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Community Corner

Beauty and the Heat

How to beat the heat and protect your skin in hot weather

Although summertime is by far one of the most anticipated seasons, keeping a pretty face and beautiful skin can be a bit of a challenge.

And I can totally relate to those who prefer not to use a ton of products. It’s entirely TOO HOT!

In an effort to look “cool” during the heat wave, here are a few tips that are sure to both protect your skin and keep you beaming throughout the rest of the summer.

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Who knew there would be an antiperspirant for the face? If you sweat a lot during the day, check out Neat’s Face Saver gel. This product is perfect for minimizing perspiration due to heat. Use about a nickel sized amount before applying your daily moisturizer, then proceed with applying your makeup.

If you are a beach bunny and love lying out in the sun, be sure to lather up the sunscreen. We all know the UVA and UVB rays are not our friend. So to keep our skin from burning, apply a sunscreen with an SPF30 or higher and reapply every two to three hours.

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Although there are some sunscreens that claim to be waterproof, I still recommend using it again once you come out of the water. For those of you who break out from using sunscreens, use zinc-oxide based products or formulas that are alcohol and oil free.

Now, should you lose track of time and burn, aloe vera is sure to soothe and calm your skin. I prefer using the pulp directly from the aloe vera plant; however you can purchase an aloe soothing gel from your local drug store. Store it in the refrigerator if you want that extra cooling sensation.

As much as I love tanning, I have to be realistic and not overdo it. So to get that summer bronzed skin, I spray tan. Before walking into any spray tanning salon, check out the services offered and try your best to see their customers.

If they walk out looking orange in any way, well—you know where not to go. And there is always the option of purchasing a self-tanner. If your self-tanner begins to streak on your skin, use an exfoliating mitt over dry skin once it sets, then rinse off in the shower.

Lastly, keep your skin and body hydrated. Drink plenty of water and use a lightweight moisturizer. Having that sticky feeling all day is no fun, so using something light, such as almond oil is great and it nourishes the skin. Pay special attention to dry areas, such as elbows, knees, and feet.

Even though our bodies require a different routine when it is warm out, we still have to maintain a regimen that will protect the skin and keep it healthy and glowing. It is easy to get sucked into relaxing on the beach or sitting by the pool while sipping on Mojitos.

Just be sure to protect yourselves while having fun in the sun!

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