An even tan doesn't just depend on the time spent in the sun. It depends first on the condition of the skin before exposure. Skin that accumulates dead cells retains color less effectively, reflects light unevenly, and ages faster in contact with the sun. Exfoliation prepares the skin to retain its tan better and prevents dry patches that dull the complexion. Here is the exfoliation routine to know to prepare your skin for summer, from the face to the hands. Step 1: the face, neck, and décolletage These areas are exposed to the sun as much as the rest of the body, but they are often forgotten in an exfoliation routine. On damp skin, using the facial attachment of the Renaissance Mitt, proceed with small circular movements, starting from the center of the face towards the outside, then gently move down to the neck and décolletage. The touch must remain light on these thinner areas, for a gentle cell renewal without pulling the skin. Step 2: the body The body mitt of the Renaissance set then takes over, ideally on damp skin, after a good shower or a long bath, when the pores are open and the skin is more receptive. Put on the mitt and work in circular movements to gently remove dead cells, paying a little more attention to rougher areas. If your mitt is not filled with white cells, the exfoliation was not successful. This means that the skin must have absorbed more moisture in the stratum corneum. I like to compare it with calluses on the feet when they become white and peel easily under the nails. It's the same phenomenon that happens on the skin of our body. We create turgidity in the cells and exfoliate. Voilà, it's miraculous!! Mechanical exfoliation thus allows you to control the intensity according to the area, a particularly useful advantage on the elbows and knees, where an uneven complexion is most noticeable once tanned. Step 3: a deeper renewal Unlike mechanical exfoliation, which works by friction, the SHAKTI Enzyme Exfoliant relies on a triple action gentle and slightly foaming gel that combines plant powders, clays, and enzymes to dissolve dead cells without aggressing the skin. Aloe vera soothes and hydrates while bamboo extract, rich in silica, refines the skin texture, a combination that respects the skin's balance rather than forcing it. Application is done on clean, dry skin, in an even layer on the face, neck, and even the lips. Leave it on for a few minutes, then add a little water to make it foam and massage before rinsing. For more sensitive or dehydrated skin, add the water immediately and massage with the fingertips, gently, on more reactive areas. From the first use, the skin appears smoother and the complexion more even. It is also the gesture that ideally prepares the skin to better receive the treatments applied right after, a detail that makes all the difference in a complete summer routine. Step 4: the lips and the eye contour The skin of the lips and the eye contour is among the thinnest on the face, with very little natural protection against the sun. It is often the area that darkens or marks most visibly after exposure, a sign that dead cells are accumulating and that skin renewal is slowing down in this area. The Velvet Exfoliating Mask - Lips acts gently on this delicate area thanks to papaya enzymes, which exfoliate without rubbing, combined with nourishing active ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil to repair and soften. Apply a small amount to slightly damp lips and around the eyes, gently massaging with the fingertips, then rinse or leave on for a few minutes as a mask for a more complete treatment. Used regularly, this gesture helps keep these thinner areas smoother and more even, even after sun exposure. Step 5: the final touch on more exposed areas We would have the reflex to reserve this kind of ultra-rich treatment for winter, when the skin is exhausted after the cold and wind. Yet it is in summer that the Velvet Hand Cream becomes a well-kept secret. Its texture, carried by a synergy of argan oil, sunflower oil, and shea butter, penetrates quickly without leaving a greasy film or residue, unlike what one might expect from such a nourishing formula. It hydrates deeply without ever weighing down the skin, a rare balance that makes it just as relevant under the sun as in the middle of winter. We apply it as a final touch on the hands, but also on any dry or dehydrated area exposed to the sun, frequent washing, or the salt of seawater. Elderberry extract and vitamin E, both antioxidants, come to support the skin against the oxidative stress of summer, while Lactobacillus Ferment extract helps preserve the balance of the skin microbiome. Formulated and manufactured in a laboratory in Quebec, this routine adapts to all skin types and easily integrates into an already established skincare routine, without weighing it down. Your esthetician's advice The results of an in-office treatment do not stop at the door of the institute. What happens at home between appointments matters just as much, if not more. A lack of regular exfoliation combined with unprotected sun exposure can cancel out the benefits of a professional treatment in a few weeks. Integrating this routine at home is to prolong and make last the results obtained in the office. A word for you, the estheticians Do you use these products in the office or do you recommend them to your clients? This routine lends itself well to personalized guidance according to each person's skin type, in the office as well as at home between treatments.
