Surviving Summer: Seasonal Skincare Tips to Save Your Skin
Fall may be right around the corner, but there’s still some summer left. Which means there’s still plenty of time for the sun, dry heat, bugs, and wildfire smoke to wreak havoc on your skin.
As the sun begins its transition from the warmth of summer to the crisp embrace of fall, it's time to address the aftermath of those sun-soaked adventures and outdoor escapades that marked your calendar for the past few months-and prepare yourself for the ones you have left.
The end of summer often brings with it its fair share of skincare challenges – from dry, flaky skin to unexpected sunburns, irritated skin from smoke exposure, and pesky bug bites. Arguably, the end of summer isn’t ~quite~ as nice to us as the beginning of summer.
Lucky for you (and your ailing skin), Sage Stone Botanicals is here to help you close the chapter on those summer skincare woes and welcome autumn with a radiant, refreshed glow. We’re tackling the top 5 skincare problems that tend to plague people in these late summer months. Read on to learn the solutions for your skin!
Handling Dry Summer Skin
As summer winds down, the change in temperature can leave your skin feeling parched and in need of some TLC. Combat dryness with our luxurious organic body lotions and creams. Infused with natural hydrating ingredients like aloe, jojoba oil, and shea butter, they'll quench your skin's thirst and leave you feeling soft and supple all the way into September. Remember to exfoliate regularly to slough off dead skin cells, allowing your newfound radiance to shine through.
Soothing Sunburns
Those sunny days at the local lake or by the pool can sometimes leave you with a not-so-welcome souvenir – a sunburn. But worry not, our soothing aloe-infused products are here to the rescue! Aloe vera's natural healing properties can provide instant relief, reducing redness and inflammation. Opt for our gentle lotions and cremes to nourish your skin and promote faster healing.
If your sunburn is really starting to get on your last nerve, there are a couple of home remedies you can try to alleviate the burning sensation that’s striking out at your skin.
Milk Bath: While it’s not entirely practical to fully submerge yourself in milk via a bathtub, you can replicate this DIY treatment through a sponge bath style approach. Fill a bowl with milk fresh from the refrigerator (whole milk or 2% will do) and have a small washcloth on hand. Soak the washcloth in the cold milk and gently wring out the excess back into the bowl. Lightly dab the milk-soaked towel over sunburnt skin to alleviate the burn. This method works for a few reasons. First, the lactic acid in the milk will help bring dead skin cells away from the burn, then the antioxidants in the milk will help soothe the inflammation that’s occurring, and finally the cooler temperature of the milk will soothe the burning sensation. You may need to repeat this sponge bath process several times to expedite the recovery of your burn.
Tea Bags: Using black tea in a similar sponge bath style has also been known to alleviate the impact of a sunburn. This is due to the antioxidants that are present in the tea that can help reduce the amount of inflammation that the sunburn is causing and may take out some of the sting as well. This approach is easier to do in a bath as you can just add 8-10 black tea bags to a lukewarm or cool tub of water and soak in it for as long as you feel you need. Sponge bath style optional!
Conquering Itchy Bug Bites
Summer evenings spent outdoors often come with an unwelcome guest – bug bites. Whether it's mosquitoes or other critters, these bites can be itchy and irritating. Our citronella-infused bug repellents are your perfect companions for keeping those pesky insects at bay.
In the event you’re a little late in getting your natural bug repellent in the shopping cart, and the bugs have already taken their end-of-summer feast out on you, there’s a couple of things you can do to help take the itch out of that bite.
Baking Soda Paste: Mixing together a small amount of baking soda and water till it forms a paste, you can rub this over the bug bite. This works because of both the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that baking soda contains. You can reduce the swelling from the bug bite all while taking the poison out along with it. In turn, this should help take the itchiness away so you can still enjoy what the rest of summer holds for you.
Vinegar: If you don’t have baking soda readily on hand, you can also use a few drops of vinegar for a similar effect. Just like baking soda, this common household ingredient holds disinfectant properties so you can keep the bug bite clean and hopefully draw out some of the poison that is causing the bite to swell. Pulling double duty, the vinegar may also reduce the itching feeling that comes along with a bug bite.
Chapped Lips
In addition to the above summer skin ailments, we understand that summer can bring various other skincare concerns too-like chapped lips. Our lip balms will keep your lips kissably soft, protecting them from the harsh sun and dryness.
The lips can often get neglected when you’re lathering up in sun protection but they shouldn’t be skipped. A sunburn on the lips can lead to swelling, peeling, and an uncomfortable pain from the burn. Don’t skip the lips and swipe on a soothing balm instead!
If it’s too late and the burn has taken hold of your sensitive lips, you can still add a touch of hydration from our lip balm to help keep peeling at bay.
Battling the Smoke
Much of the United States is seeing wildfire smoke in the late summer months. Unless you’re able to completely flee the area to a smoke free environment, it’s likely that you’ll be riding out this part of the summer wherever you’re at-smoke and all. While it’s a good idea (for both your skin and lungs) to remain inside as much as possible during these smoky spells, it’s nearly impossible to quarantine for the entirety of forest fire season.
When the air holds an excess of smoke, it can not only expedite the aging process, leading to an early onset of wrinkles, but it can also create a flare up for those with sensitive skin situations; such as psoriasis or eczema. Prolonged exposure to a smoky environment can also cause skin to become dryer than normal, red, or irritated.
While our lotions and creams can help soothe the symptoms of smoky skin, it’s still best to avoid the smoke entirely and stay indoors as much as possible. Be mindful of the AQI for your area to prevent additional damage to your skin or lungs.
As summer winds down, it's time to pamper your skin and restore its health and vitality.
With Sage Stone Botanicals' array of natural and cruelty-free skincare products, you can bid farewell to dryness, sunburns, bug bites, and other summer skincare woes.
Embrace the change of the seasons with confidence and a radiant, rejuvenated glow.
Here's to a beautiful autumn ahead, filled with skin that's as vibrant as the changing leaves!
