After what seemed like an eternity closed up indoors during the brutal winter months I couldn’t wait for the summer to finally roll around. I had spent countless below freezing days sunk in my favorite chair recalling my favorite moments from summers past. Most of them usually involving sun, surf and laughter. Countless hours in the sun hitting a beach ball back and forth in the sand and curling up next to a beach bon fire cuddled in my summer crushes arms. Wait a minute those aren’t my summer memories, those are Gidgets. My summer usually involves humid days and sweaty nights spent sweating over a flat iron trying to control my frizzy challenged hair. Or hours spent slathering rich potions on my body trying to soften my chlorine pool water damaged skin. Thirsty hair, thirsty skin. The summer I looked forward to all winter long, finally comes and I stay hidden in the housefighting the summer’s effect on my hair and skin. Well no more I say. I have vowed this summer will be different. I have searched the world far and wide looking for the products that will ensure I will have healthy hair and skin this summer.

The key to healthy hair in the summer is to keep it moisturized and protected. The sun UV rays are not only damaging to your skin but can be extremely detrimental to the health of your hair. And if you’re a swimmer, the ocean or pool water can leave your hair even more susceptible to the sun. Leaving once healthy hair feeling like dry fragile straw. That’s where revolutionary three step K-PAK Sun Therapy System comes in. It actually repairs and reconstructs solar damage as revitalizes moisture-striped locks (joico.com, $11.95-$15.95). After one application of the Joico K-Pak Sun Therapy Treatment Masque my hair instantly felt rejuvenated and moisturized.

But as we all know good hair in the house is easy. The really test is good hair outside in the brutal hot and humid weather that is the real challenge. Humidity is ever ones enemy. There is almost nothing you can do is outsmart this worthy foe. But I recently stumbled on a secret, ISO Daily Paste ($12, www.iso.com). This pliable styling paste provides flexible shape, definition and a light shine. I slathered some on my freshly washed curls, let it hair dry and by the time I left the house my curls were tame and defined. Two hours later in 95-degree weather my curls were still in place and had yet to form my infamous frizz ball. Also don’t be afraid to tie your hair back in a lose ponytail at the nape of your neck. Try using a scarf to tie it back, which keeps hair pulling elastics out of your hair and adds some glamor to a ho hum ponytail.

Now that my hair was conquered, I had to face my dry summer skin issues. My first step was to make a vow of. no sun without sunscreen. Not only are UVA/UVB rays dangerous but they are also ultra drying and aging. IQ Derma’s Life Without Wrinkles Intensive Wrinkle DeCrease Day Cream with SPF 25 is the perfect solution ($45, iqderma.com). This day cream smoothes away the appearance of fine lines while protecting my skin from the suns harmful rays with SPF 25.

Another thing you need to watch out for in the summer is dehydration. Which can affect the way your skin functions, particularly the activity of collagen. Dehydration can leave your skin feeling irritated and dry. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses water per day. Also try using a hydrating skin product such as Molecular Mist ($36, www.sircuitskin.com). This evaporation resistant, natural spray will hydrate your skin, while it protects against dehydration.

If you are worried that all this SPF and hydration talk will leave you without your yearly summer glow. Don’t fret. Just apply a body bronzer all over to give your skin a sun kissed look without the damage. The best bronzer I have tired so far is NYX Cosmetic’s Body Bronzer ($16, nyxcosmetics.com). This bronzer comes with enough for the next two summers and gives a warm glow with a spark of shimmer. Apply this all over your body with a fluffy brush and you will look like you just got back from the
islands.

And don’t forget your lips. Just like the skin on your face, your lips sustain damage and become dry from UVA/UVB rays. Lips began to show aging and become chapped and dry after too much sun exposure So protecting and conditioning your lips should be a top priority. Suggah Lip Treatment is a serious treatment that instantly relieves dry, chapped lips the moment you slather some on. It contains soothing ingredients such as Shea Butter, to heal the skin on your lips. ($38, www.sircuitskin.com). As a self-proclaimed lip balm addict I was a bit skeptical but from the moment I slicked some on my lips have become much smoother and my lipstick goes on better. After I have came in from the sun I have started to apply SunFX Glow All Over Body Butter after my nightly shower. I apply a liberal amount of the ultra rich butter all over to restore and soften my skin. (sunfx.com). The soothing butter contains coca butter, shea butter and grape seed oil and it instantly calms my skin. I was crawl into bed I now comfort myself with the knowledge that by the end of this summer my skin and hair will probably be in better shape then when the summer started. I can go into the fall with frizz free hair, baby soft skin and warm memories of my own, not Gidget’s, to last me until next summer.

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