June is here! It's finally summer! I'm going on holidays to Canada, woohoo! Ok I'm getting a bit carried away there. But summer is here, and we've got to get ready for it.
I'm not talking about bikini bodies or fake tanning or any of these, but I do want to talk about the effects summer has on our bodies. More specifically on our skin, our hair and our nails. When summer rolls around, we usually spend much more time outside in the sun and hopefully in and out of the pool (or lake, or sea if you're lucky) and all these changes affect us quite a bit. I have very pale dry sensitive skin, and summer affects me a lot, so with time I've perfected little tricks to make sure everything goes as planned and I stay as healthy and fresh as possible!
These are also good tricks if you're going on a sun holiday, I tested a few of these when I went Scuba Diving in Tenerife in April and they saved my butt! So let's get into it.
1. USE A FACIAL SUNSCREEN
The skin on our face is different than the rest of our bodies, so it makes a lot of sense to use a different product to protect it. On top of the protection factor, you might want to put makeup over your sunscreen so the consistency matters. Facial sunscreens also tend to be thinner and more comfortable on the skin. I personally also sweat quite a bit from my face (and it's the bane of my existence) so I need something light otherwise my pores get clogged. One that I've tried before and liked a lot is the Thinksport Sunscreen Stick with SPF 30. It doesn't feel thick on the face, it's cheap and it has a nice and delicate smell.
2. USE A LIP BALM WITH SUN PROTECTION
Again, the skin on your lips is very delicate! If you're lounging around the pool and are not wearing a specific lipstick, I recommend using an SPF lip balm. It will also help moisturize your lips because the sun and the pool can be horribly drying. My diving instructor also has the best trick : She uses SPF lip balm for the skin under her eyes! This wouldn't work under makeup but if you're not planning anything special, it might be a great use for your lip balm. The only natural option I have tried before is the Moogoo lip balm. It feels decent but a little thick, so I'm looking forward to trying out new ones when I get home in Montreal!
3. USE REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN
I know I'm stating the obvious here, but sunscreen is so important I'll never mention it enough. I was so so surprised when I learned that chemicals in suncare are toxic to corals, and to think of all the people who use it at the beach! There are tons of great reef-safe options out there, so I encourage you to try them out and find what works best for you. One thing I've learned the hard way though is that it's important to reapply throughout the day. I'm VERY pale so sunscreen isn't optional for me in the summer. One that I've tried recently and was so impressed by is the Organii Sun Milk SPF20. I received it in my monthly natural beauty box, and it's definitely the closest I've tried to a "regular" sunscreen. I'm also in love with the scent, it smells of holidays!
4. CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE TO INCLUDE MAKEUP WITH SPF
Sun protection shouldn't be just for summer, but it's just extra important when we're out and about. That being said not everyone likes to have 10 layers of products on their face, especially the poor sweaty people like me. Someone somewhere had the great idea of inventing makeup with SPF though, and that solves a lot of problems. I'd say be careful of mainstream brands because they often use chemicals and these are toxic to marine life. One easy to find natural option is the Physician's Formula BB Cream! It has a faint smell of coconut, a very decent coverage and no harmful chemicals. Some powder foundations and powder makeup also contain a certain amount of mineral sun protection so it's good to check out your products to see what might help protect you.
5. IF YOU GET SUNBURNT, TREAT IT
No one's perfect, and sometimes we forget to reapply and get a nice little sunburn. At that point the damage is done but you can help your skin recover as quickly as possible by treating the burn. Aloe Vera gels are well known for their calming and healing properties, so that's always a good option. If you have an actual Aloe plant at home, you can cut one of the "strands", open it up and use the gel inside, it does the same thing! Just make sure not to use them all otherwise your poor plant won't like you.
6. USE THE NIGHT TO MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN
One of the best ways to help your skin when it's being affected by the sun, sea water or pool chlorine, is to keep it hydrated. If your skin is hydrated, it will be healthier and much more likely to resist all the external stress. My favourite way to help with this is to use the downtime my skin has to help it recover as well as possible. For that I use a nighttime moisturizer or night mask when I go to bed. During the night your skin is obviously away from the sun and moisturizing during that time can help the skin be ready for the day ahead. That's my way of looking at it anyway! The night cream that I've been using for the last few months is the Trilogy Rosapene Night Cream, it feels rich without being greasy, doesn't have an overpowering smell, and the packaging is glass and tin so very eco friendly!
7. USE A NAIL STRENGTHENER TO PREVENT BREAKING
While your nails might not be as affected by the sun, the pool or the beach can have quite a massive effect on them. Being in the water a lot softens the nails and can cause breaking or bending afterwards. This is something I notice a lot when scuba diving and that I have to be careful about because it's very unpleasant. I discovered a secret weapon though : Nail strengthener! I use this one from Essie and it has done miracles for my nails. The one I use is translucent but has a subtle pink shift to it. It dries very fast when applied and I have 100% noticed a change in my nails since using it. They are longer, stronger and don't break as easily. This product has gotten me through a few diving trips as well. Nail strengthener is often underrated and can make a massive difference if you plan to be in the pool a lot.
8. GIVE YOURSELF A HYDRATION BOOST WITH AN ALL-PURPOSE MOISTURIZING BALM
Balms are like magic and are so practical! You can use them on your cuticles, as a lip treatment, on dry elbows and even to tame flyaways in your hair. I discovered the Everything Balm from the brand Trilogy a few months ago and it's been a real saviour! I love that it can multitask so you don't have to buy a million different products. I especially like this one because it has a lovely rose smell and it's packaged in a tin, so it gets bonus points!
9. USE ALL THE LEAVE IN CONDITIONER
This is my secret weapon when it comes to hair. This is how my hair survives scuba diving without getting all tangled and dry from the sea water : I use a LOT of leave in conditioner. I don't necessarily put a lot on at once, but I reapply often. So first of all if I know I'll be going in the water, I'll add a little product on my hair in the morning. This protects it from the sun and will help it stay a bit softer and more slippery (like real conditioner) so it doesn't get as tangled. And whenever I get out of the water, I make sure to reapply before my hair dries. This hydrates my hair and prevents it from getting horribly frizzy! I also do this when I get out of the shower after washing my hair in general, it's the best thing I've found so far to help with frizz. Also since it's something to do with going in the water, I suggest choosing a leave-in conditioner with natural ingredients, or at least nothing harmful to marine life! I've tried one from Alba Botanica and one from Andalou Naturals, and both did a great job!
10. STAY HYDRATED
And finally this is the simplest advice, but drink water! Your body is stronger when it's well hydrated and it will help your skin look better and handle the sun exposure. Drinking water is also especially important in the sun to prevent dehydration since we'll sweat a lot more and prevent heat strokes. So fill up that reusable water bottle and get drinking! If you don't like plain water or just want to spice it up, add some fruits and veggies to your water. My favourite is cucumber and mint leaves, I'd drink that all day long.
