The harsh summer sun can take its toll on your skin. But a little TLC will get yours back on track. Tips, tricks and products to get you protected.
Summer rashesTo avoid summer rashes, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing especially at night.
Ice cubes
One of the best home remedies for prickly heat rashes is ice cubes. Rubbing an ice cube on the rashes reduces inflammation and also helps burst the small blisters and releases the collected sweat and the infection.
Aloe vera applications
Smear on aloe vera to clean skin. Squeeze gel from the leaf and rub it on the skin. Apply thrice a day. Wash skin between applications.
Oily Greasy Skin
Salt
Place tepid water and a teaspoon of salt into a small spray bottle. Close your eyes, and imagine you're at the beach. Squirt this salt spray on your face once during the day. Blot dry.
Egg yolk A fast fix for removing oil shine requires one of the simplest foods; the egg. Apply egg yolk with a cotton ball to oily spots. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with cool water.
Lemon
Mix equal parts lemon juice and water. Pat on face and let it dry. Rinse first with warm water followed by cool water for a refreshing treat.
Lime and cucumber.
Citrus fruits and some vegetables not only refresh the skin but also help reduce oils. Try mixing 1/2 teaspoon lime juice with an equal amount of cucumber juice. Apply to skin before showering.
Sunburns
15 minutes before stepping out of the house, apply sunscreen lotion above SPF 15. However if you still suffer from sun burns, here are a few quick treatments to soothe the pain and discomfort.
Aloe veraThe thick, gel-like juice of an aloe vera plant takes sting and redness out of sunburn. Simply slit open one of the broad leaves and apply the gel directly to the burn. Apply five to six times per day for several days.
Cool compress
Apply soaked cloth directly to burned areas (do not apply ice or an ice pack to sunburned skin) for several minutes, rewetting the cloth often to keep it cool. Apply the compress multiple times throughout the day as needed to relieve discomfort.
Also be sure to replenish liquids by drinking plenty of water while recovering from sunburn. Being well hydrated helps burns heal better. You'll know you're hydrated when your urine runs almost clear.
Moisturize
While cool baths and compresses can make you feel better, they can also end up robbing moisture from your injured skin. To prevent drying, apply moisturizer immediately after your soak. For cooling relief of pain and dryness, chill the moisturizer in the refrigerator before using.
Razor Burns
While shaving is an affordable and quick way to remove unwanted hairs, irritating razor burn is a common side effect. Razor burn is a red or pink rash with or without bumps on the skin that appears after shaving. Razor burn occurs because your skin is irritated during the shaving process.
Prevention
The best remedy for razor burns is prevention. Shave after a shower, using a new razor and shaving in the same direction as hair growth will help keep razor burn from appearing. If you already have razor burns, try these steps to treat the rashes.
Potatoes
Peeled potatoes can be applied to the area to. Cut a medium-sized potato in half and gently rub in the burnt area. This soothes the burning and itchy sensation.
Vinegar
Vinegar prevents inflammation and infection of razor burns. Apple cider vinegar has been proven useful.
Dark patches
Lemon And HoneySqueeze one large lemon in a bowl. Add a tablespoon of honey. Mix it together.
Apply on face with a cotton ball and rinse after 10-15 minutes.
Apply this treatment twice a day until the dark spots are gone.
You can also add ginger to the mix:
Mix 1 tablespoon rose water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and freshly chopped ginger in a bowl.
Let the mixture rest overnight and strain the mixture with a fine mesh sieve.
Apply the mixture on dark spots and let it dry for 30 minutes, and rinse with cool water.
Use this treatment daily.
Pimples /breakout
Keeping the skin well cleansed deters the formation of pimples. Using a mild cleanser at the start of your day, in the evening, and before bed is recommended. Avoid scrubbing your skin. It only makes matters worse.
Mint Mints work as a gentle and quick home remedy for acne and it smells nice too. Pick up some fresh mint leaves from a grocer or from your garden.
Squeeze the juice from the leaves and apply it to your face before you go to bed. If you have trouble getting the juice out, mash the leaves into a paste with water and leave this paste on your face for 15 minutes or so.
Lemon and Rose Water
Lemon is another natural home remedy with a pleasant scent. Mix fresh-squeezed lemon juices (from a lemon, not from a bottle) with rose water and apply to affected skin. Leave this on for half an hour, and then rinse it off. Lighter cases of acne may clear in a few days, while tougher cases may take a few weeks to completely disappear. Some people mix cinnamon or coriander, but only use these spices with caution as they can irritate sensitive skin
Green tea and Carrots
Green tea has anti-bacterial properties and the antioxidants it contains have a proven ability to prevent acne. To take advantage of this, boil a carrot (also known for their antioxidant properties) until it's soft enough to mash. Brew a cup of green tea and mix it with mashed carrot to form a paste. Apply paste on your blemishes and leave it on for approximately 15 minutes.
Garlic
Garlic both disinfects and acts as an astringent, but it doesn't have the pleasant smell of some of the remedies mentioned above. This natural treatment works even on persistent forms of adult acne. Just cut open a garlic clove and rub it gently on your skin to cover the blemishes with juice. It may take a few treatments for the acne to disappear, but you should see improvements within days.
VLCC's range of sun defence productsOver exposure to the sun's harmful UVA & UVB rays causes skin darkening, spots & premature ageing of the skin. Therefore, it is vital for us to follow a sun care regime to protect our skin from the damaging effects of harsh sun rays.
VLCC Sun Defense is a comprehensive range of sun protection & after sun care products which provide complete sun protection with formulations which are ideal for Indian summers & are meant to suit different skin types. The natural ingredients in these products make them even more gentle and nurturing!
The range also includes an array of After Sun Care products, which work to repair the skin post sun damage, washing away tan & impurities to reveal brighter, even skin tone.
Embrace the sun, without the sweat.
