So, summers are here and it’s time to hide away your oily creams and makeup. Indian summers can be really harsh on the skin and can cause a lot of problems from tanning to oily skin, breakouts, acne, patchy skin, etc.

So, it’s sensible to change your skincare products and routines to suit the season. With these skin care tips, you will know all you need to do to take care of your skin and beat the sun.

1.Use A Sunscreen

This is a must do. Don’t even think of stepping out in the sun without putting on a sunscreen if you have been doing this then it’s time to buy a sunscreen.

Make sure that your sunscreen is at least SPF 30. There is a lot of confusion among women about which sunscreen or which SPF is best for them and what does SPF actually means?

SPF means sun protection factor. SPF 30 means that if your skin burns in 10 minutes it will delay that 30 times i.e. 300 minutes.

The sun rays consist of two types of rays UVA and UVB. A sunscreen generally protects us from UVB rays which cause sunburn and can even cause cancer. An SPF 30 sunscreen provides 97% protection from UVB rays. A higher SPF, say SPF 50 will provide 98% protection.

We generally think that sunscreen protects us from tanning but tanning is actually caused by UVA rays. So, unless your sunscreen has “broad spectrum” mentioned on its label, it will not protect you against tanning. Broad spectrum means that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Make sure that you apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply it every 2 hours. Also before applying sunscreen or any other cream or moisturiser wet your face, pat it dry using a towel and then apply any cream. This lets your skin easily absorb the cream and also less product is wasted as dry skin requires more cream.

2.Moisturise

Yes !! whether it’s summers or winters moisturising your skin is equally important in both seasons. Most of us think that winters make our skin dry so moisturising is important just for the winters.

Well, that’s not the case ladies!! Sun dehydrates not just our body but our skin also and moisturising will help keep our skin hydrated and fresh.

But you definitely need to change the type of moisturiser. Ditch the oily greasy winter moisturiser and go for a water or gel based one.

3.Stack Up Aloe-Vera

Store some Aloe-vera gel. Just cut an aloe vera leaf from middle and scoop out the gel in a jar. Apply this gel daily on your face for 3-4 minutes and then wash with water. Aloe-Vera gel is soothing, non-greasy, an excellent remedy for spots and ideal for summers. Whether you suffer from pigmentation or had a sunburn keep aloe-vera gel handy.

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4.Exfoliate

Scrub your face and body 2-3 times a week. Scrubbing is very important to get rid of dead cells fast and have a radiant skin every day. Without scrubbing regularly you will have to wait for a month for those dead cells to be replaced by new ones naturally.

So, don’t skip scrubbing in any season!!

But make sure that you do not scrub every day or if you have dry or sensitive skin even 1 time a week is good.

5.Drink Lots Of Water

Water is the key to many problems. Every dietician, nutritionist and skin care expert recommends drinking 3-4 litres every day.

Good digestion, a good diet and lots of water are the secrets behind naturally glowing skin. Summers can dehydrate your body and this will show up on your skin and lips.

So, always carry a water bottle with you wherever you go.

6.Skip Soaps And Face Wash

Soaps and face washes can make your skin dry and make you lose your natural glow.

There are a number of products in your kitchen which you can use to make a quick face mask. Apply these masks for just 10 minutes before taking a bath and don’t use any soap or face wash.

These natural remedies will make your face radiant without any side-effects and they are equally good for any skin type.

7.Eat lots of Citrus Fruits And Vegetables

As we age our skin cells die and build up due to the slowing down of collagen and elastin production. Collagen occurs especially in the skin and its reduction leads to ageing skin and wrinkles. In fact, there is a drastic reduction in collagen after menopause.

Vitamin C helps to maintain a healthy amount of collagen. So, eat lots of Vitamin C rich fruits like orange, amla, lemon, tomato, and green leafy vegetables.

8.Have A Morning Hydration Routine

A morning hydration routine is important not just in summers but throughout the year.

Start by having 2 glasses of warm water first thing in the morning. Have a glass of plain water and another glass of lemon water with half a lemon squeezed in it, you can add either black pepper or honey to it.

This will help you get rid of the toxins and improve your digestion and as I already said a healthy digestion gives you a glowing skin.

9.Stay Odour Free

Smelling great is another factor that we need to keep in mind during summers. While in winters you don’t need to give this a second thought but with summers comes another problem- sweating !!!

The moment you step out in the scorching sun you start sweating and what could be worse if you have an unpleasant odour around you. While you would think deodorants will come to your rescue, they will also bring a lot of chemicals and risks along with them.

Aluminium is one of the most common ingredient in deodorants and is linked to Alzheimer's, brain disorder, breast cancer and skin irritation.

A natural solution to this problem without any side-effects would be fenugreek !!

Yes !! fenugreek can make you smell great. Now don’t start rubbing it under your arms.

You can either sprout it and use it as a salad dressing or just soak it in water overnight and eat it in the morning. It will not only make you smell great but also help you look slim !!

10.Remove Tanning Naturally

If you forgot to apply sunscreen or feel a little tanned just rely on natural de-tanners. There are tons of natural ingredients that you can use to get rid of tanning.

I am giving you a few simple and most effective DIY de-tan masks.

Tomato, Yogurt, and Oats Mask

Just mix one tomato pulp, a tablespoon of yogurt and powdered oats to get a thick consistency.

Apply this mask and leave it for 15 minutes. Now wash your face with cold water.

Lemon Mask

Mix half a lemon’s juice with 1 tablespoon honey and apply it for 10-15 minutes. Then wash it off with cold water.

Yogurt Mask

Mix yogurt and honey. Make sure the mixture does not become runny. Apply for 15 minutes and wash it off.

Potato Juice

Grate a potato and squeeze it to get the juice. Apply this juice for 15 minutes to remove tanning. This is also effective to get rid of dark circles.

Coconut Water

Apply coconut water to get rid of tanning and to get soft and supple skin.

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11.Wash Your Face 3-4 Times A Day

Washing your face 3-4 times a day will help you get rid of the oil, dirt, and pollutants that settle down on your skin and can clog your pores causing breakouts and acne.

Don’t use face wash every time you wash your face that will remove the natural oils from the skin and make it look dry.

Plain cold water is just fine. Wash multiple times just using water.

12.Add Glycerine And Rose Water To Your Bath

Glycerine and rose water are natural moisturisers. Adding them to your bath will moisturise your skin without making it look oily and greasy.

13.Avoid Oily And Spicy Food

Summer is the season to gorge on cooling fruits and drinks like coconut water, watermelon, oranges, etc. Your skin is what you eat !!! Eating oily and spicy food in summers is the perfect way to get a face full of acne and pimples.

14.Protect Your Eyes And Lips

Sun not only damages our skin but also our lips and eyes. Make sure to carry a lip balm and sunglasses with you all the time. If too much heat is causing your eyes to burn splash them with cold water multiple times.

Use a cotton pad soaked in potato juice or rose water and keep it on your eyes for 10 minutes. You can also keep cucumber slices or refrigerated used tea bags on your eyes to soothe them.

Follow these simple tips to stay radiant even in the scorching heat. One last thing cut down on the makeup and let your skin breathe.

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