How to do Summer Naturally, Toxin-Free, and still fun.
We are in Arizona now so I jumpstarted my summer. I’ve been collecting all the little tips that will make my summer more fun, comfortable, and healthy. Summer Tips for a safe, toxin-free, and natural summer without getting run down and missing out on all the fun. Here’s some of the ones I found.
- Getting sunscreen on your back: We all know that we need to use sunscreen. But if you don’t have someone readily available to put it on your back, what’s a girl to do? I love this. Smear some sunscreen on a long piece of plastic wrap. Then use it like a towel (when drying your back) to rub the sunscreen all over your back. Genius
- Patches of dry skin: Try this little hack: Cut a lemon in half and dip the flesh side in 1 Tbs. of sea salt and then rub on the rough spots for about a minute then rinse. Both sea salt and lemon are natural exfoliants and the lemon has Vitamin C which restores moisture to your skin.
- Crepey chest: Add a little grapeseed oil to your facial moisturizer and then rub onto your chest. The grapeseed oil (found at most grocery stores) has flavonoids and linoleic acid which increases collagen production to smooth out wrinkles. Plus, the fatty acids absorb and lock in moisture. This can work great on your face but depends on your skin type. Try a small patch first.
- Flabby upper arms: Are you with me? Well, I am trying a little Rosemary Essential Oil to firm them up. The oils has astringent properties plus it is packed with antioxidants that prevent the breakdown in elasticity in the skin (according to Holly Cutler, medical aesthetician). Mix the oil in with a homemade mask. I make a mask of 2 Tbs. Oatmeal, 1 Tbs. Honey, and 4 to 5 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil. Rub this onto your upper arms, wrap in plastic wrap, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then rinse.
- Chicken arms: You know what I’m talking about. Those darn little red bumps on your upper arms. Here’s an easy fix. Combine ½ Tbs of brown sugar with a palmful of body wash. Massage the mixture onto damp upper arm skin for 2 minutes. Rinse. Try this twice a week until you notice a difference and then as needed.
- A boost to underarms: It’s not fun to talk about but sometimes in the summer, our “naturalness” can get away from us. How to naturally boost your underarm health? Dab a little Tea Tree Essential Oil on your dry and clean underarms before bed. This will take care of any “bad bacteria” buildup.
- Swollen ankles: Not a pretty sight with those cut flip flops you just bought. Try a foot soak of black tea. The tea constricts blood vessels and the tannins have anti-inflammatory properties. Just soak your feet and ankles in a tub of black tea with some ice.
- Itchy feet: Lots of exposure to the “elements” with our summer feet. Try soaking your feet in a lemongrass tea. I use 4 cups of warm water with 4 or 5 drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil and ½ cup of Epsom salts. The lemongrass kills rash causing skin fungal on contact. Soak for about 15 minutes and then dry thoroughly. Try this about 2 times per week.
- Dry, cracked heels: Did you know that the skin on your heels does not have oil glands. No wonder they get so dry. Here’s another great mask for your feet. Mix 1 mashed banana and 2 Tbs. of honey. Rub the mix onto your heels, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes. Just wipe away excess. This should be done about once per week until they are looking great. Then you can do as needed.
- Sleep: We know that getting in some exercise can help with a good sleep schedule. But interestingly, researchers at the University of California say that spending 20 minutes a day walking outside in bare feet can cut the risk of insomnia by 67%. Apparently, when your feet touch the ground, your body absorbs electrons that reset your biological clock so it releases more sleep-inducing melatonin at bedtime. Let’s go dancing in the dark in our bare feet. Who’s with me?
Another interesting fact that popped up was how grapes can affect your reaction to the sun. Apparently, eating grapes can increase your skin’s natural protection against the sun. I love grapes, especially in the summer. They are a great addition to any app plate, green salad, or fruit salad.
And of course, I have lots of information about how essential oils and other natural products can make your summer even better. I have some “Notes” that can get you going. My notes include product information, recipes, and some fun DIY. Click here to get started.
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