Summer and fun in the sun go hand in hand, so it’s a great time to talk one of my FAV holistic healthy lifestyle topics—summer skin care tips.  

One of my favorite facts about skin you probably don’t think about or even realize- SKIN is your body’s largest organ!  Yes, it totally is!!!

I have very fair skin and I’m completely covered in freckles.  I’ve always been very sensitive to the sun.  In fact, my parents will tell you that many of our family vacations hold fond memories of a horrific sunburn I got somewhere on my body.  Different vacations, different body parts (ALWAYS wearing sunscreen!!).  We can laugh about it together now, but in the moment some of those experiences were very painful!  

The point is, I want to share I have sensitive skin and I’ve always been prone to acne.  Add this combo to being a holistic health practitioner and natural health nerd at heart-now you understand why summer skin care tips is a topic I always get excited to talk about.  

I’ve gathered a lot of knowledge and education about skin care over the years.  I’ve tried countless products-most of which damaged my skin.  

I was prescribed pharmaceutical grade skin care products by dermatologists.  I used every trendy brand that claimed to be “natural” and free from harmful chemicals.  I spent a lot of money trying out companies that claimed to have “THE” products to cure acne, protect skin in the sun, and moisturize.

After over 30 years of struggling with sensitive and acne prone skin, I no longer get terrible sunburn or acne.  I apply all of the summer skin care tips I’m sharing here.  These tips will help you save years of time!

This is the very best advice I can give you as a holistic health practitioner and self-proclaimed natural skin care nerd.  It’s always my goal to promote your lasting health and wellness, and these summer skin care tips do exactly that.  

Summer Skin Care Tip #1: Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate

Yes, it’s that important!

Hydration is one of the most important elements of lasting health and wellness.  

As within so without.

Internal Hydration  

Internal hydration, through water and other healthy food and drinks, as well as external hydration for your skin, are equally important summer skin care tips.  Water is the most important ingredient in healthy skin tissue.

Your skin plays important roles in immune system function, temperature regulation, and fluid balance in the body.  Water, and staying properly hydrated with enough of it, is necessary for the skin to fulfill its functions optimally.  

Skin can’t appropriately regulate your body temperature if you’re not well hydrated.  If your body temperature isn’t regulated, it’s more challenging for the heartbeat to stabilize.  

Recommendations for daily hydration vary depending on the source.  The United States National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine recommends women drink 2.7 liters of water per day, and men drink 3.7 liters daily.  This recommendation includes the water in foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.

Ultimately, nothing about lasting health and wellness-including how much water you should drink everyday-is one size fits all.  The amount of water you need depends on your own personal health profile, and other factors like caffeine, alcohol, and exercise.  

I recommend at least 64oz (8 8oz glasses) daily.  My favorite ways to hydrate are fresh lemon or lime water and coconut water.  Taste Nirvana is my FAVORITE coconut water to drink!  Fresh juices or snacks incorporating super hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumber, leafy greens, and strawberries is another great way to help hydrate.

External Hydration

It’s important to remember that your skin needs hydration.  Moisturizers aren’t just something to use once in a while to treat yourself.  Your skin has three different layers, and the outermost layer needs proper moisture to flush away toxins and deliver nutrients to its cells.

When looking for healthy moisturizing and hydrating products for your skin avoid those with toxic and harmful chemicals.  

Ingredients to avoid:

• Parabens
• Sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfates)
• Aluminum
• Mercury
• Lead
• Petroleum
• Phthalates
• Synthetic emulsifiers
• Fillers, colors
• Fragrances (synthetic)
• Mineral oil
• DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine)
• PEG (polyethylene glycol)
• Toluene
• Triclosan
• PG (Propylene glycol), BG (butylene glycol)

Here are some of my favorite healthy and safe moisturizers:

Honeyskin Face & Body Cream

Una Biologicals Organic Body Butter *locally owned, handmade, natural ingredients

Mary Ruth’s Hydrating Hand Cream

Summer Skin Care Tip #2:  Apply a daily routine with healthy products

If you haven’t done it for a while, now is a great time to re-evaluate your daily skin care routine.  It’s important to maintain a routine with products that are free from the same toxins and harmful chemicals mentioned above.  

It’s been said that the skin absorbs approximately 60% of what you put on it.  A study examining the skin’s absorption rates of drinking water chemicals, published in the American Journal of Public Health, showed the skin absorbed an average of 64% of the total contaminants.  

Toxins and chemicals absorbed by the skin can also enter the bloodstream and other organs.  Using products that expose us to these harmful substances can cause chronic health problems.

This is one of the many reasons why following a daily routine with safe, healthy, non-toxic products is an important summer skin care tip.

If you’re looking for safe skin care products, it’s important to avoid all of the same ingredients on the list above.  When it comes to ingredients, less is more.  A few ingredients and ideally words you can pronounce and understand are usually indications that a product is safe, natural, and non-toxic.  

Skin care products from companies and business that use only non-toxic ingredients, non-GMO ingredients, are cruelty free, and are locally made (do not outsource any part of their production or business process) are qualities to look for when you’re on the hunt for a new skin care product.  It should be easy to locate this information on a business’s website and on their products.  

Natura Culina is my daily go-to for my skin care routine.   

Here’s an amazing summer skin care pro tip: get a skin care fridge!  If you’re someone who takes their skin care routines and rituals seriously, and you love keeping all of your products together, you’ll love a skin care fridge!!  It keeps all of your skin care goodies organized and temperature controlled, so you get an extra soothing boost in the summertime.  Treat yourself!  Skin care fridge

Summer Skin Care Tip #3: Eat foods that help prevent sunburn

There are absolutely dietary and nutritional shifts you can make to help protect yourself in the sun.  Here are some helpful foods to incorporate, especially on days you’re planning on sunbathing. 

Carrots & red bell peppers are high in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A by the body.  Vitamin A supports skin, vision, and mucosal health and healing.  A meta-analysis examining the existing research on beta-carotene concluded it protects us from sunburn.  However, it’s important to note these protective benefits only kick in after consuming beta-carotene for at least 10 weeks.  Just like anything that supports our lasting health and wellness, there is not a one carrot and done option.

Tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, and papaya are loaded with lycopene, an important antioxidant that helps limit UV radiation on the body.  Incorporating lycopene everyday can protect against long term sun damage.

Pomegranate has anti-inflammatory properties and is a great source of antioxidants.  Eating raw pomegranate will increase your internal sunscreen by 25 percent.  

Leafy greens (spinach, kale, Swiss chard, romaine, cilantro, etc.) are loaded with antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein that have been shown to provide protection from the sun and prevent skin wrinkles.  Research suggests leafy greens may reduce the risk of squamous cell skin cancer by 50 percent.

Berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries) and kiwi are packed with antioxidants and are also rich in vitamin C.  Thanks to the phytonutrients and vitamin C, they act as a natural sunblock while strengthening and boosting collagen production.

Pro tip: Try eating about 100g berries and 1 and ½ kiwi

Summer Skin Care Tip #4: Be smart about sunscreen use

It’s so important to invest in a safe sunscreen that doesn’t have harmful toxins or chemicals in it.  Check out the “ingredients to avoid” list above under summer skin care tip #1 and stay away from sunscreen, sunblock, tanning oils or sun care products with these.

Here’s a list of safe, non-toxic sunscreens and sun care products:

Living Libations Everybody Loves the Sunshine Zinc Lotion

Living Libations Everybody Loves the Sunshine Zinc Beach Balm

Living Libations Everybody Loves the Sunshine 

Zoca Lotion Reef-Safe Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36

Beauty by Earth Mineral Facial Suncreen SPF 20

Goddess Garden Organics Mineral Suncreen Spray SPF 30

Reef Repair Moisturizing SPF 30 Suncream

Tot Logic Sunscreen SPF 30 Broad Spectrum

100% Pure Tomato Lycopene SPF 20 Moisturizer

100% Pure Green Tea SPF 30

100% Pure Yerba Mate Mist SPF 30

100% Pure Everywhere Sun Stick SPF 30

 

If you’re a DIY all-natural gal like me, try this recipe for Homemade Natural Sunscreen

2 tablespoons zinc oxide (be sure it is non nano)

1 teaspoon red raspberry seed oil

¼ cup coconut oil (virgin, unrefined)

¼ cup shea butter

• Melt shea butter and coconut oil in a bowl over warm water
• Add red raspberry seed oil and zinc oxide
• Stir together
• Cool in fridge for 30 minutes-1 hour (until consistency is solid)
• Whip 3-5 minutes until consistency is like frosting
• Place in container with lid and store in a cool place

Summer Skin Care Tip #5: Restore your skin post-sun

Take time to nourish your skin in the summertime, especially after a long day in the sun.  Aloe, coconut oil, and witch hazel will help restore skin and ease post-sunburn discomfort.  

Try this Homemade Soothing Cucumber Lotion:

¼ cup coconut milk

¼ cup aloe vera juice

1 cucumber

• Juice the cucumber.  If you don’t have a juice, coarsely grate the cucumber and put it in a strainer or cheesecloth over a bowl.  Push the cucumber to release the juice.  Cumbers have a lot of water; you may be able to get around 1 cup of juice.
• Pour the cucumber juice into a lidded container.
• Add aloe vera juice and coconut milk.
• Shake to combine and keep refrigerated.
• Apply to skin using a spray bottle, or by using a damp wash cloth.

Looking for more natural health and wellness tips?

Check out my recent blogs on Natural Remedies for Headaches and Home Remedies for Anxiety! If you aren’t already, follow me on Instagram for daily holistic healing tips and inspiration.