Summer Survival Tips

Now that Summer is in full swing, we tend to throw ourselves into the joy of escaping those four walls that held us captive this past verryy long Winter.  When the sky is blue, the sun is shining and a gentle breeze is caressing our skin, we forget all about bug bites, sun burn and our hair becoming brittle.  There are solutions, however, to keep in your arsenal of fix-its we came across to share with you.

Taking the Sting Out of Sunburn

Pop two aspirin to stall the prostaglandin that is released which increases redness.  A cool bath or shower will also reduce the blood flow to your skin and then rub the affected area(s) with an organic aloe gel.  Make sure you don't purchase a gel that contains alcohol as it can dry out your skin and increase peeling.  P.S. next time remember to apply sunscreen every two hours.

Bug Bites On Your Face

First dab a little hydrocortisone cream on the bump right away to address the inflammation and redness.  If the swelling is really bad, an antihistamine like Zyrtec will help reduce it also.  If you're going out and want to cover it, not a problem.  Dab a creamy concealer over the bite, rubbing it in up/down and side-to-side so it blends into your skin.  Use a sponge and dab on a translucent powder to set the concealer and then you'll be good to go.

Blisters

The first way to avoid them is not wearing shoes that are either too small or irritate a certain area repeatedly.  A blister will heal more quickly, if you drain it yourself than allowing it to rip open.  Simply sterilize a needle by dipping it in rubbing alcohol or holding it in a flame for a few moments and use it to make a tiny puncture hole in the blister.  It's just filled with water so, let it drain out and cover with a Band-Aid, changing it daily until it heals.

Frizzy Hair 

Your hair can cause a mutiny all on its own when humidity hits and its moisture in the air that makes the hair expand three times its size.  Thanks to daily forecasts, you can start in the shower.  Shampoos and conditioners containing lightweight silicones help lock the cuticle of every strand blocking that moisture from being absorbed.  (Herbal Essence Touchably Smooth Shampoo, about $4.50 or Nexxus Hydra Sleek Silken Smoothing Conditioner, about $16.00).  While your hair is still wet, you can also comb through a silicone serum from the root to the tip.  If your hair is very curly or kinky, look for a thick styling cream that contains silicone but also honey and wheat protein (Hair Rules Kinky Curling Cream, about $32)

Self-Tanning Streaks

We've all done this at least once in our life time and end up with streak lines where we really don't want them.  Yuck!  Not to worry though.  Buffing will soften the color.  When you're in the shower, use an exfoliating scrub that contains glycolic acid unto a loofah and rub it in circles over the darker areas.  If you want to try something more natural, fresh lemon juice from the bottle or cutting a real one in half rubbed directly on the area will fade it as well.  Before you use a self-tanner again, make sure you exfoliate those areas which generally streak i.e. elbows, knees, ankles and feet.

Break Outs On Your Chest & Back 


You want to wear a cute little sundress out but your chest or back is broken out.  For an individual break out, dab on a concealer with a fine-pointed makeup brush.  Body makeup will look thick, so make sure you choose a formula for your face like a sensual skin enhancer.  Then finish it with a translucent powder to set the concealer.

If you have a more defined breakout, apply a powder foundation like Revlon ColorStay Aqua Mineral Makeup all over the area with a large fluffy brush.