Phew - temperatures in the UK have been soaring recently, with highs reaching 35℃ and no cool down in sight.
If you’re like me and you love the sunshine, but you struggle in the heat (or worse, burn easily!) you might be searching for simple suggestions as to how to keep your cool when the weather is tropical.
Well, don’t worry - I’ve put together some of my simple tips that I use to keep myself safe in the sun, so when I’m out and about, I can focus on having fun.
1 First Things First - Stay Hydrated
The most critical thing is to keep yourself hydrated.
Making sure you drink plenty of water isn’t just key for glowing skin, it’s key for keeping yourself going, especially when it’s hot. The recommendation for water intake in the heat is to drink more than the 2 litres already advised; and you can add this into your diet easily.
Eating water rich foods such as cucumber or watermelon helps up your water intake, but you can also keep cucumber in as a handy treat for tired eyes. If the heat is stopping you sleeping, or you’re prone to dry eyes in the heat, a 20 minute siesta with a couple of cold cucumber slices on your eyes will help.
2 Sun Cream Is Vital.
Right now, a lot of conspiracies are circling about sun cream and using SPF; but as temperatures rise and you’re getting more sun exposure, it’s necessary to use a good sun cream to protect your skin.
Without using a good sun cream, you risk a nasty sun burn, and open yourself up to various issues - such as melanoma, or skin cancer - which can come as a result of sun exposure. Making sure you use a good sun cream is critical if you want to stay safe in the sun (and keep your skin looking fantastic!)
It’s true, some sun creams are better than others - so choose an organic sun cream made of natural ingredients to avoid using toxic chemicals on your skin. Odylique’s sun cream is an SPF30 sun cream made with skin nourishing ingredients like shea butter and sunflower oil; offering powerful protection for face and body for all the family. Just make sure to re-apply after swimming!
3 Take Care Of Your Scalp & Hair
Exposure to heat not only affects your face and body, but also your hair and scalp. Temperatures over 30℃ can dry out your hair - especially if it is already prone to dryness, or is especially porous.
Adding in some simple tweaks can help; and ensure your hair stays looking soft and shiny all through summer. Firstly, if you can stand it, rinsing with cold water is fantastic for your hair! Whether that’s in your daily wash or after a hair dye, a cold rinse will do your tresses a world of good.
Make sure you’re giving your hair some TLC to stop those ends being frazzled - when you’re out and about, make sure to use a leave-in conditioner, such as the Odylique Conditioner, in the mid lengths and ends, for an extra layer of moisture.
Adding in a bi-weekly oil treatment can also help with hair dryness and hydration; the Macadamia and Argan hair oil will help rejuvenate and hydrate tired, dry locks. If you’d rather use a cream based mask, why not try the Lavera Basis hair mask; this is a thicker treatment to use in place of your regular conditioner. It’s intended for use on sensitive scalps so will help to soothe dry, irritated scalps, too.
Cover your head with a hat, too - scalps can be prone to burning in high temperatures. This doesn’t just apply to those with fine, thinning hair; but if you have a hairstyle where your scalp may be more exposed, such as braids, or a pronounced parting, you might find you get a nasty burn there. If that sounds familiar, wear a hat to keep your head covered, and use sun cream on the parts of your scalp that are visible!
Make sure you avoid using lemon juice in your Henna or Cassia dye, and swap instead to Apple Cider Vinegar for a good acidic base. You’ll also want to avoid using lemon juice in your hair for a natural sun “lightening” effect; again, apple cider vinegar is a better alternative. Lemon juice is a phototoxic ingredient and can lead to skin reactions in the sunshine; in some cases, severe burns; so steer clear.
4 Carry A “Sun Safe” Kit
When you are out and about make sure you take the essentials with you. It doesn’t need to be your entire routine, so don’t panic! Protective clothing such as cover ups, hats and sunglasses help to reduce your risk of sun exposure, so make sure you have these handy if you’ll be out all day. Not to mention, making sure you wear sunglasses stops you squinting, helping prevent wrinkling round the eyes.
Take some sun cream with you and be ready to top up, especially if you’re planning on some swimming!
You might also find it handy to take a small bottle of Rosewater with you. Rosewater is a fantastic spray in the heat; it helps to cool and soothe hot and tired skin, and can be lightly misted over your face and body. If you find yourself regularly flustered in the heat, Rosewater is an absolute must.
Dry hair, damaged hair, or porous hair? You might find it useful to carry a little pot of Odylique’s ultra rich balm with you. You can use it through the very ends of your hair to keep them moisturised and prevent splitting or flyaways.
5 Insect Repellant? Essential Oils To Avoid
Worried about bug bites? Reaching for an essential oil blend or using a couple of drops of essential oil in a lotion will help to repel pests - just be careful which oils you try!
Beware of using Citronella and Citrus essential oils. These are great for candles but not great for you in the sunshine; lemon, orange, bergamot (if it’s not bergaptene-free) and grapefruit are phototoxic, which mean they can cause skin burns and adverse reactions in sunlight.
Swap instead to a gentler pre-mixed blend, like the Odylique Mosimix body oil. Or add a couple of your own essential oils into a lotion; Lavender, Lemongrass or Tea Tree are great for this.
6 Take Breaks & Cool Down
Lastly, make sure if you’re out in the sunshine, you take regular breaks from being in direct sunlight - head inside, find a tree to shade under (or even a parasol in your local pub garden!) Too much sun can make you feel dehydrated, irritable, forgetful or ill; so make sure you’re taking regular breaks away from the sun and cooling yourself down.
If you’re at home, and feeling hot and bothered, take an hour or two to yourself, and treat your hair to a gloss treatment, for extra moisturising benefits.
Or spritz some rosewater onto some cotton pads, close your eyes, and enjoy a soothing treat - even better if you are like me, and struggle with hayfever; it’ll help soothe irritated eyes.
You can even make up a cold face mask, using the Odylique Maca 3-in-1 mask. Mix it with cold water, coconut milk or yoghurt to cool down hot skin. Add in some rosewater for extra soothing benefits. If you notice your neck and decolette is also struggling in the heat, especially if you’ve not been covering up as much as usual, it is fine to use it here, too.
Before you go, remember: stay safe in the sun & then go and have fun!