Summer is one of the most demanding seasons for skin. Longer days, more sun exposure, and heat all accelerate the biological processes that age skin—and for women over 30, when collagen production is already declining, that cumulative impact is harder to dismiss.
The good news is that the warmer months are also an opportunity. Increased circulation, more time outdoors, and a natural motivation to feel good in your body create great conditions for renewal—if you're approaching it with the right framework.
At hol+, we see skin as a systems-level organ, one that reflects what's happening internally just as much as what you're applying to the surface. True summer skin care isn't just SPF and a good moisturizer. It's targeted topical care that addresses body skin with the same rigor we've long applied to our faces, internal nutritional support that works at the cellular level, and even strategic movement that regulates the hormones driving skin aging. Here's how we think about all three.
Ready to get started? Shop the Crépe Erase 2-Step Body Repair System and Youthful Essence Rejuvenate & Restore Kit from The Body Firm—and read on for the full protocol.
Treat the Body Skin You've Been Neglecting
Most anti-aging conversations focus exclusively on the face. The body, and especially the upper arms, knees, thighs, and chest, gets moisturizer at best. But the cellular changes happening in body skin need more than just moisturizer to repair.
As estrogen declines and collagen production slows with age, skin loses elasticity and its ability to retain moisture (1). The result is the dry, thin, wrinkle-prone, crepe-like texture that becomes more visible in summer when skin is exposed.
This is where we've been genuinely impressed by the Crépe Erase® 2-Step Body Repair System from The Body Firm. It's one of the few body care systems we've encountered that addresses crepey body skin with actual clinical rigor rather than generic moisturizer marketing.
Step 1: Body Resurfacing Serum
This leave-on exfoliating serum uses an 8% blend of AHAs and BHAs—glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids—to dissolve the bonds holding dead skin cells on the surface, clearing the way for the treatment step to actually penetrate. It's powered by The Body Firm's proprietary TruFirm® Technology, a plant-extract blend that supports the skin's natural collagen production. The addition of Trehalose, a water-binding plant sugar from the Resurrection Plant, keeps skin hydrated as it resurfaces rather than stripping it.
The delivery is smart too. A roller-ball applicator that doubles as a light massage tool, supports circulation in areas like the back of the arms and knees where blood flow is more sluggish.
Step 2: Body Repair Treatment
Applied after the serum, this rich treatment locks in the work done in Step 1. It contains 12 super hydrators, including olive oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, squalane, and vitamin E, that maintain hydration for up to 72 hours while supporting the skin's moisture barrier. TruFirm® Technology appears in this step as well, working to support elastin production so skin has more resilience and bounce.
In clinical studies, 94% of women saw a reduction in the look of crepey skin after four weeks, and 98% saw softer, smoother skin.*
One summer-specific note—because the serum contains AHAs, apply SPF daily to sun-exposed areas while using it. AHAs increase photosensitivity, but it’s a trade-off worth making, since the accelerated cell turnover is exactly what the skin needs to look renewed.
Shop the Crépe Erase 2-Step Body Repair System →
Support Skin from the Inside Out
Topical care addresses the surface. But deeper drivers of skin aging have a profound impact on the look and feel of your skin. Collagen synthesis, oxidative stress, cortisol dysregulation, and gut health are the major players that require internal support (2,3).
This is where nutritional supplements comes in, and where the Youthful Essence Rejuvenate & Restore Kit from The Body Firm fills a genuine gap.
"I love the Youthful Essence Kit because it is packed with energizing nutrients like Vitamins B, C, D and A. It supports immunity, balances stress, and stimulates collagen for improved skin elasticity, moisture, and radiance." — Dr. Taz Bhatia, MD
The kit contains four components that address skin aging at the system level:
The Antioxidant Wellness Beauty Blend is a daily drink powder built around TruPhyto™ Complex, juice extracts from three varieties of Sicilian blood oranges, chosen for their high polyphenol content. Polyphenols directly counter oxidative stress, a primary driver of visible skin aging (4). It also draws on extracts from 24 fruits and vegetables including pomegranate, green tea, kale, and açaí, which is an amazing foundation for women whose diets, however intentional, tend to still have significant gaps.
The Mind & Mood Adaptogen Boost contains a patented combination of ashwagandha root and leaf extracts. Ashwagandha is among the most well-studied adaptogens for cortisol regulation, and lower chronic cortisol means less collagen breakdown and better skin barrier integrity over time (5).
The Gut Balancing Probiotic Support uses Bacillus subtilis to support digestive health and reduce bloating. At hol+, gut health is consistently upstream of skin health as the microbiome influences systemic inflammation, hormone clearance, and nutrient absorption, all of which register in the skin (6).
The Radiance Renewing Collagen Peptides supply the amino acid building blocks the body needs to synthesize new collagen. Topical care supports the environment, but peptides supply the raw materials.
Shop the Youthful Essence Rejuvenate & Restore Kit →
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Movement That Supports Your Skin—Not Just Your Waistline
Exercise is one of the most powerful pro-skin interventions available to us. It improves circulation, drives nutrient delivery to skin cells, and helps regulate cortisol (7). That last point matters more than most people realize. Chronic cortisol elevation accelerates collagen breakdown, thins the skin, and contributes to the kind of crepe-like texture that seems to worsen with age and stress simultaneously (8).
Which means the goal in summer isn't to push harder, but to move smarter.
Strength training 2-3 times per week is foundational. Resistance exercise signals the body to preserve and rebuild lean tissue, which provides structural support beneath the skin (9). As we move through our 40s and beyond, this becomes less optional and more essential.
Low-impact cardio like walking, swimming, or cycling keeps circulation moving without the cortisol spike that high-intensity training can trigger, especially in a state of fatigue or hormonal imbalance. A morning walk also supports circadian rhythm, which governs cortisol patterns and skin repair (10).
Yoga or breathwork once or twice a week activates the parasympathetic nervous system and gives the HPA axis room to recalibrate. When cortisol is regulated, the skin has a better environment in which to produce collagen and maintain moisture.
Summer movement should feel energizing, not exhausting. Consistent exhaustion after workouts is the body signaling that stress load is already high, and that cortisol is working against your skin.
Your Summer Routine, Simplified
Here's how to put this together practically:
Morning: Take the Antioxidant Wellness Beauty Blend mixed into water or a smoothie. Add Collagen Peptides if using. Take the Mind & Mood Adaptogen capsule. Apply Crépe Erase Body Resurfacing Serum to target areas, allow to absorb, then follow with the Body Repair Treatment. Apply SPF to all exposed skin.
With your largest meal: Gut Balancing Probiotic capsule.
Evening: Body Repair Treatment again to target areas.
Movement: Two to three strength sessions per week, daily low-impact activity, and at least one intentional recovery session—yoga, breathwork, or a long walk.
A simple protocol that’s easy to stick to is what produces lasting results.
Summer is a great time to reassess what you're actually doing for your body, and not just the parts that have been attended to, but all of it. Your skin has the capacity to heal and rejuvenate if we can provide the right environment and support.
*Based on a clinical study of 54 participants measuring décolleté, knees and arms. All product recommendations reflect Dr. Taz's clinical perspective. In partnership with hol+.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
