Endless summer days are synonymous with fun, but like the saying goes, with the good comes the bad. And all this time spent outdoors amid the warmer weather and bikini-clad weekends means your hair, skin and body are likely to take a beating. So whether you’re recovering from sun-parched hair or tender sunburn, there’s no summer beauty concern we can’t solve together thanks to these quick fixes.
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SUMMER HAIR CONCERN #1: You’ve been down at the beach every weekend, and now your highlights are seriously bleached out.
THE FIX: Both UV light and chlorine have an oxidising effect on hair which can bleach the colour right out of it. Protect your coloured tresses with a hair sunscreen. Most come in a spray form, which means you can top up your hair the same as you would your limbs with sunscreen throughout the day. These protection sprays not only keep your beautiful locks from becoming dry and brittle, but add extra shine and moisture, sans the greasy feeling.
Try these: Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil, Charles Worthington Sunshine Leave-In UV Protection Spray, Paul Mitchell Colour Protect Locking Spray, L’Oréal Paris Elvive Colour-Protect Daily Conditioning Protect Spray
SUMMER HAIR CONCERN #2: You’ve been swimming non-stop in salt water and chlorine, and now your hair feels as dry as hay.
THE FIX: When the temps are high, the last thing we want to do is banish swimming to cool us down, so shield those locks from further damage by coating your hair with a leave-in conditioner before you get in the water. The treatment fills the hair follicle which means it won’t absorb the water from the pool. The result? Minimal damage, more (summertime) fun.
Try these:Al’chemy Lavender & Anthyllis Leave-in Conditioner, KMS California MOISTREPAIR Leave-In Conditioner, TONI&GUY Hair Care Leave In Conditioner, De Lorenzo Instant Restructurant Spray
Don’t forget – your hair will still need love after you’ve taken your dip. Let your wet locks soak up the goodness of these glossing treatments and masks, which are the perfect antidote to parched summer strands. They boost shine, softness and moisture by leaving a light silicone coating on your hair.
Try these:Schwarzkopf Extra Care Ultimate Repair & Gloss Treatment, Klorane Mango Oil, Moroccanoil Treatment, Sachajuan After The Sun, Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Hair Mask
SUMMER SKIN CONCERN #1: You forgot to apply sunscreen, so now your cheeks look like two shiny tomatoes.
THE FIX: The first thing to do is soothe the burning area with a cool, wet cloth which should ease up the redness. Next, break out the aloe vera. With anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce swelling, pain and irritation, aloe vera also repairs and heals sunburn quickly. But instead of relying on aloe to solve your sunburn in the future, start getting into the habit of applying sunscreen daily – so you’ll never run into this problem again!
Try these:Invisible Zinc Face + Body Sunscreen SPF 50, Clarins Sunscreen Control Cream for Face SPF 30, John Plunkett Superfade Sunscreen SPF30+, ModelCo Daily Face Mattifying Sunscreen and Lip Balm SPF50+
SUMMER SKIN CONCERN #2: Your face is sweating, but you’ve already applied your make-up.
THE FIX: Going for the dewy look is one thing, but if you’re on the shiny side thanks to the heat, then you’re going to want to solve this, stat. Instead of reapplying your make-up every five minutes which can cause build-up in your pores when the temps are a tad warmer, stash some blotting sheets in your purse. They’ll soak up any excess oil without disturbing your make-up..
Try these:Bobbi Brown Blotting Papers, Chanel Papier Matifiant de Chanel / Oil Control Tissues, NYX Blotting Paper
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SUMMER BODY CONCERN #1: You’re just about to meet your friends at the beach, and you’ve noticed your bikini line isn’t intact. Eek.
THE FIX: Don’t worry – this can be solved without an emergency call to the salon or daggy pair of boardshorts. Get your kaboose into the bathroom for a quick DIY wax, and you’ll be well on your way to the beach in no time. Opt for wax strips which can be used instantly, curve to the shape of your body and are ideal for beginners and less confident waxers. You can do this!
Try these:Nad’s Bikini & Underarm Wax Strips, Nair Easiwax Wax Strips, Sally Hansen Wax Strips
SUMMER BODY CONCERN #2: You’re heading out tonight, but your bikini top tan lines don’t work with your strapless dress.
THE FIX: Unless you’re a regular at the nudist beach, you’re bound to be sporting tan lines. To fix, start by exfoliating dead skin cells that would make it tough to apply fake tan smoothly. Then, using an applicator mitt, apply some instant tan to the areas that need it, and blend. There, no more halter marks.
Try these:Reef Beach Glow Instant Tan Foaming Mousse, Jbronze Dark Tanning Mousse, Le Tan Fast Tan Foaming Mousse, Bondi Sands Liquid Gold, Rimmel London Sun Shimmer Self Tan Mousse
What are your summer beauty issues? Tell us in the comments below, and we’ll help you solve them!
The invisible zinc is not invisible 🙁