Discover a beautiful YOU this summer!

So the sun is shining high and leaving your face, hair, arms and body with sweat and dirt! I know it's really a tough time for skin and hair to breathe and feel fresh and young. But how about following an easy skin care regime and diet for a beautiful you this season!

I was travelling on my way to work when I realised that it’s summer again! Like every year, I should start following my skin and hair care regime and a healthy diet for glowing skin and hair and instant energy and excellent stamina. Also, I wondered whether to pen a blog about it. Being in the fashion and beauty industry, I interact with skin experts on a regular basis and also my knowledge on the same is fantastic!

So here I share a few tips to take care of your skin, hair and body this summer…

Remember, whatever your skin and hair type, it is very important to drink as much water you can. This is the first step to basic care for glowing skin and a clean inner body system.

Tips for oily skin type:

Oily skin type is prone to acne and pimples during this time of the year. So following a skin care regime religiously is very important.

-        - Wash and moisturise your face and neck three times a day. Use an alcohol free toner twice, once in the morning and once in the night

-        - Use a gel based moisturiser. A gel based one controls oil and prevents burst outs

-         - Using a sunscreen with a broad spectrum is very important. Use one with SPF 30 at least. If you are outdoors for longer, you should go for SPF 50. Using a sunscreen not only protects one from the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun but also protects one from dirt and  pollution from entering the skin. Also, not many of us are aware that the sun emits UVC rays too that are equally harmful. So protecting your skin from those rays is also necessary

-        - Apply sunscreen every 2-3 hours

-        - Use oil-absorbing make up. Go for concealers, foundations, compacts and eye shadows that absorb oil and leave your skin shine free. I would suggest make up free the best way to go about summer. Use make up only when required

-        - Always use a lip balm with SPF. Like your skin, your lips need protection as well

-        - Always carry dry tissues and wipe the excess oil your skin releases

-        - Scrub your skin on face and body once or twice a week to maintain elasticity of  your skin  

-        - A homemade scrub like a paste of corn flour and limejuice works best for oily skin

-        - Occasionally rub a slice of orange on your face an neck for a fresh glow

-     Having a bath twice a day is a must

Tips for combination skin type:

Combination skin type faces the toughest time this season. Taking care of dry and oily areas of your skin at the same time can be quite a painful task.

- Was your face twice a day with a mild cleanser

- Concentrate working on the T area of your face, i.e. your forehead, nose and chin. Moisturise your T-area very carefully with a moisturiser recommended by a dermatologist

- A few areas like your cheeks will be dry and others like nose, oily. So be a little milder when treating your cheeks with a cleanser, sunscreen and moisturiser

- Use a toner recommended by your dermatologist and use it twice a day, after bath and before bed

- Always use a miosturiser before applying sunscreen

- Use sunscreen with a broad spectrum, with SPF 30 at least and reapply every 2-3 hours. Choose one with the help of a dermatologist

- Use mild soaps for bathing

- Always use a lip balm, with an SPF while out in the day and also when you are not exposed to sunlight

- Always carry a moisturiser if you face the problem of dry hands

Tips for dry skin type:

Dry skin becomes even patchier during summer. The only way out here is taking utmost care of your skin with moisturisers and lotions for your skin type.

- Clean your skin twice a day with a cream face wash

- Use toners that are non-astringent and alcohol free

- Use a light creamy moisturiser and follow it with a broad spectrum sunscreen for your skin type. Again SPF 30 is must with reapplication every 2-3 hours

- Moisturise your face and body skin before going to bed at night

- Apply home made face packs like papaya juice and honey and milk. Wash it after 20 minutes

- Keep your lips moisturised always with a lip balm. One with SPF is must while out in the sun

- Occasional chocolate massages for face and body at a salon could be good fun and indulgence

Kiehl's Toner

Kiehl's sunscreen

Lancome Lotion

Kaya Skin Clinic Sunscreen

The Nature's Co. after sun gel

Also, one can treat hair in the same way. A few tips if followed could be enough to maintain hair health and keep them grease free.

Summer is one time where your hair could become greasy and you feel like washing them almost everyday. Also, dirty hair could give rise to pimples! So which means that taking care of your hair would in a way take care of your skin as well! Wow! That would save quite a lot of pain actually.

- Wash your hair thrice a week with a shampoo and conditioner meant for your hair type. This helps keep hair and scalp clean and grease free

- Oil your hair once a week before washing them. Oil provides moisturisation and nourishment to the hair and is necessary not only in winters but during summers as well

- Do not tie your hair too often as this results in sweat making your hair greasy. Excessive sweat may even cause hair breakage

- Protect your hair and scalp by covering with a scarf or a stoll while in the sun

- Avoid chemicals on hair as far as possible as the heat released by the chemicals mixes with the sweat and makes hair health poor

- Leave your hair lose open while out or tie it in a lose pony tail in case of extremely hot weather

Herbal Essences Shampoo

Eating right is necessary to combat with all seasons that result in right nutrition for the body. In my opinion, every individual should be extremely conscious and keep a check on what one eats. So here I burst out on compulsory foods one should consume this summer.

- One should start with a healthy breakfast that includes eggs, milk and fruits or fruit juice

- Having an amla a day provides Vitamin C which in turn helps fighting diseases that come along with the season

- Drinking a lot of buttermilk helps fight the heat and provides the body with necessary zinc and water

- Having fruit juices at intervals keeps ones body hydrated

- Having vegetable salads with lunch and dinner is a must as it helps your skin glowing supplying your body with richness of vitamins and minerals

- Avoid spicy and oily foods. It makes ones system upset and also can result in acne and pimples

- Replace coffee with green tea to boost immunity and keep body hydrated and stimulated. Also, green tea helps fight heat and lose weight

So maintaining yourself in summer isn’t so difficult. Is it? These are a few general tips and half of them I am sure we follow everyday. Just revise your routine a little bit for a beautiful you this season!