Most would agree that summer is the best time of year because of no school, beach days and sun-kissed skin. With the relaxing vibe that summer brings and the shorter list of responsibilities, it is easy to get caught up in summer fun and forget how harsh this weather really is on our bodies. Without protecting yourself from the sun and heat, you can easily damage your skin and hair and even put yourself in danger when it comes to things like dehydration and skin cancer.
Here are a few ways to make sure you are taking care of your body while still being able to enjoy fun in the sun:
1. Drink water.
It sounds redundant, and you're probably thinking, "obviously!" but it really is important to stay hydrated. A lot of times, people simply forget to drink water when they are spending all day at the beach or running around under the sun. Try to drink a glass or two of water before you leave the house and bring reusable water bottles with you. Dehydration can be really serious and can cause dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and a severe case can cause you to go to the hospital. Water is also an easy way to keep your skin and hair healthy too! Drinking water will not only keep you hydrated but make you feel better and more energized throughout a hot day.
2. Use facial moisturizers and lip balms that contain SPF.
I hope you all already know to use sunblock, or at least something with SPF in it, when you are in the sun! Now, most skincare brands are making their face moisturizers with SPF, so you don't even have to add an extra step to your routine. Using a moisturizer every morning, even under makeup, can really help keep your skin healthy and protected. Using daily moisturizers containing SPF now will also help you from developing lines, wrinkles and cancerous moles in the future. In addition to SPF face moisturizers, make sure your lip balm in the summer has SPF as well! Lips can get sunburnt too, and lip balm without SPF, that is not made for the sun, can irritate your lips if you apply it while you are being exposed to the sun's rays.
3. Eat healthy.
We all know that being home from school gives us the opportunity to eat healthier. So now is the time to really try to put in the effort to eat more vegetables, fruits and lean proteins. Your hair and skin are affected by what you put into your body. Salty, sugary and fatty foods can cause your skin to become greasy and acne-prone, and your hair can get fragile and oily. It even will have a negative effect on your nails, making them weaker and more prone to breaks and cracks! Eating a more balanced diet will not only keep your internal systems working more efficiently, but will keep you beautiful on the outside as well!
4. Stay away from blow dryers and flat irons.
Your hair is already going to be damaged from the sun and chlorine, so the intense heat from blow dryers and styling irons will make it worse! Use summer as a time to let your hair go into some "rehab." Let it gain back some of its natural moisture and have time to grow out so you can finally chop off those dead ends. Letting it air dry, even just wearing it natural *gasp* will keep it strong, shiny and healthy. Heat on top of heat will definitely be bad for your hair this summer, so try and give your locks a break!
5. Avoid over-exposure.
A balanced amount of vitamin C is good for you, but seriously, do not sunbathe for hours upon hours. Sure, you may get a rich, deep tan that looks nice on the outside, but is it doing serious damage deep down. During the summer months, the UV index, on average, is between a seven and a ten on a scale of one through ten. That truly shows how strong it is on a daily basis! Instead of laying out for hours, sunbathe while using sunblock for two hours max. You'll get plenty of color, and keeping your skin moisturized with hydrating creams and lotions will actually make your tan last longer! Also, now there are plenty of self-tanners out there that don't make your skin look orange and really do look natural! (Plus, wouldn't you want to do something a little more exciting on a beautiful day than laying in a lounge chair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m!?)
6. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Moisturizing is key in the summer. Skin gets easily dried out and moisturizing only in the morning and at night sometimes isn't enough! Exfoliate your skin once a week to get rid of dried out and dead skin cells, and find a deep moisturizer to use afterwards that works for you. This will keep your skin fresh, smooth and will even make your legs looking better than ever *wink wink*. Same goes for hair. Hair gets so dried out from the chlorine and sun that using a deep conditioner once a week in addition to conditioning every day can really help revitalize your hair, and get it back to what it was like before the damage.
7. Less makeup and less hair dye.
To be honest, there is nothing more unattractive than a girl with her face painted on and caked up with makeup while simultaneously sweating (gross). In the summer, less is more. We all know this rule goes for outfits and it also goes for makeup. All you need in the summer when you have a little tan is some concealer and mascara on a regular day! Natural makeup is the way to go under the summer sun because heavy makeup gets smudged, faded and sweaty, and within an hour, it just looks like a mess. This will also give your skin a cleansing break over the summer when you aren't clogging your pores with foundation and bronzer every day. Also, avoid dying your hair! Hair dye isn't going to give your hair the chance to get back to the long, healthy, luscious locks that it was last summer! It's not necessary to color your hair when the sun will give your hair natural highlights all on its own. If it is totally necessary to switch up your swatch, try going for a glaze instead of a harsh dye. They eventually fade out after four weeks, are much less intense and don't leave permanent damage!
8. Exercise.
I'm not saying you have to be #FitFam (because I sure as heck am not), but go for a walk, hike with friends or take a Zumba class to at least break a sweat! Exercising will cause you to sweat out toxins that may be stuck in your body otherwise. It also can help open your pores to get rid of dirt or other yucky things that may have built up in your skin over time. Lastly, exercising helps regulate and increase circulation, which can potentially give your skin a natural glow (so you don't have to use foundations or self-tanners that day). We all have more free time in the summer so might as well get in shape! Plus it's a great excuse to purchase some new cute workout clothes.
