By Rowena Wendy Lei
Summer’s just around the corner and temperatures are going up, up, and away. How do you keep yourself cool and beautiful when the heat’s almost at 40° C? Simple. You arm yourself with beauty booty to ward off everything from sunburnt skin to hair gone haywire.
1. Sunscreen
The Mayo Clinic defines sunburn as red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. Apart from the stinging sensation and the redness, intense sun exposure also causes premature aging since your skin dries and wrinkles faster. Protect your skin by applying sunscreen at least 10-15 minutes prior to exposure. The American Academy of Dermatology currently recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. Don’t forget to reapply regularly, especially when engaging in water sports.
2. Sunglasses
Shielding your eyes from the sun is a must every time you’re outdoors. UV rays can not only damage the skin around your eyes but also the cornea, lens, and other parts. When purchasing a pair of sunglasses, it is important to pick one that blocks 99 – 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Note that larger lenses can offer more protection for the delicate eye area.
3. Wash-and-wear hair
The hot summer months isn’t really the time for heavy and high maintenance hairstyles. After all, the last thing you want to do is spend an extended period of time heat styling. Get a good cut with flattering layers that lighten your locks and don’t require too much styling. Wash and wear hair would be ideal since we tend to bathe and shower a lot more when it’s hot.
4. Cool clothes
By that, we mean literally cool clothes made from lightweight cotton, linen, and other breathable fabrics. Cotton fibers let air pass through. They are able absorb and release perspiration quickly as well. Moisture wicking fabrics like “dri fit” shirts also work to keep moisture away from your body to keep you cool and dry.
5. Deodorant
It’s natural to sweat more when it’s hot. Unfortunately, summer in the Philippines gets really really hot. Deodorants neutralize any unpleasant odors excessive sweating may cause.
6. Footwear that bare
Pack away those knee high boots, thick socks, and enclosed shoes because flipflops, sexy strappy sandals, and slippers are the way to go during the sweltering hot summer. Now’s also a good time to schedule a foot spa treatment and pedicure so you can have picture perfect feet.
7. Pretty pastel make-up colors
Stick to light and bright make-up shades to give your face a nice youthful summery glow. Peaches and pinks work nicely. Bronzers also give you a sun-kissed look sans the damage.
8. Lip Protection
We’ve pretty much covered sun protection from head to toe but let’s not forget those luscious lips. Make sure your lips are both well-moisturized and protected from the sun by choosing a lip balm or lipstick with Sun Protection Factor (SPF).
9. Fresh Fragrances
Keep yourself smelling as fresh as can be with summer scents that have light fruity, citrusy, and floral notes. There are colognes and perfumes especially designed for summer which contain no alcohol. Some even leave a nice cooling effect on your skin.
10. Hats and Hair Accessories
There’s no better season to wear wide-brimmed hats, headbands, and hair clips than summer since you need to protect yourself from the sun and keep yourself cool at the same time. Want to keep your hair long? Put it up with a nice and colorful ponytail holder or headband. Twist it into a bun or chignon with one of the new-fangled hair ornaments designed to let you do it in a snap.
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Rowena Lei Lim is a freelance writer and contributor to women’s magazines. She blogs at www.animetric.blogspot.com.