Complete Body Care In Summer Season
Indian Summers are hot, humid and unforgiving, with sun blazing on your head and searing heat going right through your body is definitely not a welcoming scenario.
Though the best way is to stay indoors, but going out is not avoidable. However, a few simple tricks and you can make summers a little comfortable for yourself. The heat and sun usually takes a toll on your skin, hair and body in general. A few home remedies, precautions and dietary changes, and lo you are ready for the Indian summer! So what follows are these tip that will help you through.
Smooth supple Skin
The main enemies of skin that strike during summer- oily or dry skin depending on the general climate, burning and Tanning. Oily skin is very common in places with humid climate. Many north Indian states have dry climate throughout the year, but the problem with dry skin in summer is that using winter moisturizing creams is not a very good option.
To attain a supple feel of the skin and cooling, use aloe Vera gel on your face. If you have skin burns due to exposure to sun, rub some cucumber on the affected area. It will not only moisturize but also cool the skin. You can use sandalwood paste with a little almond oil added to it, if you have dry skin.
Honey is also a good moisturizing agent for the skin. Use these packs before you take bath. Do not use soap after using these masks to retain the moisture. You can carry some honey or Aloe Vera with you all the time and wash your face with these. The best thing about them is, they will not make your skin feel oily yet retain the glow.
For Tanning, Tomato work wonders. Slice the ends of tomato which you would normally not use for cooking, just rub it on the tanned areas and you will notice reduction in tanning. You can also dip the tomato slice in Lemon juice and apply it to the tanned parts; this will expedite the anti- tan process. You can also use exfoliating agents very easily available in the stores.
Exfoliation will remove the dead skin which would form the top most layer of your face. However, excessive exfoliation is not good. You must restrict it to ones a month. Apart from the above, use of potato peels, sandalwood paste mixed with a pinch of turmeric is also recommended for removing tan. And with all these, always use a sun screen before stepping out. For Indian condition, minimum SPF of 30 is must.
Hair Care
Due to sweating in the summer, hair tends to become very oily. Usually colored and straightened hair needs a lot of help in summer as sun burns and damages treated hair very easily. Whenever, you venture out, cover your hair with a scarf to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. If you suffer from dandruff then apply lemon on the scalp, if this dries your scalp too much then add some mustard oil or olive oil to the juice.
This will not only get you rid of the dandruff but also keep your hair smooth and avoid frizz. Use a lot of conditioner after shampoo, though leave in conditioner is better recommended. You can also treat your hair and scalp to steam. Oil the hair well and then wet a towel in warm water and wrap it on your hair.
However, when washing, do not use hot water as it will dry the hair. Even washing hair too much will dry your mane. There are hair masks available now a days. You can give these a try according to your hair type.
Hydrate with water and right diet
We can go about a number of external treatments as discussed, but nothing is as effective as internal health of the body. Summer sun can dehydrate you very badly, therefore is it not only important to drink a lot of water but also eat food that is high on water quotient. Minimum one liter of water must be consumed every day. Carry your own water if possible, as flu and other water borne diseases are rampant during this season.
Include a lot of salad and green vegetables to your diet with use of lower content of oil in the main meals. Eating fruits like water melon, Musk Melon, grapes etc with a lot of water content in breakfast will also hydrate your body at the beginning of the day. Our body has seventy percent water content, and so healthy level of water is extremely important to maintain good skin, hair and general health. Avoid alcohol as it tends to de hydrate your body; go for fresh fruit juices instead.
Clothing and fragrances
Right Clothes are a necessary part of your preparation for summer season. Stick to cotton, the fabric of hot days. Avoid tight fitting clothes. It is specifically advisable to wear cotton underclothes. If you have to wear jackets and business suits, carry these with you and wear them when indoors in air conditioned rooms. Footwear is also an important part of summer wardrobe. Wear foot wear that allows ventilation to your feet.
If you must wear closed shoes and pumps, ensure that you wear cotton socks and apply anti-fungal powder between the toes as sweat will make that area excessively tender and prone to infection. Use a lot of talcum powder apart from deodorants on the body parts that sweat excessively, it will absorb the sweat. You can also use does that are powder based instead of the stick ones. Avoid strong fragrances. The lime based fragrances are the best for summer time.
Make Up
It is advisable to keep your make up light and use floral shades to bring a glow to your face. Water proof make up is not a bad idea in places that are humid and make you sweat. Mineral based make up is better, since it is good for skin and avoids making your skin look cakey; also pasty makeup retains heat more.
However, do not use a lot of powdered foundation and limit its use to touch up. If powdered mineral make up makes the skin very dry, then use a moisturizer before applying this make up. Make sure you wash your face of its make up and cleanse with rose water to keep it supple and healthy.
Loaded with the arsenal of these ideas, step out in sun with a great confidence. As such summer is fun time with lot of sun shine, holidaying and parties! So don’t let the heat stop you from the sun fun.
Photo Credit- Maryelise.com
