Last week was a lot, in the best possible way. We had our summer Skindays pop-up in London. And the same thing that always happens at these events: I walked in, saw the people who had shown up, and felt completely overwhelmed by how much warmth was in that room.
There is something about meeting this community in person that nothing else replicates. The conversations, the generosity, the way people share what they know and ask what they do not. It is why we keep doing these. More on that later. But first, the three things your skin actually needs this summer.
- SPF: the only non-negotiable. UVA and UVB exposure are the primary drivers of visible aging and skin cancer risk. SPF 50+ every morning on your face, neck, and any exposed skin is the single highest-return thing you can do. Most people also forget their lips and hands, which are exactly where sun damage becomes most visible over time.
- Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid in the morning. Vitamin C neutralizes the free radicals UV generates and supports your skin's ability to repair itself. Hyaluronic acid draws moisture in and holds it there, which matters more when it is warm. Apply vitamin C first, follow with HA, then SPF. In the evening, HA alone is enough.
- Exfoliate once a week. Humidity increases sebum production, which means pores clog faster in summer. A weekly exfoliation clears the buildup that leads to congestion and dullness without overdoing it. More than once a week risks stripping the barrier. Always exfoliate in the evening, and follow with SPF the next morning.
How Skindays Can Help
On a personal note...
This edition is dedicated to a song.
The pop-up and the Olivia Dean concert at the O2 happened in the same week. I was tired by the time Sunday came. But she was extraordinary. The kind of performer who fills a room with something you cannot name until you are already inside it. Her gratitude to the audience, her energy, and the way everyone around me felt it at the same time. There is one song called "I’ve Seen It." It is about the different kinds of love that exist all around us: friendship, family, and a smile shared with a stranger on the street. She sings about it like it is everywhere, because it is. I have listened to it more times than I will admit since that night.
It resonated because of the week I had just come through. Every time we do a pop-up, the love in that room is real. From every direction. It is the community, our brands, customers, and partners. It is the people close to me, the ones I have known my whole life, and the new ones who have somehow become essential. I feel so grateful for all of it.
If you haven't heard "I’ve Seen It" yet, go find it. And thank you, as always, for being part of this. You are a big part of what that song keeps reminding me of.
xx,
Diana