Everybody looks forward to the summer holidays. A time for relaxation, summer fun and activities, and of course beautiful memories with loved ones.
Summertime usually involves a lot of outdoor activities and days spent by a pool or the sea. During this time we tend to relax our routines and habits, but we really must make a point to remember to take care of our skin to avoid any harmful effects from spending a lot of time in the sun.
Best habits for summer skincare
Hydration. One of the most important summer habits. The human body is made up of 80% water, so always make sure that you have water at hand and avoid sugary drinks.
Electrolytes. Hot weather and activities cause us to not only lose water but also lose a lot of minerals through sweating. Resupply your body with minerals to avoid any deficiencies and you can do that by taking a mineral supplement, by drinking an electrolyte drink, or even just by putting a few grains of sea salt under your tongue.
Sunscreen. We need to be exposed to the sun for our body to produce vitamin D. Try to get some direct sunlight early on in the day but limit that time to around fifteen minutes. Lighter skin tones need around 8-10 minutes of sun exposure to produce vitamin D, while darker skin tones need around 15-20 minutes.
Other than that small amount of time that you need sun exposure for your body to produce vitamin D, you need to put on sunscreen… then you must reapply sunscreen every two hours.
Shade. Avoid direct sunlight and stay in the shade, especially during midday. You may go indoors for your lunch meal to avoid being in the sun during the riskiest time.
Moisturizers. Make sure that you moisturize your skin before going out and remember reapply to keep your skin soft and supple throughout the day. You may also want to get a body spray with a high percentage of glycerin. Glycerin attracts moisture to the skin and gives your skin a healthy glow… a big plus for a day at the beach.
Showers. Make sure that you take a shower at the end of a beach day to make sure you wash off all the sand and all the product buildup of the day.
Natural sunburn treatment
If your skin gets red or irritated after a day out at the beach, take regular cool showers to cool down your body and you can use aloe vera gel to soothe your skin and speed up healing.
If you have a bathtub, you may want to enjoy some self-care time and fill the tub with water and a cup of oatmeal. The oatmeal is very soothing to the skin and will help keep inflammation down.
Another good method to soothe your skin is to make some chamomile tea and apply it to your skin with a washcloth after it has cooled down.
Remember to moisturize your skin with a very rich moisturizer to soothe your skin and lock in moisture.
What not to do to your skin after a day at the beach
Exfoliation. Avoid doing any harsh exfoliation on your skin, especially for your face which has more sensitive skin than the rest of your body.
Do not take any hot showers or baths and do not use any harsh chemicals on your skin.
Enjoy your beach days
Applying these summer skincare tips daily will ensure that you can enjoy a summer full of outdoor activities free of sunburn and skin troubles.
