How To Prep Your Skin For Summer Holidays The Natural Way
The beautiful spring weather we have been enjoying means that it already feels like high summer, but hopefully the best is yet to come! As the sun grows more powerful, it’s important to take steps to protect your skin and ensure that it stays healthy and nourished throughout the hottest and driest months of the year.
If you have a holiday planned somewhere hot and sunny, then you’ll want your skin to look its radiant best, as well as stay protected from the sun. Here are some tips to adjust your skincare routine to summer using organic body products that are free from chemicals, petroleum derivatives, alcohol, and artificial perfumes and colours.
Start with gentle exfoliation
If you are prepping your skin for a holiday or special occasion, start with gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells. This will help to unclog pores and reveal the fresh new skin underneath, leaving your skin looking radiant and also helping with the absorption of moisturisers and oils.
Avoid using facial scrubs that contain microplastics or harsh chemicals, as these could upset your skin, as well as being harmful for the environment. Instead, look for 100 per cent natural ingredients such as sundried pink clay, or oatmeal and ground seeds. Alternatively, use a gentle facial loofah pad once or twice a week.
Deeply hydrate your skin (and body)
Sun exposure, warm temperatures and travel can disrupt your usual hydration routine, both inside and out. Carry a water bottle with you if you are travelling and consider packing some oral rehydration tablets if you don’t want to drink too much during a long journey.
Dehydration not only affects your mood and energy levels, but also causes your skin to look sallow and feel tight and uncomfortable. If your skin feels drier than usual, try using natural oils that are rich in essential fatty acids, such as jojoba, rosehip, and argan oil for an extra hydrating treat to nourish and restore the skin’s barrier.
Stock up on skin-friendly SPF products
It’s crucial to protect your skin from UV rays, particularly during the height of the summer or if you are jetting off to a hot climate. If you have sensitive skin, look for mineral-based suncare products such as those that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
These naturally occurring minerals either reflect or absorb the sun’s rays, and contain no artificial colours or preservatives. Some mineral suncare products contain additional natural ingredients such as aloe vera and avocado.
The NHS recommends that about a teaspoon of sunscreen should be applied to the face, and about six to eight teaspoons to cover the whole body. It should be applied 30 minutes before going out, and again just before going out to all areas of exposed skin, including the ears, neck and backs of the hands. It should be reapplied every two hours.
Look for antioxidant rich products
The sun can accelerate ageing, no matter how careful you are with SPF. Natural antioxidants such as vitamin E, green tea extract, and plant oils help protect the skin from free radicals and encourage repair.
Don’t forget about the rest of your body
It’s likely that your arms, legs and shoulders will see more sun exposure during the summer. Rich body butters can feel too heavy in warmer weather, so swap them for lighter products such as non-greasy lotions and oils such as moringa, almond and argan.
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