This past week in Phoenix, temperatures reached the 115 F range. If you’re in the area, you know just how unbearable the heat has been. I have found that even walking a short distance over the blacktop to my car hurt my face a little, and I couldn’t help but worry about what all this radiation, heat, and dryness does to my skin. And if you’re anything like me, you want to avoid sun damage at all costs. So, in this article, I’m sharing some tips that you can use to keep your skin healthy and glowing this season!
- If you exercise or go for walks outside, do it early in the morning or after the sun has begun to set, and avoid blacktops as much as possible. Blacktops absorb and re-radiate the most energy, so if you’re out walking, try to choose grassy paths or light-colored sidewalks or gravel. This point might seem obvious, but prevention has the highest mileage when it comes to maintaining your skin.
- Green tea has been shown to protect skin from harmful UV radiation. So, load up on your favorite Loose Leaf green tea flavor, ice it, and drink up! Check them out here!
- Eat lots of pigment-rich fruits and vegetables, specifically yellow and orange ones. There is research that has shown that pigments that we consume become incorporated into our skin. Carotenoids, or the pigment that makes carrots and other fruits and vegetables yellow or orange, has strong sun-protective properties. In fact, carotenoids are what protect plants from sun damage, so load up on foods like carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, turmeric, squashes, and bright leafy greens (especially kale). A couple good carotenoid-rich teas are Happy Place and Daily Detox.
- Consume silica-containing herbal teas for hydration. Teas like Love My Hair, Uber Berry, and Joyful Garden, which all contain oatstraw, help your body to absorb and utilize hydration more effectively than drinking water alone. In addition, aloe vera, cactus, and other edible succulents, along with cucumber, are excellent hydrators.
- Consume EPA from algal sources. EPA is a long-chain Omega-3 which is superbly beneficial for the skin. It helps to build both collagen and elastin, and supports the cells that produce them. It also helps to negate the effects of solar radiation and sun damage. Consuming EPA from algal sources also ensures that you get a super high dose of powerful antioxidants, chlorophyll, and tons of health-boosting minerals.
- Add a couple drops of Myrrh Essential Oil to your skincare at night. Myrrh has been shown to protect sun-exposed skin from damage, and helps to heal wounding or inflammation of the skin that has occurred as a result.
- If your car windows are not already tinted, be sure to get them tinted. My friend once told me that some truckers have faces that are terribly aged on the left and normal on the right. I did and image search and it freaked me out! (Do an image search if you’re brave…) Sun protection when you’re driving is a serious matter, as your skin can receive more focused intensity.
- Get loads of Vitamin C. This vitamin is essential for building collagen and elastin, and for skin repair. In fact, one study showed that skin cells grown in a Vitamin C solution produced 2-3 times as much collagen as cells grown in a control medium. So make sure to get your fill of Vitamin C-rich fruits (like citrus) and vegetables (like broccoli)!
- Get a good night’s sleep. It’s called “beauty sleep” for a reason- your skin repairs itself while you sleep. If you need a little help getting your zzz’s on, try Nitey-Nite.
- Mask your face at night with kelp or Irish moss paste. Both of these seaweeds help to build collagen, and give immediate plumping and hydration to the skin. You’ll notice a difference right away! You can find both of these ingredients in powdered form in our bulk herbs section.
Don’t forget to use a good natural sunscreen! With all these tips, you should be able to beat the heat and keep your skin healthy and beautiful. Comment below if you have any more skin-saving tips!