Get Your Skin Ready for Summer!

Summer is almost here! Make your skin ready!

Not only does a bit of a tan makes you look and feel amazing, but lying in the sun boosts your serotonin levels and the sun touching your skin also transforms Cholesterol into Vitamin D.

Vitamin D helps to fight many illnesses and lack of it can cause depression, migraines, joint pain and even Rickets in adults. With over 70% of people in the UK spending most of their day indoors.

It is no surprise that many of us feel a little lethargic in the winter months when supplies of Vitamin D are running out, so now is the time of the year to store Vitamin D!

Get your skin ready for the summer!

Hydration

The body is about 60% water, give or take. We're constantly losing water from our bodies, primarily via urine and sweat. The health authorities commonly recommend about 2 litres per day.

Good to Read: Water for a Healthy Life - Why You Need To Drink Up

Exfoliate

Exfoliating once or twice a week will help your skin feel smooth, soft and bump free. Above all, it will avoid it peeling especially when you tan, thereby making your tan last longer. It will help your skin look healthier and moisturised. You can either buy an already made scrub or if you feel like indulging in a little homemade TLC, why not try to make your very own with our homemade recipe below. It will help you relax and unwind.

Simple Face & Body Scrub

Bowl
Spoon
Oil (grape seed, coconut oil, or olive oil)
Salt or sugar (small granules and for very sensitive skin use dark brown sugar. If you have Psoriasis always use sugar rather then salt)
Essential oil (optional) - Make sure the oil you are using is safe to apply to skin

What to do: Simply mix one part oil to two parts salt or sugar. You can make as little or as much as you want! How to use: Use a loofah mitt, a washcloth, or your hand to apply to skin. If you find the salt or sugar too harsh on your skin, rinse and only use the oil to continue. Once you are well-scrubbed, rinse thoroughly. P.S.: Don't forget to exfoliate your feet (don't fall in the process!).

Nail Pampering in a Jar Treat yourself to beautiful, soft hands and nails. The lovely smell created by the essential oils mix will ensure a little relaxation.

1/2 cup (15 g) grape seed oil
1/2 cup (15 g) organic brown sugar
5 drops vanilla extract
2 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop sandalwood essential oil
A bowl
Wide open jam jar

What to do: Mix ingredients in a small mixing bowl and then simply pour the mix into the wide-necked jar. How to use: Simply dip fingertips into the jar, then gently massage into your cuticles and knuckles. To finish simply cleanse your hands with warm water then apply hand cream. Your fingers will feel fresh- and smell great! - Recipe written by Julie Gabriel, author of The Green Beauty Recipes

Moisturise daily

Moisturise your body at least once a day but ideally try to moisturise every morning and every evening. Making your skin as silky as possible, it helps you tan better. Concentrate on the more problematic areas, the ones that dry the quickest such as knees, elbows, feet, etc. as they can cause an uneven tan.

Sun lotion

Everybody's skin is different, therefore it is important you ensure the one you have chosen works for you. Our skin can become sensitive under the sun and react. Ensure you apply a lotion or oil with SPF 4 to 50, depending on how fair your skin is and how long you are sunbathing for, these are big factors. If you get prickly heat avoid applying sunscreen lotions use sunscreen oils instead.

Apply a stronger SPF factor on your face and don't forget to use a lip balm with a minimum of SPF 30. Burnt lips are very painful!

Prickly Heat

Many of us suffer from prickly heat when exposed to the sun. Whilst Calamine lotion helps it does not prevent it and for those of you who have suffered from it, you know it can ruin your holiday. So here is what I discovered, I hope it works for you too.

My story: Whilst in Thailand earlier this year I had prickly heat. My aim was to stop the itching, so I tried everything I read on the Internet at the time. I bathed in cold water. Stayed in the air-conditioned bedroom. I even covered myself in calamine lotion before going out for dinner at a restaurant (Not my best look, as you can see).

The next day, I had a Swedish massage booked. Swedish massages typically involve the use of oil. Therefore, I was unsure I should go ahead but I am glad I did! As the massage started, I noticed the more the oil was spread, the more the itchiness was disappearing.

Keeping this in mind, I thought maybe.... if I bought and used Oil-based sunscreen, (which is what I normally use in Europe), rather then my SPF sun lotion it might help. I therefore bought the local cheap coconut oil SPF15 sunscreen and applied it. Within a few hours the problem was under control and within 24 hours, pretty much gone. I found out the hard way that my SPF 30 suncream was blocking my pores, I hope this helps you avoid the same problems.

Skin Care Tips

Keep Hydrated by drinking water.
Don't change your shower gel or shampoo just before or whilst on holiday. Take some with you so you don't get tempted to use pretty hotel ones, which your skin is not used to.
Wear clothes from natural fibres such as cotton, linen or silk.
When shopping for your SPF sun protection. Avoid using â€œlotion/creamâ€ based sunscreen, instead use â€œoilâ€ based sunscreen.
Upon my return from Thailand, I looked into higher SPF Oils, as I had never seen them above SPF15. The good news is there are many available these days. So have a look around. Many even go up to SPF 50. Here are a few: Piz Buin, Calypso, Malibu, Haiwaiin Tropic, and others.
With oil-based sunscreen, don't forget to re-apply more often. It also is less water-resistant so "Watch out " not to burn whilst in the water!!
Calamine lotion and Aloe vera do help to alleviate a little but not as much as oil.
If you feel prickly heat is coming on, get indoors into an air conditioning area to alleviate it and moisturise with oil as soon as you can. It can be any non-scented oil such as:
massage oil,
monoi,
coconut oil,
olive oil,
rapeseed oil,
sunflower oil
and many others.