Rebound effect and acne: our tips for repairing your skin at the start of the new school year 

Back from a beach vacation or simply exposure to the sun during the warmer months, after the summer months when skin is golden and appears blemish-free comes dull skin with texture or even acne. This is the rebound effect. It's a completely natural phenomenon. In this article, we give you our tips and tricks for repairing your skin at the start of the new school year, so that you can enter the autumn months with peace of mind. 

What is the rebound effect?

Prolonged exposure to the sun thickens the skin, a process known as hyperkeratinization. This is a totally natural defense mechanism. Unfortunately, this thickening prevents sebum from circulating normally. Add to this dust, perspiration and bacteria, and you get the inevitable imperfections of clogged, inflamed pores. While some may find that their skin looks better in summer, as the sun dries out pimples and blemishes, the effect is unfortunately only momentary. As soon as the skin becomes saturated with bacteria, the appearance of pimples is inevitable. This is known as the rebound effect, as we go from beautiful, golden skin to a dull complexion punctuated by imperfections, to skin with texture, or even an acne flare-up. But don't panic: the rebound effect can be anticipated (see our dedicated article) and processed.

Our tips for dealing with the rebound effect

The double cleaning imperative

In the evening, double cleansing is essential for impeccable skin. There's no need to scrub with aggressive cleansers, or even worse, grainy scrubs, as these will only make acne worse. The important thing is to be regular and to do it without exception every day, in order to eliminate all the impurities and bacteria that can lead to acne. Don't necessarily choose a special cleanser for acne: they are often very drying for the skin, too stripping, and can damage the cutaneous barrier. The result is dehydrated skin and more problems! 

My Facial Cleansing Balm recommendation

Beauty of Joseon's radiance cleansing balm, a South Korean nugget with a soft, rich texture. Does not dry out the skin, removes all make-up and leaves skin soft and supple. Suitable for all skin types. Use as a cleanser first, then rinse off before cleansing again with a product suited to your skin type. 

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My recommendation for facial cleansing gel

This time, I'm not giving you a Korean product, but a Japanese one! It's the Hada Labo foam facial wash cleanser. A very practical pump bottle that delivers a very, very light foam infused with hyaluronic acid to the skin, perfect for oily or acne-prone skin in my opinion, as it leaves no oily film. The big plus? Its low price! And it lasts over time! 

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Gentle, regular exfoliation

Use a gentle chemical exfoliator once or twice a week to renew the skin and remove dead cells from the surface. Don't use aggressive exfoliants or micro-grains: opt for very gentle active ingredients such as lactic acid and mandelic acid. You can also use AHA/BHA-based exfoliants. To be used in moderation to avoid burning the skin, a few drops applied as a lotion to the face are all that's needed. 

My exfoliating recommendation

particularly like Neogen's Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Pads with green tea. They come in a small box containing 30 pads impregnated with exfoliating lotion. Easy to use, simply wipe over cleansed skin in the evening before moisturizing, once or twice a week. It's very gentle, so there's no risk of burning, even for beginners. 

A basic but regular routine

We follow a basic but very regular skincare routine. 

Morning: moisturizing cream + SPF50 sun protection 

Evening: double cleansing + (exfoliating once or twice a week) + moisturizing cream

And don't forget to apply moisturizer twice a day, to nourish your skin and regulate sebum. 

Buttons treated without touching them

No matter how tempting it may be, we don't touch our acne pimples, even if they're white and we really want to pop them. My tip? Use special patches to protect them from new bacteria and make them disappear faster, without subsequent scarring.