Summer Living – Skincare, Foods, Hydration and more…

Summer living and the time is right. Whether enjoying some sun on the beach, in the garden or up in the mountains, it’s essential to protect our skin, hair and body. Here are a few things to consider this summer when you head out the door into the glorious sun, Enjoy!

Sunscreen:

It’s essential to protect our skin from the sun, both before and after exposure: If you choose to spend a lot of time in the sun, you should have a sunscreen that is safe and effective. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a “sun block” that will protect you against 100% of the UV rays. Your best protection from the sun is to moderate your sun exposure and to wear protective clothing. If you do need a sunscreen, you should look for a mineral zinc oxide sunscreen that has a base of natural and organic ingredients such as shea butter or jojoba oil. After sun exposure, a good aloe vera gel or a soothing shea butter based balm will do wonders for sun-parched skin.

Summer Haircare:

Summer may bring glorious visions of natural highlights and long windblown hair.  The reality?  Summer sun, spiraling hot temperatures and related humidity may damage your hair’s cuticle resulting in dry, drab, split, brittle or frizzy hair and ragged ends.  Sun exposure can be just as damaging to unprotected tresses as a super hot blow dryer.

• Shampoo less often to allow tresses to absorb natural oils.
• During summer months when hair tends to be moisture deprived, go longer in between color traetments
• If you normally use hot styling tools (blow dryers, flattening iron), give your hair a rest during summer months. Air dry whenever possible or opt for easy chic styles.
• When you cleanse be sure to apply a rinse-out conditioner appropriate for your hair, and then after towel blotting tresses apply a drop or two of a great leave-in conditioner. Also add a deep conditioning treatment once a month.
• Consider wearing a super cute large sun hat, covers hair and your face.

Foods for healthy summer living:
A healthy summer diet should include green leafy veggies and fruits with high water content.  Avoid eating out as much and opt for home made fresh food. Instead of frying and cooking vegetables, it is better to eat steamed vegetables, and include seasonal fruits and vegetables in your diet. As they contain the required elements to fight with excessive heat.  Reduce the intake of excessive salt in your food.  Avoid adding extra salt to your food, it disturbs the functioning of glands that produces sweat. Improper functioning of sweat glands can increase the chance of heat stroke.

Water, water, water:
Drink plenty of water. Water is the most essential element of the body. 70% of our body is made up of water, thus it is necessary to provide our body with required amount of water. During summer, our body looses excessive amount of water which leads to dehydration. Dehydration is the worst condition, where body suffers from numerous problems. Drink an ample amount of water before leaving the house and carry water with you if you are planning to be out in the sun.

4 Ways to Prevent Skin Cancer

Sun can give you more than wrinkles – it can give you cancer.

In honor of Melanoma Awareness Month, this is our second post about skin cancer and how you can avoid getting it. Turns out it’s the most common kind of cancer in the U.S., yet it’s also easy to see and curable if caught early.

Stay safe as you head into summer. Here’s how:

1. Avoid the sun.

Exposure to the sun is the biggest environmental factor when it comes to skin cancer. So – stay out of it! Be especially carefully to avoid the sun during midday (10 am – 4 pm) when the UV rays are the strongest. 

2. Wear sunscreen every day.

Wear a moisturizer and/or foundation with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Don’t stop there, though: slather sunscreen on any part of your body not covered by clothing—don’t forget your ears, the back of your neck or your hands. Repeat throughout the day.

3. Wear a hat and sunglasses.

Besides looking cool, you’ll shield yourself from damage with these two sun-blocking accessories.

With the hat, go for a wide brim to shade as much of your face as possible. Sunglasses should block both ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays.

4. Try a self-tanner.

Give yourself a beautiful bronzed glow with self-tanners. Not sure which one to use? Check out this handy review of self-tanners.

 

Are You at Risk for Skin Cancer?

Summer vacation. Playing at the beach. Backyard barbeques. 

Ah, the lazy day of summer. Love them! But along with sunny days come risks to your skin – and your life.

May is Melanoma Awareness Month

An annual event sponsored by the American Association of Dermatology, it focuses attention on the dangers of skin cancer and what you can do to prevent getting it.

 Today, I’m throwing a pop quiz to test your sun savvy. In another post, I’ll give you tips on how you can enjoy your sunshine – safely.

What’s your sun savvy?

1. The only safe tan:
a) occurs after 2 pm
b) comes from a bottle
c) can be obtained from the winter sun

2. UVB is:
a) an ingredient in sun protection products
 b) the type of sun ray responsible for frying your hide
c) the term dermatologists use when you are diagnosed with skin cancer

3. Melanoma is:
a) the scientific term for sunburn
b) the most dangerous form of skin cancer
c) a cluster of freckles

4. 80% of the sun exposure you during your lifetime occurs:
a) after you turn 21 
b) before the age of 18
c) after you turn 50

5. To you, a tan is:
a) what summer and vacations are all about
b) what you get when you apply a self-tanner
c) what you get at the tanning salon

6. You apply sunscreen:
a) once a day, just before hitting the beach
b) all over your body 30 minutes before heading out; repeat often
c) on your face before applying makeup

“B” is the correct answer for all questions. How did you do? 
Test source: Ivilliage.