by The Puritan's Pride Editorial Team
Ah, summer… that magical time of year marked by long, lazy days and a myriad of reasons to love the season of sun. But all that fresh air is not without its challenges – such as overexposed skin, chapped lips and those pesky insects!
In an effort to avoid those seasonal drawbacks, we’ve put together some tips to make this your best summer ever.
This clever slogan reminds us that the best advice is to avoid the midday sun, but when you can’t you should slip on clothing that covers your skin, slap on a wide brimmed hat and lastly, slop some sunscreen on your exposed skin.
When you reach for sunscreen to slop on, you may want to skip aerosols that may miss spots and opt for more holistic sunscreens that can still provide protection.
Outdoor activities expose your skin to more than just the sun. Swimming, hiking, and biking can all lead to dry skin; wind, chlorine, and salt water can also zap moisture from your skin.
The first rule of summer is stay hydrated! This means you need to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when you are active. Besides drinking plenty of water and eating a proper diet, if you notice your skin is dry and flaky, reach for a soothing product. Unlike winter though, you don’t want a heavy cream that coats your skin in a thick layer.
If you think dry, chapped lips occur only in the colder climates and only in winter, think again. Lips can get sunburned and more time outdoors in drier climates can cause them to become chapped. If you intend to be outdoors for extended periods try to protect your lips with balms that have SPF. Products with high gloss shine aren’t a great choice to protect your lips, and they may actually intensify the sun’s effects.
Lip balms with camphor, menthol or other “medicated” ingredients feel great at first, but they have a tendency to dry out your lips. Opt for soothing ingredients like Vitamin E and Shea Butter. They may lack the “tingle” you get from the medicated balms and salves, but trust us; your lips will thank you.
Humidity can wreak havoc on your hair. Wind, chlorine, salt water and sun can also take a toll on your lovely locks. Here are some of our favorite tips for keeping your mane manageable all season long.
Coconut oil can help you achieve a sleek summer style; don’t overdo it or your hair will end up looking greasy. Take a tiny bit in your hand, and rub it around your palm to melt, then use your fingertips to slick it over your hair. Work slowly, applying a tiny amount at a time.
To combat frizz, you can also try this simple trick. Rinse your freshly washed hair with apple cider vinegar. Mix equal parts cool water and apple cider vinegar. Rinse your hair as you normally would with water, and then give it a final rinse with the vinegar solution. The acidity in the vinegar helps cuticles lay flat, making your hair appear shiny and frizz-free. This treatment can be used every other week or so to help vanquish that frazzled look. Do a spot test on your hair first to make sure it doesn’t fade any color.
The best way to avoid insect bites is to avoid the insects, which means staying in when biting insects are at their peak, specifically dawn and dusk. Cover with clothes when you can. You can also arm yourself with repellent. If you’re concerned about what you are spritzing on your skin, you can choose to take a more holistic approach.
What’s the buzz about holistic insect repellents (Sorry, we couldn’t resist the pun)? Holistic pest repellents have been used for centuries. If you are looking for a more wholesome way to help repel pesky insects, check out these suggestions.
This holistic option lists geranium oil as one of its active ingredients, as well as peppermint, citronella and lemongrass essential oils, to name a few.
If you are looking for a natural way to soothe your skin you may want to consider applying a dab of honey. You read that correctly. Honey. Although sticky, it can be a soothing emollient.
If you’re not into the idea of putting sticky honey on your skin, you might give essential oils a try. One we love is tea tree oil. Tea Tree Oil naturally cleanses and purifies and it’s been used for centuries to help refresh the skin. Just make sure that if you have never used tea tree oil before to dilute it with a carrier oil to make sure you are not overly sensitive.
If you follow a few simple rules to avoiding the unpleasant parts of summer, you’ll be setting yourself up to sit back, relax and savor the sweet side of the season.
