Leah Payne
The temperatures are soaring. Heat, water, and humidity are playing havoc with your skin and hair. Try these 10 summer beauty must-haves to keep you glowing.
When the hot, sunny weather finally hits, it can sometimes feel as if we’re coming out of hibernation. Well, our skin is too! While there’s no need to completely overhaul our beauty toolkits, our skin can benefit from a bit of fine tuning with some fresh new natural products.
Wearing sunscreen in the summer is a no-brainer, but do you know which to choose? The Environmental Working Group recommends mineral-based SPFs in a creme formulation—rather than powder or spray—as the safest option. Rate your current brand at ewg.org/skindeep.
And while it may seem counterintuitive, higher SPFs aren’t necessarily better and can even be misleading, tempting us to stay outside for too long without reapplying. Instead, choose a lower SPF and reapply often.
One of today’s most common uses of aloe is on the skin in the summer. The gel can help cool and soothe skin after exposure to the hot summer elements. It’s a great just-in-case staple to stock up on before you need it.
Essential oils are not for everyone—those with a health condition should consult a health care practitioner before use. And keep in mind that essential oils are not meant to be ingested or applied undiluted onto the skin. Instead, blend a small amount with a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond, and apply to the skin. Some health food stores even carry natural repellants made with essential oil blends that can be applied directly onto skin.
Chlorine residue from swimming pools, harsh salt water, and the sun can stress out our locks. The solution? Extra moisture in the form of a natural leave-in conditioner, which coats and replenishes hair. A hair masque can offer added help. Look for products that contain vitamins, added botanicals such as camomile or lavender extracts, and nourishing plant oils.
While many of us focus more on moisturizing skin in the winter, it’s also important to nourish and hydrate skin in the summer. Plus, it’s also time to get ready for sandal season, so our neglected feet require heavy-duty moisture.
Coconut oil acts as a great moisturizer for dry skin—it can be used on its own or found in various lotions and skin cremes. It has been used for centuries to soften and moisturize dry and irritated skin.
Blotting tissues can absorb shine and are gentle enough for sensitive skin. Just dab onto skin (rubbing may smear makeup) throughout the day as necessary, and no one ever has to know!
Thankfully, we can easily modify our skin care routines to deal with these changes. If you use a facial creme in the winter, switch to a natural oil-free lotion in the summer.
Choose them wisely by ensuring they block UVA and UVB rays (generally try for 99 to 100 percent protection as long as they don’t reduce vision), and avoid the term “cosmetic,” which means they’ll lack in UV protection. Bigger lenses are better, and the wraparound variety is best.
It’s always worth repeating: there is no such thing as a safe tan. Tanning beds are classified as a known human carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Using tanning beds before age 35 increases the risk of melanoma by up to 87 percent, and using them even once can increase the risk of melanoma by 15 percent.
While there’s a rumour that tanning beds can provide us with vitamin D, they emit UVA, which is actually ineffective at synthesizing this healthy vitamin so our bodies can use it. Diet and supplements are a much safer and more effective source.