Summertime presents healthy skin with a myriad of problems: overheating, drying out, sun damage, oiliness, and breakouts. Not only can these problems make you uncomfortable and self-conscious, they can also damage your skin, so you should take precautions.
In the summer, as in the winter, I like to pamper my skin in special ways. My first rule of thumb is to alway apply sun screen after my bath or shower-many good moisturizers now have sunscreen in them. You should always choose a product with a SPF of at least 15 or higher, even if you are dark complected and do not burn easily. Also, stay away from the alpha hydroxy products in the summer time. Alpha hydroxy actually strips away the topmost layer of your skin, leaving new, fresh skin that is extra susceptible to damage from the harsh summer sun.
It can be difficult to combat oiliness and blemishes in the summer heat, so I have found a couple of recipes for bath products that I consider to be absolute skin savers to use after a bath or shower: Old Fashioned Rose Water, and Lavender Dusting Powder. Not only do they both smell wonderful, but the rose water helps keep the pores of your skin from clogging, and the lavender powder keeps your skin fresh and dry.
To Make Old Fashioned Rose Water, You Need:
*1/2 cup fresh rose petals, firmly packed.
*2 cups of boiling water.
*1/4 cup vodka or medicinal alcohol.
*Coffee filter or cheesecloth.
*Decorative clear glass container with cover or cork.
Put the rose petals in a glass mixing bowl, and pour the boiling water over the rose petals. Next, add the vodka; stir well.
Cover the bowl tightly, and let the rose mixture steep at room temperature until cool.
Strain the mixture through the coffee filter or cheesecloth into another glass mixing bowl.
Using a funnel, pour the mix into the glass container. Cover and refrigerate; use within two weeks.
(Rose Petal Water makes an excellent skin toner.)
To Make Lavender Dusting Powder, You Will Need:
1 cup cornstarch.
2 teaspoons baking soda.
10 to 12 drops of lavender essential oil.
Decorative wide-mouth clear glass container with cover or cork.
Velour powder puff(available at the cosmetics counter of stores.)
Place the cornstarch and baking soda in the glass mixing bowl. Stir to blend.
Add the lavender essential oil to the cornstarch mixture a few drops at a time, stirring well after each addition, until mixture reaches the strength of fragrance desired.
Spoon the dusting powder into the glass container; cover.
Not only are these two recipes soothing and good for your skin, they can also make you feel wonderfully refreshed on hot summer days. If you try them, be sure to let me know what you think!