Summer Skincare: Protecting Your Skin Naturally

As the summer sun shines brightly, it's essential to protect your skin from harmful UV rays and environmental stressors. Natural skincare methods can be effective in keeping your skin healthy and glowing throughout the season.

Remember, also, that protecting your skin helps reduce your chances of developing Skin Cancers like Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and even Melanoma. If at any time you see a spot on your skin while out in the sun, or after you've been directly in the sun, and you don't recognize it you should speak to a Dermatologist to make sure that it isn't anything out of the ordinary. Getting your skin checked once a year is also a good idea, especially if Skin Cancer is anywhere within a couple immediate generations of your family.

To help protect you and your skin, here are some tips and tricks to help you without breaking your bank:

Sun Protection

Using a natural sunscreen with ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. These mineral-based sunscreens provide a physical barrier on the skin, reducing the risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage.

You can find recipes online to make your own at home that include ingredients like oils, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and non-nano zinc oxide. However, I MUST advise you that the Cancer Council DOES NOT recommend using DIY sunscreen as it has not been proven as effective as the ones made and bought for in a store. While we promote a lot of making DIY all natural things here at Marcevolution, we will never give you medical advice and will make sure to let you know whether DIY is the right way to go when needed.

Antioxidant-Rich Foods & Hydration

Incorporating foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, green tea, and leafy greens, can protect your skin from oxidative stress caused by UV exposure. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which can damage skin cells and accelerate aging.

Keeping your skin hydrated is crucial during the hot months. Aloe vera gel and rose water are excellent natural hydrators. They soothe and refresh the skin, providing relief from heat and sun exposure. Drinking plenty of water and eating hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, and oranges also help maintain skin elasticity and radiance as well as makes sure you get necessary vitamins in a natural way.

If you find yourself getting dehydrated or having a heat stroke, be sure not to drink ice-cold water. While doctoral research shows that it is VERY rare, it is still possible that grabbing that ice-cold water bottle and chugging it to rehydrate can send your body into hypothermic symptoms which would include shock. It is recommended to gradually cool your body down with a cool washcloth and drinking room temperature water. While the risks of shock may be low, it would be best not to try and chance something especially if you have underlying health problems.

Natural Exfoliation

Gently exfoliating your skin helps remove dead skin cells and promotes a smoother complexion. Natural exfoliants like oatmeal, sugar, and coffee grounds can be used to create DIY scrubs that enhance skin texture without harsh chemicals.

While we all love shopping our favourite stores for a good sugar scrub, I would encourage you to shop local to see if you can find some all-natural sugar scrubs or make your own. Some locally owned shops that I go to make theirs with sugar and honey from local bees, some of them being from their own hives! Using naturally made scrubs this way can also help temper down any allergies to local pollen, especially if you are using it on your lips as it's okay if you ingested some unlike scrubs that you would buy in a store that have a lot of those added chemicals.

When looking for some of those DIY recipes, make sure to check whether it is specifically for skin or if you can use it for lips too!

After-Sun Care

If you do experience sunburn, soothing ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber, and chamomile can provide relief. If you have a green thumb, growing your own Aloe Vera plant can come in handy as you can take the gel straight from the plant; storing aloe vera gel in the refrigerator to keep it cool can also take away the sting of the burn. These natural remedies have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and discomfort, aiding the skin's healing process.

Another tip I can give you having spent over 20 years in a state with three-digit weather during summer is that if you get a sunburn, do not take warm or hot showers for at least two to three days. I am not one who likes cold showers, but as a sunburn is just like any other burn, cooler water is better for you as it helps remove the heat from the burn. You do not want to submerge yourself in cold water, but rather closer to room temperature just a bit more on the colder side.

Putting yourself into a freezing cold shower after a sunburn is not recommended, as you want to gradually cool down like you would when dehydrated or having a heat stroke. Think more of standing in the same temperature as cooler pool water, not freezing but definitely a "wade in" type of feeling. You want to gradually pull the heat out from the burn.

By integrating these natural skincare practices into your summer routine, you can enjoy the sun safely and maintain healthy, vibrant skin. Just remember these tips to prevent over-care and potentially creating more damage, and you'll be right as rain! Remember to stay healthy and stay hydrated in these warmer temperatures!