Undo the sun damage with post-summer beauty saviours

Fridge magnets and postcards may not be the only mementos of your summer holiday. Frizzy locks and sun-parched skin are common after-effects of a sun-filled vacation period.

Just as we stock up on SPF potions before heading out into the sunshine, looking after skin and hair post-exposure is just as important.

You may be looking tanned and gorgeous as summer draws to an end, but that 'healthy glow' is actually a sign that your skin is responding to UV damage, when melanin (our body's natural sunscreen) moves towards the outer layers of the skin, making it darker.

Restore and revive with these post-sun saviours.

Frazzled hair

Symptoms: Frizzy texture, split ends and a dehydrated mane thanks to UV exposure and excessive heat.

Solution: "Treat your hair to a nourishing weekly intensive treatment or mask that will feed your tresses," recommends Norris Ogario, founder and creative director of Ogario salon.

"For added therapy, pop on a shower cap after applying the mask to trap in the moisture and encourage the ingredients to absorb faster and penetrate deeper into the shaft to leave locks shiny and manageable."

SOS: There's only one thing for it if your ends are looking beyond repair - a trim. Split ends will impede healthy growth so just half an inch snipped off will make your hair stronger in the long run.

Burnt-out skin

Symptoms: Dull, dry and lacklustre skin due to a build-up of sunscreen over the summer.

Solution: "Use a gentle body exfoliator that contains alpha hydroxy acids or fruit enzymes that will help purge product build-up and remove dead skin cells to pep up bronzed limbs," suggests Jill Zander, founder of Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic.

"If you want to keep skin soft, smooth and glowing, a tan extender will also help boost your glow."

SOS: Embrace a body oil daily, using on slightly damp skin for extra absorption. Choose one with restorative ingredients such as evening primrose to boost your skin's structure and elasticity.

Sun spots

Symptoms: Dark marks on the forehead, cheeks and upper lip from over-exposure to the sun.

Solution: "To combat pigmentation and sun spots, use an even skin tone corrector to help fade away summer splotches and give a more even skin tone," says B. skincare expert Ian Baynes.

"It's also important to protect the skin with a moisturiser containing SPF daily, no matter what the weather outside."

SOS: If your sun spots and pigmentation marks are starting to affect your confidence, look into a professional laser treatment, which can permanently dissolve them using gentle targeted micro-pulse technology.

Dehydrated face

Symptoms: Tight-feeling skin which may have a crepey appearance, especially if you've suffered sunburn.

Solution: "Dehydrated skin tends to look worn and lined so you need to restore balance with a routine that includes a serum, mask and moisturiser," advises make-up artist Jemma Kidd.

"Use a night cream that stimulates cell regeneration. Skin repairs itself at night and the temperature of the skin increases during sleep, aiding the absorption of active ingredients."

SOS: The combination of planes, pina coladas and sun-baking can lead to a seriously dehydrated complexion. Book in for a post-holiday facial, such as a HydraFacial (www.hydrafacial.co.uk), for instantly hydrated and radiant skin.

Tried & tested

Accentuate your summer glow and make skin sparkle with a bronze dry oil. Our testers try three pots of gold:

:: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil, £16 for 100ml (www.thebodyshop.co.uk)

This lightweight oil is non-greasy with a gorgeous smell and glittery finish that left my limbs sparkling. It's also available in two shades, making it suitable for pale skin tones.

3/5

:: NARS Body Glow, £44 for 120ml (www.narscosmetics.co.uk)

Best reserved for those with a medium to dark skin tone or tan. The deliciously fragrant oil made my tan look more intense and glossy and didn't have an obvious shimmering, glittery finish, so it was more of a grown-up glow.

5/5

:: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Usage Dry Oil Golden Shimmer, £34 for 50ml (uk.nuxe.com)

My skin instantly looked and felt more hydrated after using this golden shimmer. The sparkle is pale and subtle when it catches the light but I'm most impressed with its incredible skin softening qualities.

4/5

Buy it now

Give Cowshed a pampered birthday wave. The spa brand has launched a new hand care duo to celebrate its 15-year anniversary. The pack includes Mucky Cow Exfoliating Hand Wash, £14, and Cow Herb Restoring Hand Cream, £16, available now at www.cowshedonline.com.

Beauty bulletin

:: Beauty shirkers

It's official, British women aren't spending enough time with their sinks. More than one third fail to wash their face every day (37%), according to a recent survey by Asda Beauty, and almost a quarter (22%) of females admit leaving their make-up on when they go to bed. While Scots top the chart for sticking to the best skincare routine in the UK, London ladies came up worst, with only 8% of those surveyed admitting to the same regular daily rituals. Welsh women opted for the quickest cleansing routine, with 12% using face wipes on a daily basis.

:: Recessionista alert

Spray a little happiness in The Fragrance Shop. Take full advantage of their Happy Hour during which shoppers can enjoy 20% off everything (even on fragrances already reduced) between August 23 and September 1, from 12-2pm every day. Set your watch and spritz.