1 October 2009
At the first hint of a 25 degree day after a long, chilly winter, I am like an excitable puppy. Even better is the day that I discover I will have to wear sunscreen to avoid getting burnt – then I’m positively frisky! But with that first joyful day, I realise I will have to re-think my beauty routine (which at the moment is non-existent) to account for the warmer weather and the prospect that I will have to… shudder… bare my neon-white skin and crusty feet.
So I’ve trawled the Internet, noted down my own tricks, asked my friends, and slapped together my top twelve tips for staying pretty this summer.
1. The easiest and cheapest way to get a natural-looking tan without frying your skin is to buy a moisturiser with a hint of tan in it. The tan builds up over time without leaving orange streaks, and at around $10–14 costs less than half the price of a full-strength fake tan. Johnson’s Holiday Skin is a good option, as is Garnier Skin Naturals Bodysummer and Nivea Body Sunkissed Skin. For the face, try Nivea Visage Summer Beauty Soft Tanning Moisturising Day Care, priced at $9.99.
2. Exfoliating before you tan helps avoid streaks and build-up, and also ensures your skin is glowing and summery. If you don't have an exfoliant, make your own by moistening half a cup of sugar with olive or sunflower oil. Sea salt and Epsom salts are also good for exfoliating the skin, and can be used all over the body; mix half a cup of the salts with half a cup of vegetable, olive, or baby oil.
3. If you happen to get sunburned, slather on some aloe vera gel straight away to help turn the redness to brown and re-hydrate the skin.
4. If you have mousy brown hair which you’d like to lighten just a bit, but don’t want to pay for professional streaks which can cost anywhere from $100 to $300, then try combing some lemon juice through your hair before you step outside. The lemon combined with sunshine will serve to lighten your hair just a tad, and give your hair a nice summery glow. However, the lemon juice can also dry out your hair, so make sure you condition it well.
5. Instead of slapping on the same heavy makeup that you might wear in winter, and carrying it around in your bag only to find that it melts in the heat, just apply sunscreen, bronzer and lip gloss. If you wear lip gloss in the sun, though, make sure it has SPF coverage, as your lips will burn extremely easily. Owning less makeup to begin with is a great way to not only save money, but also to save the inconvenience of carrying it around with you, and in summer heavy makeup is just not necessary. A tinted SPF moisturiser will do the job better than foundation.
6. If you still want to wear mascara, make sure it is waterproof so you don’t sweat it off. Cheap waterproof mascara works just as well as an expensive one. Try good old Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara.
7. Avoid eyeshadow and simply apply a good eyeliner – liquid eyeliner tends to hold better in the heat than kohl.
8. If you are at the beach, take advantage of the saltwater effect on your hair. Don’t wash it before you go out; style it in natural messy waves. Salt water can also be very healing for the skin.
9. If you find your hair is frizzing up in the heat, an easy fix is to finish each shower with a rinse of cool water over your hair after washing, which seals the cuticles of your hair and leaves it smooth and shiny.
10. You may find that baring your feet in sandals and thongs reveals crusty, flaking skin and hairy man-toes. A DIY pedicure may be in order before you step outside in summer shoes. Before you polish your toenails, soak your feet in a footbath of warm water, olive oil and Epson or sea salts. Then scrub off dry skin with a salt or sugar scrub, rinse, and moisturise. Lastly paint your toenails in a cheerful colour and voilà!
11. If you find your skin is getting a bit oily in the heat, experiment with a homemade toner. One interesting fix I’ve been told about (but haven’t tried just yet!) is to mix two parts water with one part apple cider vinegar. Apparently apple cider vinegar contains many vitamins and minerals that help to regulate oil production. Shake the mix, soak a cotton ball with it and apply to the face after cleansing.
12. Wear big sunglasses. For so many reasons big sunglasses are awesome. They hide all sorts of skin and makeup issues, protect your eyes from the sun, and in general make you look like a glamour queen.
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