5 Tips for Summer-Ready Glowing Skin

Earlier this week I started thinking about some fun summer things I wanted to do– go to the beach, camping, upcoming trips, BBQs- and then I realized something. A hits-you-like-a-ton-of-bricks realization. My skin is so not summer ready.

Once that realization set in, I figured the same would be for many of you, especially those of us who are cooped up in offices all day. Below are my top 5 tips for getting summer-ready glowing skin:

1. WAX (or shave!)

The first step to getting gorgeous, glowing summer-ready skin is to get super smooth silky skin. A professional wax will lessen the chance of bumps, redness and irritation that can be caused by at-home waxes or poor shave jobs. If you do opt for shaving, do not, I repeat DO NOT dry shave. Be sure to use a moisturizing shave cream, or even hair conditioner, to make sure the razor glides evenly and smoothly over your legs. Also, don’t forget to throw the razor out once it starts to dull.

2. EXFOLIATE

Exfoliating no more than once a week is something you should be doing year-round, not just summer, and especially before you tan to help remove dead skin cells so your best skin is showing. I’ve been using SVELTA Luxe Coffee & Raw Sugar Scrub on my body– I love how glowy and healthy my skin looks immediately after using it, plus it smells divine!

3. TAN

Did you know that according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 40 to 50 percent of all adults who reach the age of 65 will have had some form of skin cancer? Scary! While having that perfect tan is a must for summer, it’s very important to protect the skin from the sun’s rays. Burnt, damaged skin does not make for radiant glowing skin :/

When outside, be sure to cover up and use sunscreen and products with SPF, even when it’s cloudy out. To get that must-have summer tan, opt for a spray tan! I like to get one every spring or the beginning of summer to jump start my tan and then boost it each week with at-home self-tanners, such as Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3Week Tan Mousse, which is my absolute favorite- quick-drying, no funky odor and lasts longer than any other tanner I’ve tried.

4. HYDRATE

Who here is sick of always hearing to drink more water? :hand raised:
Seriously though, water keeps your skin hydrated, which in turn makes it appear more plump, less wrinkled and an overall healthier & clearer complexion. I’ve also been trying to stay away from sugary drinks– namely soda and store-bought juices– because I learned that  not only can sugars promote skin inflammation and aggravate acne, but they can ultimately cause skin to sag and wrinkle. No thanks!

To help get my water fill, I keep a refillable sipper cup on my desk at work and add natural flavorings– lemon, mint, cucumber, or even frozen berries– to get myself to drink more… and it works!

5. EAT SKIN-HEALTHY FOODS

Just as water helps promote healthy skin, what we eat also plays a role in the health and glow factor of our skin. Here’s a few that you should be consuming for healthy skin benefits:

Kale: No surprise, the vitamins C & A  help to keep skin firm, plus includes nutrients that absorb and neutralize free radicals aka those things that make skin age faster. 

Carrots: You know they’re great for eye sight but did you know that they can give you a natural glow? Studies have been shown that eating foods high in carotenoids will give you more yellow in skin, thereby giving a more healthier complexion and glowing skin. 

Kiwi: Packs a huge amount of vitamin C, which helps stimulate collagen synthesis keeping skin tight and smoothing fine lines. 

Sunflower Seeds: Contain an excellent amount of vitamin E, which thereby helps keep skin pimple-free. 

Herbs: I never knew that herbs such as rosemary and thyme are packed with antioxidants, which again fight free radicals and reduce the risk of skin cancers, such as melanoma.

Dark Chocolate: Need to get a chocolate fix? Dark chocolate is known to hydrate skin and improve circulation. Break me off a piece of that!

Green Tea: Boosts blood flow and oxygen to the skin. Not a tea drinker? There is a study that has shown that coffee drinkers had a lower prevalence of non-melanoma skin cancer, but keep in mind too much caffeine isn’t great for you.

Also, foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids (think walnuts, flax seeds, tuna, salmon, and canola oil) keep skin healthier, hydrated and even slows the aging process. For even more skin-healthy foods, check out this Prevention article.

Did I miss anything? How do you get your skin summer ready?

*This post contains affiliate links, all opinions are my own

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