Hello Wednesday Beauties! I hope you are finding some down time to pamper yourselves and make the best of the summer weather!

Before I launched Rêves de Sabine, I used to turn to simple DIY skin/hair care treatments rather than store-bought products whenever I could. I still do occasionally, because there is something fun and rewarding about going through the pantry and concocting beauty recipes made from fresh, edible ingredients that are full of nutrients, and that smell and taste great! Besides, if they are good to eat, they are sure to be safe for our skin, without hidden harsh chemicals, right?

Summer is the perfect time of year to truly enjoy pampering ourselves, naturally, without spending a fortune. So I thought I’d share some simple tips on how to take care of our skin and hair this time of year.

THE SUMMER SUN CAN BE A BEAUTY BOOSTER!

Before we even have to spend a dime, the sun is here to enhance our health and beauty, as long as we don’t overdo it. When the days get longer and warmer, we spend more time outdoors. If we carefully time our exposure and keep our skin moisturized, we’ll get a beautiful, healthy glow, naturally. Being outdoors is also the best way to stock up on Vitamin D (so important to our overall health and to prevent chronic diseases). The best time to reap the benefits of the sun is… yes… at noon! That’s when the sun is at its highest point and when our body can manufacture the most Vitamin D. However, a little goes a long way, and the closer we are to the Equator and the less time we need to spend in the sun, regardless of how light or dark our skin is.

There are Apps (like DMinder) that can help you figure out how much sun exposure you need and at what time, based on your location, season, skin type and amount of skin exposed. I find them really helpful to understand how it all works.

If you’ve had too much sun, however, here are a few easy ways to take care of your skin:

1. Aloe Vera: If you have some aloe plants in your garden, cut a fresh leaf, lengthwise, and gently run it over your skin, or scoop out the gelatinous sap inside the leaf. It will really help (it has anti-inflammatory properties, promotes healing, and inhibits the growth of bacteria)! Keep applying it and don’t worry if it feels sticky: Eventually, it will dry out, forming a protective film for lasting benefits.

2. Yogurt: The lactic acid from plain yogurt has a soothing and calming effect on the skin. Apply cold yogurt on your skin for 10 minutes. Rinse with room temperature or cool water, and gently pat dry, or dab off with a damp, cold washcloth. Repeat as needed.

3. Potato: The juice of raw potato can significantly diminish the pain from a sunburn (it contains compounds that cool the burn and help reduce swelling). Just cut a slice off a potato and gently rub the potato on your skin. Keep cutting fresh slices as you will notice that your skin absorbs the moisture almost instantly and you will need to keep applying more until you have completely covered the area affected. It works GREAT!

These tips will help if you’ve had too much sun exposure, but you don’t need to have a sunburn to use them. They are perfect post-sun beauty treatments. I would also suggest keeping your skin in top shape by applying Rêves de Sabine Repair Face & Neck Serum every night. It is nourishing and loaded with antioxidants, repairing and healing ingredients, including frankincense, lavender, myrrh, and helichrysum essential oils, which encourage cell regeneration and help target sun damage. It also contains organic vitamin E, and beautiful, nourishing organic oils.

SUMMER MEANS TAKING CARE OF OUR BIKINI AREA

If you are spending time at the beach, you may have been shaving or waxing your bikini area. I would suggest gently exfoliating and applying Rêves de Sabine Belle Rose Intimate Beauty Serum. Besides its pH balancing properties, it is soothing and hydrating and will help keep ingrown hairs at bay. Plus it smells heavenly!

SUMMER REQUIRES SPECIAL CARE FOR YOUR HAIR

The sun, salt, and sand can wreak havoc on your hair if you don’t protect it. Here is an awesome DIY avocado/banana mask that will nourish and repair your hair:

Use an avocado, half a banana, two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and one tablespoon of honey. Mix everything with a hand blender (you want it smooth and creamy), and apply in sections to your scalp and hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave on for at least an hour or two. If you’re not loving the shower cap look (honestly, who does?), you can cover it with a pretty scarf or a towel… I promise it’s worth it! Rinse THOROUGHLY and shampoo off with warm, NOT HOT, water.

For maintenance, use Rêves de Sabine Elixir Hair Serum on the ends of freshly towel-dried hair. It will help prevent split ends. It contains nourishing ingredients like Moroccan Argan oil, Tahitian Tamanu oil, Camellia oil, and Watermelon Seed oil (also called Ootanga or Kalahari oil). These oils have been used around the world for centuries to beautify women’s hair. Our essential oil blend also helps promote shine and hair growth. The curlier your hair, the more you can apply. But start with just 2 or 3 pumps. Warm it between your palms before applying to hair. For scalp conditioning and to promote hair growth, distribute 8 to 10 pumps (one at a time) over entire scalp and massage for a few minutes to help the serum penetrate, to increase circulation, and to cleanse hair follicles. Leave on for at least an hour, or even better, overnight. Shampoo off and follow with your favorite conditioner

SUMMER FEET NEED EXTRA TLC

Last but not least, take care of your feet! Salt and sand are great exfoliators, but they can scratch and chip your polish, and leave your cuticles or your heels super dry. I always try to apply a fresh topcoat (with UV protectants) a couple of hours before hitting the beach, to protect the polish.

After the beach, give yourself and your feet some extra TLC. Keep hydrated and pour yourself a large glass of water with an organic lemon wedge (you can eat it too). That will replenish the water you lost in the heat and sun. Massage your feet with Rêves de Sabine Ultimate Care Foot Balm. It is ultra-nourishing and healing and will get rid of cracked and dry heels. Put on a pair of cotton socks… And chill for 30 minutes!