Summer is rapidly approaching. Are you excited? Are you ready?
I've written pretty extensively about how summer isn't my favorite season--but in my attempt to be the best mom for Forrest, I'm really trying to embrace summer. Spending time outside, doing all the things that he's never gotten to do before, and more. And to make those fun for me, I know I need to prepare myself for summer so I can feel happy & confident, even when I wish I was inside with the air conditioning!
1. Getting my scalp healthy (finally).
As you probably remember, I switched to sulfate-free shampoo back in April. (You can read my post about sulfate-free shampoo here.) It minutely helped my scalp, but I don't think the Kristen Ess shampoo was exactly right for my hair. I recently started using OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner and I have found it has helped my scalp much more, while also being sulfate-free.
I visited another dermatologist a few weeks ago and got the official stamp that my scalp is just dry--no dandruff, no seborrheic dermatitis, nothing wrong other than somehow my face is super oily and my scalp is super dry. A lot of it has to do with having longer hair, according to my dermatologist. So for now, the routine of oiling my scalp with a mix of my hated coconut oil & my favorite jojoba oil, plus washing with the OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo and following with a heavy hand of conditioner keeps my scalp good for about 2-3 days.
While it would be nice to have a better idea of why my scalp is so dry, it's at least nice to find a routine that is working for longer than a week!
2. Finding the perfect SPF.
Wearing SPF on your face is important for throughout the year, because sun protection doesn't start at summer and end when the leaves change. I've written about protecting your skin from the sun before, but to reiterate, here are my tips.
- Wear at least SPF 30 on your face every single day, even if you don't plan to be in the sun.
- Wear at least SPF 30 on your body if you plan to be outside, even if it is not particularly sunny. (Remember, sun damage can happen year round!) You can mix your favorite SPF into your daily body lotion.
- SPF needs to be reapplied every 45-60 minutes if you are outside and especially if you are in intense sunlight. If you aren't outside very much, you don't necessarily need to reapply sunscreen this much. Remember: a full day in the sun means you should use at least an entire bottle of sunscreen. You read that right: an entire bottle.
- Use physical barriers to protect your skin. Wear a hat, wear long sleeves, or sit underneath an umbrella if you are particularly sensitive to the sun.
- Remember to stay hydrated & don't fall asleep in the sun.
3. Getting a subtle summer glow.
If you're used to getting a summer tan, don't worry. You can still get a summer glow without sun damage. I recently shared my tips for getting a good tan using sunless tanners. (And remember, base tans are a myth and just increase your chances of developing skin cancer! Tanning is not safer or less damaging than a sunburn.)
4. ...And adjusting my foundation accordingly.
The first day after I did a full body sunless tan, I was applying my foundation and realizing... my foundation does not match my neck and chest anymore. Oops! This video has some great tips for matching your foundation. I've also been having good lucky by doing a little extra bronzing to help match up a bit better.
5. Adding moisture to my routine.
Dry summer weather, plus spending time in lakes or pools, in air conditioned houses, and other dry conditions, can lead to parched, dehydrated skin. I've bumped up my routine to including a hyaluronic acid mask to help my skin better absorb moisturizer. I've also reduced my exfoliating to once a week (instead of 2-3 times) to help my skin better hold on to moisture.
