Everybody loves summer. Sunshine, sand, beach, fun, friends, flirty, effortless looks, sun-kissed skin. Still, whether we are talking about skin, hair or lips, there are numerous factors that affect our body during the warm season. Therefore, the best thing to do is to invest wisely in summer beauty essentials in order to protect and prevent certain severe problems. Besides all the summer-appropriate makeup products, there are a few must-haves a girl should keep into her summer beauty bag. We are talking of course about sunscreens, moisturizers, hair treatments, but also about after sun body lotions, hand creams and lip balms.
Sunscreen
Yes, it might sound a little bit boring since everyone is talking about how vital is to use sunscreen. However, we shouldn’t understate its importance especially in case of extremely sensitive skin. During summer, your skin is highly exposed to harmful UV rays that can cause serious damage. Therefore, make sure you apply a generous amount of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or even higher. Apply it 30 minutes before going out and as often as every 2 hours, after sweating or staying more than 40 minutes in water. Make sure you look for sunscreens which work against both ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B (UVA and UVB) light, known as ‘broad-spectrum’ sunscreens.
Moisturizer
Even though one might think that moisturizers are useless during summer as they only make the skin greasy, you should know that they are utterly effective providing the necessary hydration your skin needs. High temperatures and sun rays, pollution, humidity, loss of water are some of the enemies of your skin. First of all, sun rays are harmful to the collagen structure causing wrinkles and premature aging. Second, pores might be clogged by different external factors, but also by not using moisturizer. And finally, water loss in the skin leads to a dull, dehydrated appearance. In every single one of this cases, a good moisturizer offers protection and nourishes the skin in order to prevent unwanted issues. If you have oily skin, try an oil-free moisturizer.
Body lotion and after sun body cream
If you want to look gorgeous and have a fresh-looking skin, keep in mind to always nourish it using the proper body lotion. During summer you can choose a non-greasy lotion for pampering your skin. Pick a product that contains vitamin E and antioxidants and get ready to maintain your skin hydrated and protect it from dryness. As for the after sun creams, these should offer intensive moisturisation, keeping the skin healthy and making your tan last longer.
Hair care
The worst summer enemies of your hair? Sun, heat, chlorine, humidity, sea salt. Main effects? Split ends, dryness, moisture loss, brittleness, among others. If you want to prevent some of these negative consequences, you should change your hair care routine and try to limit the use of hair chemicals and styling tools such as straightener, hot rollers, curling iron or blow dryer. Go for natural, messy hairstyles which are so hot this season. Hydrate your hair and protect it by applying a nourishing serum before and after swimming. Before going out you can use a leave in conditioner with sunscreen. Besides, opt for more natural shampoos, conditioners and masks and stay away from those containing formaldehyde or alcohol.
Lip balm and eye cream
Lips represent a sensitive part that needs to be well taken care of. During summer, use lip balms that have at least 15 SPF and apply it frequently. For maximum nourishing, a lip treatment with shea butter and vitamin E is so effective. Another delicate area is the skin around the eyes. Sunglasses and hats are essential to protect this area against summer heat. Besides, a good eye cream with SPF 15 provides protection and a Vitamin C boost able to repair the daily sun damage.
Hand and feet cream
For smooth and soft summer hands, get a cream that can both nourish and refresh the skin and apply it overnight. As for the feet, use sunscreen and anti-fungal medication.
Photos: Thinkstock Photos
