Bring the Sizzle, Not the Burn

Summer brings special beauty challenges. Here are some helpful tips and solutions to hot-weather dilemmas.

Head to toes:

Humidity got you all frizzy?  No worry.  Just go with the flow. Use a frizz-fighting product and let the curls begin. Does straight hair drag you down, when beachy waves are fab? Let your hair dry naturally.  Salty water? Even better. Keep the sweat off your neck with headbands, ponytails, ballerina bands, kerchiefs and clips.

Blonde hair against tan skin screams summer. Actually, just lightening your natural hair color or adding highlights will enhance a tan and add body for that flowy, wavy hair. Keep in mind that colored hair requires additional protection against the sun to prevent dryness and discoloration. 

What about just squirting lemon on your locks?  Well, it is said to lighten hair somewhat, but it is very drying. Deep conditioning once a week is recommended for “lightened” hair or hair otherwise exposed to the summer sun, heat and wind. BTW — there is no shame in wearing conditioner under a swim cap or slathering it on immediately after getting out of the pool or the ocean. Who’ll know?  Who’ll care?

Skin strategies include using a hydrating toner in the place of moisturizer for a lighter, less greasy feeling. Change your whitening toothpaste to a regular type if you have blemishes on your chin — they could be caused by the hydrogen peroxide in the bleaching paste! For sunburned skin, cook up a soothing batch of oatmeal (1 cup regular oatmeal with 1/2 cup milk), let cool and apply. Of course, there’s also the well-known application of aloe vera plant or cream, with an application of a zinc cream at bedtime.

For cool, no-melt makeup, use a gel bronzer on forehead, cheekbones and down the nose, followed by moisturizer. If you prefer powder bronzer, consider using a shimmer powder on your eyelids, cheekbones, shoulders and collarbones. Throw a little pink blush on the apples of your cheeks for a healthy glow. Try using a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation and cream blush, and store these in the refrigerator for feeling and looking cooler. Tinted moisturizers cover flaws and feel lighter, not “melty” or “cakey.”

If you insist on wearing foundation, use a shade darker in the summer. Keep in mind that wearing the same family of shades, such as pinks or peaches, on your entire face (eyes, blush, lipstick) will soften your look and will appear less obviously made up. If you prefer cream eye shadow, but don’t crave eye shadow creep, try a primer or base before applying. Add more pop to your bronze look with shiny lips. One to try is Lip Glass by MAC cosmetics.  Don’t forget to use waterproof mascara and liquid eyeliner to avoid “raccoon eyes” when you perspire.

Summer clothing and activities demand some more pedicuring and grooming, what with wearing sandals, swimsuits and just goin’ barefoot. Before you jump in feet first, give your feet or toenails a little pickup by soaking them in a pan of water with a capful of bleach (like Clorox) for a few minutes. This will lighten your feet and whiten your nails. Next, use a foot cream to exfoliate and soften your feet, or apply some warm body oil on the feet, especially the heels, wrap them in gauze and relax for 15 minutes.  Paint your toes a bright nail polish — preferably red or hot pink or orange — something that will look great with your sandals. Now you’re ready for the sand and surf.

Tanned skin looks terrific, deep-fried — not so much, and certainly not in later life with the resulting wrinkled, leathery skin or even skin cancer. We didn’t know the sun’s rays were responsible for skin cancer when I was young, so we did silly things like slathering baby oil mixed with iodine (yes!) to make us turn darker quicker, and spending long hours lounging in the sun by a pool or river or in the yard. Now that we do know, there is no excuse for skipping the necessary precautions — precautions are for both beauty and for health.

Start with sunscreen. Everywhere. Sunscreens are defined as any substance or material that protects the skin from UV radiation.  They come in many forms — towelettes, topical lotions, creams, ointments, gel or spray applied to skin; salves or sticks for the lips, nose or eyelids; sunglasses, clothing and “film” screen for windows in your car, room or office. The very lowest SPF recommended is 30.  Those considered at high risk for skin cancer — those with a past history of skin cancer, with extremely fair skin or with many moles — need to use SPF 50 or above. 

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside. Apply enough — contents equaling a shot glass (1 ounce or 5 or 6 teaspoons) at each application. If you do not apply enough, the SPF protection is actually diluted. Reapply every two hours. Some ingredients to look for when choosing a sunscreen include zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and avobenzone/Parsol 1789. The FDA regulates over-the-counter sunscreen and will be testing for labeling of the levels of UVA and UVB protection in the product. Slap it on your face, hands, neck, chest, arms and anything else exposed. Choose cosmetics with sunscreen as well.

In calculating the amount of sun you actually receive, remember that exposure is dependent upon more than the length of time spent in the sun. You must also consider the time of day, geographic location and weather conditions.

Of course, you can go for a skin bronzer instead of exposing yourself to the UVB rays of the sun and the tanning beds. Remember to exfoliate your skin prior to application to get rid of any dead skin cells and achieve a smoother look. Pick one of many available products that won’t give you that orangey, splotchy, streaky, generally bad self-tanned look. Tip: Use gloves to avoid colored palms.

Wear sunglasses at all times you’re in the sun. Choose those with UVA and UVB protection on their labels. There is a wide range to choose from — some have larger lenses, some wider side stems for additional protection. You can even find UV swim goggles! Also check out the large variety of clothing, hats, swimwear, cover-ups and fabric with UPF ratings of 50+ to protect you from harmful UVA and UVB light. Look for Ray Bloc UV Fabric Protector for all fabrics.  Check www.coolibar.com and www.sunprotectionhats.com websites as a start.

Don’t shy away from summer activities; just take a few precautions, and be mindful of your surroundings.