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How to look after your Skin and Hair in Cyprus
How to look after your Skin and Hair in Cyprus
Main Rules and Personal Experience
3480
Translation: Jordan Worsley
11.11.2019

Are you getting ready for the summer holidays in Cyprus? And what could possibly be better: the warm sea, the southern sun and a whole bunch of spectacular places to go for a stroll or take a break. But amidst all the beauty the island has to offer, many women forget to take care of their body. They don't properly look after their skin and hair while on the island — a necessary evil to stay healthy during your trip. For more on this, please read our review.

The Main Rules of Skincare

Due to the aggressive influence of the maritime climate in Cyprus, you mustn’t forget about basic skincare products. They will help to protect your skin from dehydration, peeling, extreme sensitivity and rashes.

1. First of all, you need to cleanse your skin well. But the means to do so should be soft, therefore scrubbing your skin “to the bone” isn’t recommended. Moisturising milk should do the job. After a big night of partying or taking a break on the beach, you need to get rid of any natural secretions from the face thoroughly, so your pores don’t get clogged.

2. Protection from the sun. In hot, sunny Cyprus, you definitely need to use SPF sunscreen (no less than 25). Don’t forget to reapply it every 2-3 hours and after every dip in the sea. When on holiday, choose something with a thick consistency which can be evenly spread across your skin without any hassle. After you’ve been on the beach, it’s better to wash any sunscreen off your skin, not to leave it on.

3. Moisturising. Due to the hot climate, our skin rapidly dehydrates; therefore, moisturising masks or emulsions are the leading cosmetics agents in Cyprus. They will help to remove reddening, heal any damage to your skin and restore its hydrolipidic film. Emulsions should contain hyaluronic acid and vitamins E, A and C, in addition to urea, aloe and antioxidants.

How to look after your Skin and Hair in Cyprus

4. Night Skincare Routine. This time is most appropriate for using something thick, with a rich vitamin and mineral content. It is better if the main ingredients in the night cream are manufactured from medicinal plants. In our case, the following combination will be especially suited: aloe, tea tree, avocado and cabbage. They help the skin to stay moisturised for a more extended period and remove reddening.

5. Skin Masks are a genuine lifesaver in Cyprus. They are designed for instant action, so if you quickly need to fix yourself up, they’re an irreplaceable commodity. Place them in the fridge for a short while before use. This way, any nutrients will be better absorbed by the skin and swelling will go down.

6. You’ll need aftersun lotion if you want the beautiful tone your skin has acquired while on the island to stay well preserved. This type of lotion will solidify your tan and allow you to enjoy it for longer. If you have a choice between aftersun and your usual moisturiser, then it’s better to go for the former. There’s no need to apply them both at the same time, as they pretty much do the same thing. Aftersun lotions simply provide a more profound moisturising effect on the skin.

Sea salt contains a large quantity of macro and microelements, therefore superbly complements the skin and quickly replenishes it. But after going on the beach, you must rinse yourself off with ordinary water. If the salt crystals remain on your body and face for a long time, they will “draw out” all the moisture your body needs. When combined with the sun's rays, this can cause burning.

How to look after your Skin and Hair in Cyprus

The Main Rules of Haircare

Our hair is also one to suffer from the Cypriot climate. When at the seaside, it’s always more unruly and doesn’t give in to styling, becoming messier and rougher to the touch. That said, there are numerous methods to help your hair look magnificent, even while under the impact of the scorching Sun:

1. A Swim Cap. These are considered the best form of protection, as frequently wetting your hair with salt water can cause damage to it. But there’s always that feeling of wanting to look your best on holiday, so a light panama hat, or a shawl made from natural fabrics, will guard your locks from the salt and sun. It will also help to prevent sunstroke.

2. As with your skin, it’s essential to cleanse your hair after doing anything in water. This is all due to the salt, which destroys the keratin in your hair after prolonged contact, leaving it porous and lifeless. You’ll need something special for looking after your hair at the seaside, so going for standard products isn’t advised.

3. Using Conditioner and Balms. These are the finishing touches, without which it’ll be hard to achieve smooth, healthy hair while in Cyprus. They should be made up of oils and silicones, which cover up flakes.

4. Apply Masks with Oils. Burdock oil is the best, as it smoothens and restores the skin’s structure from inside. Try to apply three times a week; that way you won’t have to worry about the condition of your hair.

How to look after your Skin and Hair in Cyprus

Personal Experience

When I was in Cyprus, I’d always put on some leave-in oil which I’d get from the local cosmetics shop. It was worth paying more attention to the product contents rather than the brand. The majority of Cypriot cosmetics are manufactured from natural components and contain effective oils. For my face, I liked using the items from Venus Rose Cosmetic, which offered lotions and face creams with rose oil as the base ingredient. Thanks to a tonic I used, which I bought for 10 euro, my skin became far cleaner, with no peeling.

By the way, did you know how to calculate the effect duration of SPF products?

The numbers from 10 to 50 indicate how much longer people with different skin types can be in the sun. On average, you can sunbathe for 15 minutes without any consequences, or 5 minutes if you have very fair skin. If you apply something with SPF 30, then the time is multiplied by 30.

But you should remember that SPF indicators aren’t accumulated if you use a set of protective products (powders, emulsions). The level of protection will be equal to that of the last item you applied because each new layer removes the factor effect of the previous layer. You need to replenish the layer of cream every time you’ve been for a swim since they’re not always water-resistant or not as water-resistant as you’d like.

I’d pay special attention to the necessity for applying protective cream even if it’s windy and seems cool outside. Wind makes no difference to the sun; therefore, if you don’t want to burn, like me, don’t lead yourself into these weather hitches.

 

We hope our advice will help make your holiday in Cyprus both pleasant and memorable! Look after yourself and enjoy the island!