoo & Shower Wash cleanses gently while delivering strengthening Quinoa Protein to the hair shaft. 

★★★★★

“This is just a fantastic product. It is gentle on your hair. I also have very sensitive skin and this shampoo causes no reaction. The results are amazing.”

Bridget K · Verified Buyer

Reviewing: Protein-Boost Shampoo & Shower Wash 200ml

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Follow with the matching Protein-Boost Conditioner to deeply nourish, smooth and detangle.

★★★★★

“This conditioner is just the best thing on earth! ...this detangles it in seconds. The smell just takes me to another place, it is to die for !! I absolutely love it.”

Jennifer H · Verified Buyer

Reviewing: Protein-Boost Conditioner 200ml

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For an extra layer of defence, smooth a little Protein-Boost Hair Serum through damp hair. This leave-in treatment helps to shield hair from UV damage while taming frizz and adding a healthy, glossy finish.



We hope you have found the best skin care and shampoo for your routine after sun exposure. If you need any more help or advice, our friendly UK customer care team are happy to help on 01403 740350 or on social @GreenPeopleUK.

MEET CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE

Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.

A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People's Choice in the 2023 list of Who's Who in Natural Beauty.

A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible 'Naturally Gorgeous'. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.

Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of organic beauty brand Green People

 

If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to 'Your guide to skin care and shampoo after sun exposure.' Please do not use an affiliate link.

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