By: Melissa Nkomo, PowHERhouse Natural Beauty Editor
Summer skincare doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, letting your skin catch a few rays can be beneficial for mood and for your complexion. But too much sun can also leave your skin looking older than it should.
Here are some simple tips to keeping your skin healthy and happy during this summer heat!
1. Use a toner to refresh your skin and your makeup
Hydration can be hard to maintain in the summer, especially if you spend a lot of time lounging at poolside or splashing around in the water. One of my favourite summer tricks is to keep my toner in the refrigerator. Mist it onto your bare skin after washing your face and before your moisturizer, or spritz a little over your makeup for a cool and refreshing dose of hydration.
And, as always, my favourite summer accessory is my water bottle. Hydration on the outside is nothing if you are not hydrated on the inside as well.
2. Eat your tomatoes
A study out of Germany showed that volunteers who consumed 5 tablespoons of tomato paste daily for three months had 25 percent more protection against sunburn. As an added bonus their skin also had more collagen, which prevents skin sagging. This is a result of Lycopene, a chemical housed in tomatoes. Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you eat tomato paste by the spoonful. Just be sure to add some tomatoes to your summer salads, burgers and maybe enjoy a savoury Ceasar or two for some added internal protection from the UV rays.
3. And for you bare beauties…
Sometimes it just feels better to go bare! If you choose to forego makeup all together, make sure your summer skincare regime is up to par. While a little sun exposure can be great for healing scaring and naturally evening out skin tone, always use a moisturizer with SPF. This will help protect your skin below the surface and keep it healthier for longer.
If you find you’ve slightly over done it and soaked up too many rays, try my sunburn remedy using ingredients right out of your kitchen or vegetable garden:
For all skin types:
Step 1.
Slice a chilled cucumber into equally sized rounds and apply to your clean skin. You can lay the cucumber on your skin until it’s no longer cool or rub the cucumber directly onto your face and neck for about 5 minutes.
Step 2.
Mash ¼ papaya with 1-2 teaspoons honey and yogurt. Apply to clean dry skin and let it sit for a minimum of 10 mins.
- Papaya nourishes and speeds up exfoliation of dead skin cells
- Honey is cleansing and locks moisture into the skin
- Yogurt is cooling and toning for the skin
Enjoy the Sun!
