During the summer months the skin and hair are most affected by sunlight and are therefore more exposed to dehydration and, in the case of the skin, to sunburn, erythema and premature aging.
Furthermore the sea water and the chlorine of the pool tend to dehydrate both the epidermis and the hair further.
Let's see what the do-it-yourself cosmetics are to prepare with natural ingredients and to be used during the summer to maintain healthy skin and hair and ensure a perfect tan without any nasty surprises.
Do it yourself face and body scrub
The purpose of the gommage is to eliminate dead cells from the surface of the epidermis and to promote an even tan with no spots .
The gommage is applied on the wet skin of the face and body, in the shower or in the bathtub. Scrub should be performed once a week, massaging gently on the skin with circular movements.
The ingredients for preparing a natural gommage are:
- 50 grams of Shea Butter
- 30 grams of sunflower oil
- 20 grams of avocado oil
- 10 grams of coconut flour
Weigh the ingredients with a kitchen scale. Melt the shea butter in a bain-marie and when the shea butter has melted, add the sunflower oil and the avocado oil, mix well and place it in the freezer for ten or fifteen minutes. Add the coconut flour, stirring with a spoon.
Transfer to a clean container with a lid and keep at room temperature for a maximum of three months.
DIY oil to prepare the skin for the sun
To protect the skin from sunburn and to have a homogeneous and long-lasting tan, you can prepare this simple emollient oil thanks to which your skin will be full of vitamin E and carotenoids.
To make the oil:
- 40 grams of carrot oil
- 60 grams of sesame oil
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil
To prepare the carrot oleolith, cut a carrot into julienne strips, transfer it to a glass jar and cover it with cold-pressed sunflower oil. Leave to soak for at least fifteen days, then filter the oil with a strainer, taking care not to crush the carrots to avoid spilling water, which would ruin the oil. To save time, you can heat the oil in a bain-marie for about an hour instead of soaking it for fifteen days.
Add the sesame oil and essential oil of lavender to the carrot oleolite, mix lightly and transfer the oil to a well cleaned and sprayed container.
Apply to clean skin every day one hour before sun exposure, massaging until completely absorbed.
DIY after-sun refreshing gel
After sun exposure the skin tends to dry out and needs to be hydrated. This simple and natural gel, in addition to having a moisturizing action, is non-greasy and soothes the skin from sunburn and rashes caused by the sun and gives an immediate sensation of freshness.
The ingredients to prepare it are:
- 100 grams of aloe vera gel
- 7 drops of mint essential oil
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
The preparation is really simple and affordable for everyone: all you have to do is buy the ingredients in herbal medicine and add the drops of essential oil to the aloe vera gel and mix lightly with a clean spoon. Massage on the skin of the body every night after the shower for a moisturizing, soothing and refreshing effect.
DIY hair pack
The sun, sea water and chlorine in the pool tend to dry out and weaken the hair, making it dull and weak. To keep your hair shiny and healthy, just make a compress twice a week .
To prepare the pack serve:
- Three tablespoons of honey
- Two tablespoons of olive oil
- One tablespoon of castor oil
In a small bowl, mix the ingredients incorporating the honey oil well. Apply the compress to damp hair and hold for at least fifteen minutes . Then proceed with the normal shampoo to remove all the residues.
