There is a version of self-care that does not come in a bottle. It is free, it is usually an hour or two away by train, and it is one of the most genuinely restorative things you can do for your skin, your nervous system, and your mood.
The sea. Go to it. And when you get home, reach for the other kind of vitamin C. In summer, they work together beautifully.
1. Why the sea is genuinely good for your skin
Salt water is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and packed with minerals that absorb through the skin when you swim. It calms breakouts, reduces puffiness, and supports the barrier. The post-swim glow is not in your head.
2. And the sun does something too
Even fifteen minutes of morning light resets your circadian rhythm, which controls cortisol, mood, and how well your skin repairs overnight. Get it before midday. Always with SPF first.
3. The other vitamin C
While you are getting your vitamin sea, your skincare needs the bottled kind working in the background. Vitamin C neutralises the free radical damage UV causes even on days you are wearing SPF. Apply it every morning before sunscreen. It is one of the most evidence-backed things you can do for your skin in summer.
4. Hydration is not optional
The sea dehydrates as much as it refreshes. After any time in the water or heat, your skin needs moisture back in. A hydrating mist or lightweight moisturiser on damp skin, sealed with SPF if you are heading back out. And drink more water than you think you need.
How Skindays Can Help
On a personal note...
I just got back from Turkey, where I celebrated my birthday with some of my best friends, and I am still feeling it.
Swimming every day. Sun. Late nights. Laughing until it hurt. The kind of trip that reminds you exactly who you are and how lucky you are to have the people around you that you do. I came home feeling so full of love and gratitude, and more myself than I think I have ever felt. That is a hard feeling to describe, but when it is there, you know it, and it cannot be beaten. If I am honest, the last couple of years have not always looked like this. There have been hard patches, real ones, and I have done a lot of learning along the way. But I am genuinely grateful for all of it. The challenges brought me here.
xx, Diana
P.S. I also did a reading with an astrologer recommended by my friend Sadia, which was quite interesting. I had never done anything like this, and quite curious to see how things unfold :)