8 Basic Summer Beauty Essentials
The summer is finally here! Sun, beach, fun, travel, music! What else? Well, I guess everyone´s summer is different! (And, after all this things should be throughout the WHOLE year, not just in the summer ;))
But, what about our beauty routine in the summer? Does it change? Should it change? Well, some things should definately change, such as switching to a lighter cleanser, using sunscreen with a higher SPF or protective clothing. But, let´s take a look at the list I created here :)
1. Cleanser
If you have greasy or combination skin, and you are starting to notice that the cleanser (or cleansing milk) you are usually using is clogging your pores in the summer, you should definately switch to a lighter cleanser. For the summer, I would recommend using micellar waters. They are really lightweight, gentle and very practical because they serve as a cleanser and a toner in ONE. They are also great if you are travelling, because you don´t have to wash them off with water afterwards. I would definately recommend Bioderma´s Micellar Waters (according to your skin type), but there are many brands nowadays who have launched similar, much more affordable micellar waters, such as Nivea, L´Oreal and Garnier.
2. Sunscreen
It´s very important to wear sunscreen throughout the whole year to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays, but it´s especially essential in the summer. Wear a sunscreen with UVA and UVB factor 30 or higher and try to look for sunscreens with no alcohol or fragrance. A lot of sunscreens nowadays contain large amounts of alcohol in it so that the sunscreen would absorb better into the skin, but it´s extremely drying, especially for the sensitive skin. Some of the good sunscreens that I found are: Hawaiian tropic, Coppertone and Piz Buin. These are very moisturizing sunscreens without alcohol. They do contain very small amounts of fragrance (at the end of the list) which is not that harmful. If you are searching for a sunscreen with no fragrance, Clinique is always a good option. It´s also good to use mineral sunscreen for your face (like Bioderma Photoderm Mineral) because it blocks the UV rays immediately. The only drawback is that they can leave a white cast on your face and might be a little drying to your skin. To counteract that you can choose tinted mineral sunscreen with added moisture (for example Clinique City Block or Bioderma Photoderm Mineral Tinted) or just apply a bronzer on top of your sunscreen.
3. Protective clothing
When you´re going out, always wear a hat, sunglasses and other protective clothing that will shield you from the sun rays. You can also find protective clothing with SPF in it which is very useful.
4. Flip - Flops
Flip-flops and any kind of open shoes are essential for the summer. Your feet need to breath. Keeping them in closed shoes all the time can lead to athlete´s foot and nail fungus infection, and being barefoot is a great way to prevent it. And what´s the best time to be barefoot than summer? :D
5. Bottle of water
To prevent dehydration during summer it is essential to drink a lot of water, so keep a bottle of water always near you wherever you go.
6. Facial Spray (Thermal Spring Water)
To stay cool and refreshed during hot summer days it is very good to keep a facial spray near you. They hydrate your skin, keeps your make up from running or rubbing off and feels so fresh! There are a lot of facial sprays on the market, like Evian, Avene, Uriage, Vichy, La Roche Possay, Balea etc.
7. Hand Fan
Another thing to keep handy is a fan! I know it looks a little old fashioned but I always keep it in my bag in the summer to keep me cool when it´s very hot. And it also looks stylish :D
8. For the mosquitoes
Mosquitoes can be really annoying in the summer. What you can do is buy a product that you put in your house to keep them away. You can also buy a cream in the drugstore that you apply on your skin. But, here is one homemade all natural trick you can use if you like. Warning: it does stink a little :D
So, if you have problems with mosquitoes during the night, before you go to bed put some apple cider vinegar all over your skin. It will keep the mosquitoes away!
This post was only about summer ESSENTIALS (not make up, self-tanners, etc. since these are not essentials). What are your thoughts? What are YOUR summer beauty essentials? Let me know :)
