by miraclesinprogress

Created on: July 21, 2007

Summer beauty is enhanced when you feel you are able to survive the heat and humidity.

One of the favorite tips I discovered years ago is to put a spritzer, such as Evian spray, in the fridge to keep it cool on a hot day. This is wonderful for a quick spray of refreshment on your face and neck after weeding your garden or running after small children who have been playing outside.

Another favorite tip of mine is to have a bottle of pure aloe vera in the fridge during the summer. Whether I apply this to skin that has had a little too much sun or my face just for pure refreshment, it has that extra cooling effect. The fridge is a free storage unit, and so many cosmetics can go in there on a hot day. Many cosmeticians recommend storing nail polish in the fridge year round to extend its shelf life, but another attraction for this strategy is that polish is much more fun to apply to weather beaten, heated feet than warm polish that is losing its color! It also can make you feel pampered, particularly if you have a nice, hot and summery color such as fuschia or coral.

One more tip involves a light foot massage after you have been on your feet all day. I love peppermint and while many products contain this, you can also make a peppermint massage by using peppermint essential oil, then diluting a few drops in a carrier oil, such as almond or even olive oil. This is a delightful scent, and if you inhale it it is energizing to the system, too. (Energy certainly helps make me feel more beautiful, particularly in summer.)

Another beauty tip will be the application of self-tanner, and this can help enhance your beauty by ensuring you have that bronzed, sexy look you covet, while keeping you safe from the intensity of the sun's rays. Many self-tanners are becoming more sophisticated and they smell better than ever before, which also makes you feel prettier.

Finally, I feel better when I use a cleanser that addresses backne and acne, because summer is the one time when you really sweat front and back as a woman. I use these cleansers at night so that the day's sweat is counteracted. That way I am able to wear a pretty, backless top or sundress each day without displaying a gathering of blackheads or other skin issues.

When all else seems redundant, my favorite is the application of a cool, water-soaked washcloth to my neck. I do this at home when I am cooking in a hot kitchen, and it is a cost-effective way to stay more cheerful while beating the summer heat.

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