It might not feel like it here in New Jersey, but summer is right around the corner. That means it is time transition your beauty and skincare routines to prepare for beach days.
One of the most important things to remember in the warm weather is to stay hydrated. Besides being important for your health, keeping hydrated will help give your skin a summer glow.
Not only can you achieve this from drinking lots of water, but you can keep your skin hydrated by eating fruits such as watermelon and cantaloupe. It’s easy for your skin and hair to become dull from the harsh ultraviolet rays in the summer. Watermelons are full of hydrating properties, which will prevent this from happening, keeping your hair and skin looking healthy.
Speaking of harsh ultraviolet rays, using products high in sun protection factor (SPF) will keep your skin safe from burning and aging. Spending long days at the beach can be harmful to the health of your skin if you do not.
Dr. Jennifer L. Weinberg, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.E in health studies/nursing shared her opinion, “Spending moderate time in the sun has been shown to contribute to health by providing pain reducing (analgesic) properties and helping to regulate metabolism. On the other hand, sunlight includes rays of invisible ultra violet light of varying wavelengths which can contribute to sunburn, accelerated skin aging, and skin cancer.”
A great moisturizer for the face is Clinique’s Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream. It’s a good idea to use an SPF lotion that’s specifically made for the face rather than the body, to ensure that the product won’t break you out (especially if you have sensitive skin).
Senior buisness marketing student Allison Paternoste shared her favorite summer product. “Using sea salt spray is one of my favorite looks in the summer, especially when I’m fresh off the beach and need a quick easy hair style.”
This lotion is great to use on its own or under any makeup you are going to apply. It protects against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B and does not leave the skin greasy since it is oil free. It’s also perfect for the beach since it is water and sweat proof!
The sun can also dry out the skin on your lips. Besides applying a chapstick with SPF in it, one of my favorite ways to keep my lips looking healthy is by using a lip mask.
Just like a face mask, they can hydrate and condition the skin to give them a healthy glow. Using lip masks in the summer will help restore the moisture lost in the sun. A great choice is Knc Beauty’s lip mask. They’re gel sheet masks that you leave on for just minutes, and leave your lips feeling amazing. If you want something you can leave on overnight, Laneige offers a lip sleeping mask.
This mask has a berry flavor that smells awesome and is so helpful in preventing chapped lips. Junior Marketing student Alexa Nagy offered her summer makeup musts. “I always add face products with SPF to my makeup routine in the summer”
Going to the beach can also leave your hair a mess if you do not use the right products. Using a sea salt spray after the beach can give your hair a natural look with lots of texture. One favorite is Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. Spraying this throughout your hair and using your fingers to tousle it will give your hair natural looking waves to enhance the just off the beach look.
You can also apply this to your hair before the beach. This versatile product has coconut water in it so it actually can protect and revitalize your hair from the damaging rays.
After spending a long time in the sun, opt for a cold shower rather than a hot one. According to dermatologists, hot showers can further dry out your skin while cold ones are good to clean out your pores which can be clogged with sweat and lotion. Also, exfoliating your skin in the summer is another key to keeping your skin look it’s best.
Sunburns can leave the skin dry and flaky, so it’s important that the dry, dead skin is removed. Using a scrub to exfoliate before the shower will help to reveal the healthy skin underneath.
After you do so, make sure to apply an oil or thick body lotion right after you shower to lock in moisture into the skin.
Keeping these tips in mind will help you to have fun in the sun, without having to worry about the health of your skin and hair!
PHOTO COURTESY of Cassandra Capozzi-Smith
