Summer is here! Bring on the bathing suits, beaches, piña coladas and short shorts. As much as I love the hot weather, sometimes it can take a toll on your hair and skin. The humidity, the sweltering heat and even those harsh UV rays all play a part. Here are 6 beauty products to keep you cool, refreshed, and glowing this summer:
1. Lemon + Honey Face Mask
This face mask is so simple and effective, that’s why it’s my absolute favorite. Lemon is an astringent known to lighten acne scars and lightly exfoliate and tighten the skin. Honey is antimicrobial and moisturizes with ease. When I’m cooking and slice open a lemon, I always leave a half to the side for a face mask later on. It’s so simple! Just squeeze some lemon juice into a bowl and mix with one tablespoon of raw honey. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse off. For added benefits, try adding some apple cider vinegar or turmeric to the mix.
Tip: Don’t use that “honey bear’ bottle that drips honey everywhere. It’s been refined, pasteurized and loaded with extra stuff that isn’t so sexy for the skin. Discover the benefits of raw honey, or better yet, manuka honey. Albeit more expensive, it is worth every penny.
2. Green Tea + Aloe Toner
Summer is great but sunburns suck; especially on your face. With this aloe-green tea toner, you’ll soothe and pamper your skin. Aloe is great for burns, irritated skin, and even acne! Green tea is packed with antioxidants that are great for the skin. Steep a couple of bags of green tea (strength by preference), and wait for it to cool. Add 1 tsp. of aloe vera juice (the real stuff) or gel (straight from the plant) and mix together. Store in a mason jar in the fridge for up to a week.
Tip: Want your toner to double as an acne treatment? Add a couple drops of tea tree oil. You can also add a little lemon to it as a natural preservative, or even use. this as a facial spray.
3. Rose Water + French Pink Clay Mask
Feeling fancy yet? Well you should. These ingredients may be a little harder to get your hands on but you won’t regret it. Reminiscent of Lush’s “rosy cheeks” this face mask just calms everything down. Rose water is incredible for sensitive skin. In a bowl, mix 1 Tbs. of pink clay with 1-2 Tbs. of Rose Water and apply to face. Don’t have pink clay? Try calamine powder or bentonite clay!
Tip: For those sweltering hot summer days, keep a spray bottle of rose-water in your fridge and spritz your face whenever you’re feeling a little over heated.
4. Sea Salt Coconut Hair Spray
I’ve been seeing sea salt hair sprays explode on the market, but you can make your own at home; without all the chemicals and parabens. Sea salt acts as a volumizer for the hair, and coconut is both moisturizing and protects against UV rays. Take some organic sea salt and mix with lukewarm water. Add a Tbs. of coconut oil. Wait for it to cool; and viola! Texture, shine, and volume! You can also add a pinch of pink Himalayan salt too !
Tip: I normally wouldn’t suggest this, but use refined coconut oil for this rather than unrefined. You want a smooth consistency mixture to spray, not a bunch of coconut oil chunks that solidified at room temperature.
5. Lemon + Greek Yogurt Hair Mask
You probably think I’m crazy but trust me; it works. What is so great about the lemon (as noted earlier) is that is helps lighten. Don’t have money for highlights? No problem; you can get sun-kissed hair anytime with this hair mask. The greek yogurt helps nourish the hair follicles and gives you back some of that luster you may have lost over the winter. Hair mask recipes are really forgiving so don’t worry about exact measurements; just whip it up and apply to your locks.
Tip: Want “red” tones instead? Swap your lemon for apple cider vinegar. Not only does it help lighten, but it makes your hair so so shiny.
6. Grapefruit Body Scrub
Exfoliating is important; especially if you want to try self-tanner this summer. You don’t want a patchy hot mess on your hands do you? Of course not. So, scoop out all that zesty grapefruit goodness (discarding the peel) and blend it up. Add raw sugar, Himalayan salt, whatever you’d like to scrub your way to smoother skin.
Tip: You can also add essential oils or even some coconut oil! The salt and citrus will buff away dead skin while the coconut oil softens the skin.
There you have it! 6 DIY products that are absolute staples in my summer beauty routine. If you want silky smooth legs, sun-kissed skin and beachy waves, you have to try some of these recipes. Happy Summer!
Featured image via Daria Shevtsova on Pexels
