What changes do you most commonly see in skin after summer?
[AP] Dehydration wearing a disguise. Skin comes back thicker on the surface and thirstier underneath, so it reads dull, feels tight and starts behaving out of character: congestion in people who never congest, flaking in people who never flake. Pigmentation usually arrives late, weeks after the holiday rather than during it.
One thing I would want to be clear about: we don’t treat summer as something to be undone. Sun within limits is part of a healthy life and healthy skin. What skin needs in September is recovery, not punishment.
Where should post-summer recovery begin?
[AP] We start by taking things away. Most people come back in September with too many actives and an urge to scrub their way back to the skin they remember. That can set you back a fortnight.
Begin with gentle cleansing. Avoid layering acids or aggressive resurfacing treatments during the first week. Rebuild hydration and support the microbiome first, then earn the right to do the clever work. When the skin barrier is calm, everything else works faster and the results hold for longer.
How far ahead should you prepare skin for an important event?
[AP] Twelve weeks if you’re asking me properly. Six weeks is realistic for most people. Two weeks is a rescue, and I’ll happily do a rescue, but we’re managing the day rather than changing the skin.
The week of the event is maintenance only. Nothing new, nothing brave.
[MY] When it comes to preparing skin for makeup, the process takes time. Hydration, pigmentation and deeper changes in the skin cannot be transformed overnight. Improving the skin’s overall condition is a long-term process.
Before an important event, I would focus on hydration from within, avoid alcohol and prioritise good sleep. At home, I would keep the routine simple: a serum followed by a moisturiser. Gentle exfoliation can help, but it should be done a few days before the event rather than the night before.
How can you tell when skin has been properly prepared for makeup?
[MY] I know the skin is ready by its elasticity and natural glow, when it feels supple and looks naturally radiant.
In my work, I often combine skincare with facial massage before applying makeup. I frequently work with clients who have dehydrated skin, so I apply GEZEITEN products in a way that allows them to absorb properly before I begin with makeup.
[AC] When skin is prepared well, foundation glides on smoothly rather than appearing patchy. Products are much easier to blend and you usually need far less makeup. The skin’s natural glow can still come through the finished look.
You want the skin to look like amazing skin, not as though it is hiding behind layers of foundation.
Which GEZEITEN products do the experts use and how?
[AP] The Ampoules are the obvious choice for September. I would use the seven-day Skin Immunity Defense Treatment as a reset during the week after returning from summer travel.
Apply it to slightly damp skin, morning or evening, before face cream. It is designed for exactly this moment: travel, heat, sun, disrupted sleep and skin that has lost its rhythm.
I would also use it during the opening week of an event countdown rather than saving it for the final week.
For the weeks that follow, I recommend Serum • Prevention & Protection in the morning and Serum • Stimulation & Rejuvenation at night, followed by the corresponding day and night creams to keep hydration steady.
What makes GEZEITEN easy for us to work with is that the formulations are fragrance-free and microbiome-friendly. That is not a marketing preference for me, it is the basis of how we treat skin. The products support the protocol rather than fighting against it.
[MY] Working with GEZEITEN has made me realise that all of the products can work beautifully under makeup. They create slightly different finishes depending on the formula and the skin’s individual needs.
If I had to recommend one, I would choose Liquid Skin because it creates the immediate appearance of refreshed, well-rested skin with a beautiful glow.
[AC] I use Liquid Skin when I want to create a fresh, dewy finish and Intensive Anti-Aging when I want a more refined, satin finish.
Both products have become an integral part of my professional skin-prep kit.
