Tackle beauty issues during summer

The summer months can be a bane, especially for people with oily skin and hair. In summer, sweat and oil secretions increase. These are deposited on the skin and hair, making them look greasy and also attracting dirt and pollutants. The skin and hair seem to look dull. The skin loses its glow and the hair loses its shine

Hot and humid conditions call for deep pore cleansing, especially for oily skins, in order to keep the pores free of clogged oil and dirt. After washing or cleansing the skin, use cleansing grains or a scrub. Rub gently on the skin, using small circular movements. Wash off with plenty of water. It is important to rinse well with water in order to get rid of all residues and sweat deposits. In fact, during summer the face should be washed several times with plain water.

Keeping cool and fresh is also a problem in summer. A good skin tonic is a must to remove sweat and refresh the skin. A flower based skin tonic, containing rose or lavender, is ideal. Or, you can use rose water. Keep a small bowl of rose skin tonic, or rose water, in the refrigerator. This way, it is chilled and ready for use. Wipe the skin several times a day with it. It can be most refreshing. If you are out during the day, carry a small bottle of rose skin tonic in your handbag, so that you can use it whenever the skin feels sweaty and greasy. Wet tissues are also available.

Perspiration is the real menace during summer. It saps our energy, detracts from the cool feeling and worst of all, can lead to body odour. The skin contains sweat glands, which are distributed all over the body. The glands excrete sweat, which mixes with surface bacteria and decomposes, creating the problem of body odour. Body odour actually forms about six hours after we sweat.

The waste matter that is secreted with sweat has to be removed by washing, in order to avoid stale odour and feel fresh. Some tips may help. Be generous with the use of colognes, even splashing them on. Colognes and Eau de Toilette constitute mainly water, or a mixture of alcohol and water, with only 2 to 5 per cent perfume. They are lighter and leave a light lingering fragrance. Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) helps to prevent body odour. Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply under the arms. You can also add lemon juice to this paste. Leave on for 10 minutes and wash off with water. Or, mix a little baking soda with your talcum powder and apply under the arms, or on the feet. Add one teaspoon alum to your bath water. Crush some mint leaves and add them too. Add 2 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil to two tablespoons of water or rose water. Apply this under the arms with cotton wool.

In summer, the effects of the sun increase. That is why we should try to avoid sun-exposure as much as possible, especially from noon till about 3pm. The skin should be protected from the effects of sun exposure and the daily care routine should also be adjusted to deal with these effects. At the moment physical protection of the skin from the sun’s rays is the only answer, by applying a broad spectrum sunscreen. The sunscreen should be applied about 20 minutes before sun-exposure. If you happen to be in the sun for more than half-an-hour, reapply the sunscreen. The effects of sun exposure increase by water bodies or near snow, because water and snow are reflective surfaces. If you are holidaying by the sea or mountains, remember to carry your sunscreen.

Swimming in an open pool, exposes the hair to the sun and results in dryness. Chlorine in swimming pools and the salt in sea water can make the hair dry, matted and dull. Wet the hair well before and after a swim. Hair is porous, but it can absorb that much and no more. So, wetting the hair before a swim actually helps to protect it. Rinse out the hair after a swim. Give your hair weekly hot oil treatments. Heat pure coconut oil or olive or sesame seed (til) oil. Apply it on the scalp and hair. Then, dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head. This helps better absorption and penetration of the oil. Repeat this three or four time and leave the oil on overnight and wash your hair the next day.

If your hair is oily, avoid rich conditioners. Try a hair rinse. After shampoo, add the juice of a lemon to half a mug of water and use it as a last rinse after shampoo. Tea water can also be used as a rinse. Boil used tea leaves again in enough water. Cool, strain and use as a last rinse. In fact, lemon juice can be added to tea water and used.

For hair damage caused by sun, salt water, chlorine in swimming pools, take half-cup of olive oil or sesame seed (til) oil, two tablespoons of lemon juice and one teaspoon pure glycerin. Stir very well and keep it overnight in a glass jar. Massage a little of this mixture into the hair before your shampoo. Keep it for 2 hours and then shampoo the hair.