Summers are back with a vengeance! Be good to your skin this time, and see if you can do a little extra to keep luscious this season!

Your skin needs special care during the summer season – especially because UV rays can cause tremendous damage to the skin. In fact, 90% of wrinkles are caused by sunrays. They penetrate the skin’s deepest layer and damage the elastin & collagen which keep the skin firm. And remember, 80% of the damage to skin is already done by the age of 18 – so skin care needs to start early!

We’re going to cover a few basic issues to take care of your skin in summer

1. Hydration

One of the best things you can do for your skin in summer? Stay hydrated. Your body tends to lose a lot of moisture in the summer, so it’s important to regularly replenish the H2O. Drink lots of fluids and avoid caffeine & alcohol – your skin will stay soft, fresh & moisturized.

2. Choosing Sun block or sun screen

Confused about what the difference is?

Sunscreens are “chemical blockers” which absorb the sun’s UVA & UVB rays so that they don’t reach your skin. These should be applied at least 15-20 minutes prior to stepping out in the sun.
On the other hand, a sunblock is a “physical blocker” which sits on the skin and reflects back the UVB rays. All Sunblocks do not necessarily protect against UVA rays (do check the labels to ensure they DO!); but may be a better choice versus sunscreens if you have sensitive skin.

Calculating Sun Protection Factor or SPF
SPF indicates the level of protection and should be understood clearly before you buy a sunscreen/ block. While there are different ways of calculating the SPF requirement of your skin depending on your skin colour , how easily you burn, if you’re around water as well the altitude you’re at, for a general calculation, you could use this formula:

SPF X 10 = Minutes of sun protection

So if you usually get sun burned in 10 minutes, with an SPF 15 you can stay outdoors for 150 minutes without getting tanned (15 x 10 minutes). Remember:
a. SPF protection doesn’t increase proportionately with the SPF number. So while SPF 30 absorbs 97% of the sun’s burning rays, SPF 50 absorbs just slightly more — 98%. The ideal for Indian conditions is SPF 30.
b. Sunscreen CANNOT be reapplied on top of old sunscreen. Since sunscreen works on being absorbed by the skin, unless the skin is clean and dry, re-applying sunscreen won’t work!
c. Sunblock CAN be reapplied on top of old sunblock; so keep re-applying sun block if it’s really sunny or if you’re out for longer periods.
d. Higher SPFs tend to be thicker and creamier – if you’re at the pool or beach that may be ok, but for a day out in mild sun a lighter SPF and again, re-applying may work better.
e. ‘Waterproof sunscreen’ provides protection in the water for 80 minutes, while ‘water resistant’ provides about 40 minutes of protection.

3. Skin Cleansing

Here are some simple skin-cleansing tips for all skin types – dry, oily & normal!
a. Oats are a great way to unclog pores and keep oily skin in check. Grind & sieve the powder and if possible, mix it with watermelon juice. Massage it gently all over your face and rinse it with warm /regular water. Get your perfectly cleansed skin!
b. Add Flaxseed oil to your salads and vegetables. Flaxseed regulates the sebaceous glands and thus the oil production from them.
c. Grind some rice and keep it in a bottle. Use a spoonful of rice with a few drops of tomato juice and use it as a cleanse your skin.

4. Skin Toning

It’s important to keep your pores closed and skin cool with a toner. Watermelon & coconut water are both natural skin coolants and make excellent toners, and are likely to be in your kitchens through summer – so make the most of them for your stomach and your skin!
a. Watermelon toner- Simply strain some cubes of watermelon to remove the seeds & threads. Mix this juice with rose water in the ratio 2:1. Keep this in a spray bottle in your fridge. Whenever you reach home after a tired days work all you need to do is spray this toner and freshner on your face .Alternatively you can freeze some watermelon cubes in the freezing tray and as you come home you can apply a cube all over your face after washing .
b. Coconut water- Take coconut water, mix with some rose water & store it in a spray bottle in the fridge... Whenever you reach home after a tired days work all you need to do is spray this toner and freshener on your face, and feel the joy!

For A Healthy Glow

Papaya-Papaya is full of natural goodness and you can even use it as a homemade pack. Just mash 2 tbsp of papaya with a tsp of honey and 1 egg white. Leave the mixture on your face for about 15 minutes and enjoy the glow you get afterwards.
Mango- Prepare a mango face mask for soft and glowing skin by blending mango pulp (you can make use of an over ripe mango), two teaspoons of milk, 6-8 blanched almonds, and fullers earth (multani mitti). If fuller’s earth is not available, use kayolin clay or gram flour.

With inputs from Aditi Bhatnagar, SknEssentials