At long last, the sun is shining, and we can retire our parkas and winter boots. Of course, summer means bathing suits, bare skin, and the waxing appointments that come along with it! If preparing for summer sunshine sounds like a chore to you, here are five of our favorite suggestions for no-fuss, natural skin upkeep, all summer long!
1
SUN PROTECTION
Of course, this is an obvious one – but important enough to drive the point home, yet again. While it’s always best to stay out of the sun during peak hours, wear wide brimmed hats, and cover your skin, this isn’t always realistic, so SPF is key! With some studies indicating that chemical sunscreens may have endocrine disrupting properties, we prefer a zinc oxide based sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB light physically. There are also DIY options that take advantage of the naturally occurring SPF properties in certain oils, like carrot seed and red raspberry oils.
2
SUN DAMAGE
If you didn’t heed our first piece of advice, or just got unlucky, you may be the victim of summer’s greatest foe – the sunburn. There are few things worse than a raw sunburn, and the itchy pink skin it causes, but thankfully aloe vera has some incredible soothing properties. It will reduce the inflammation and redness of your sunburn, and help prevent infection with its natural antibacterial properties. It’s always a great idea to have an aloe plant on hand, but for those of us without green thumbs, most drugstores offer a plethora of aloe vera gels. Just remember, the less adulterated with additives, the more effective it will be!
Full Body MoistureSummer is the season of (sometimes excessive) shaving and waxing – and this can cause our arms and legs to appear dry and scaly. This is why we turn to rich moisturizers like shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil, to renew the moisture our skin has been stripped of, and to keep our gams looking healthy and fresh! We recommend using our Absolute Anti Aging Body Oil for all skin’s needs in the summer.
3
MIDDAY SKIN REFRESHER
As much as we love getting our daily dose of vitamin D, sunshine often equates to sweat! If you’re looking for a quick skin pick-me-up, try a spritzer that combines rose water and witch hazel. The witch hazel will act as a natural anti-inflammatory, as the rose water tones your skin and restores its balance (not to mention, smells lovely!) Take half a cup of organic rose water and add 3 drops of witch hazel oil, and pour into a mini spray bottle. Store in the fridge overnight, and keep it in your bag for rapid refreshment!
And there you have it – four natural ways to achieve a full-body glow this summer. For summer time facial skincare, check out our Deeply Clarifying Face Oil and our Beauty Boosting Day Face Oil – two of our favorite, ultra-light blends, for lasting moisture (without any of the grease!)
