Having dry skin or straw-like hair from too much summer fun rates on the guilt-o-metre somewhere between sneaking a glass of your flatmate’s wine (low) and forgetting your Mum’s birthday (high). But regardless, such summer beauty sins must be dealt with to get you all shiny and glowing again. Let’s get right to it, shall we?
The Sin: Sun burn
The Cause: You didn’t re-apply your sunscreen, or at all, you naughty thing.
The Fix: The signs of sun damage such as spots, wrinkles and the leather bag effect (not a scientific term) are irreversible, but the temporary discomfort can be treated. Place a cold compress on the affected area before applying any lotions. Aloe vera (ideally straight from the plant) on the skin or adding oatmeal to a bath will also help.
The Sin: Pimples and breakouts
The Cause: Unless you’ve gone to the extreme of taping your mouth shut, it’s pretty much unavoidable that you will consume more sugar, fat and starchy foods than normal over the Christmas and New Year’s period. These foods trigger the release of insulin, and for many people, result in congested skin.
The Fix: Recent studies have shown probiotic foods encourage clear skin. Try natural yoghurt, miso soup, dark chocolate and pickles.Swapping soft drinks or milky teas for green tea will also have a noticeable effect.
The Sin: Chapped, dry lips
The Cause: All that fun in the sun isn’t so fun for your lips, especially if you’ve spent a lot of time by the sea where there’s a constant breeze.
The Fix: Keep your lips plied with a balm containing natural ingredients like beeswax and shea butter. Once a day rub a damp face washer gently on your lips to remove the dry bits.
The Sin: Puffy eyes
The Cause: The high salt levels in many party season foods and alcoholic drinks dehydrate the skin around the eyes, leaving you with bags (not the party kind).
The Fix: A roll-on eye treatment will help to fade those bags fast. It’s more about the way you apply it than the brand or ingredients you use, though. Start from the inside eye and roll outwards, both above and below your eye, to help flush the excess fluid out.
The Sin: Scarecrow hair
The Cause: Long days at the beach dipping your hair in salt water and drying it out in the sun have left your locks lacklustre.
The Fix: Slather your hair in an oil like Kerastase Nutritive Oleo-Relax Elixir, $39.50, and leave it in for 10 minutes before washing with a shampoo and conditioner for dry hair. The oil will break down build-up on your strands and allow your conditioner, or a hair mask, to penetrate the hair follicles more efficiently.
The Sin: Weak, always breaking nails
The Cause: Too many manicures over the party season
The Fix: Have you noticed nail polish is really having a moment? And all that quick-dry lacquer and nail polish remover leaves nails weak and chipped. Leave your nails bare for a few days (come on, it’s not that long) and massage in some nourishing vitamin-E cream a few times a day to build their strength again.
How have you cobbatted dry hair, skin and other beauty sins this Summer? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter.
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