5 Ways to Restore Summer Skin and Hair Damage

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1. Damage: Dry Hair

During the summer season you’re more than likely going to have more beach and pool days. It’s a known fact that an increase of salt, chlorine, and sun damage can make your hair extremely dry and damaged. Botanical hairstylist Phillip B. offers a do-it-yourself hair conditioner that promises to restore your dry and damaged locks to a healthy shine and bounce.

Chocolate-Pumpkin Conditioning Hair Milk

THE INGREDIENTS: 1 tbsp of vegetable oil, 1 tbsp of coconut oil, 2 tbsp of chopped pumpkin, 2 tbls of coconut milk, 1 tsp almond extract, 1 tsp chocolate extract, 1 tsp vanilla extract

HOW TO MAKE IT AND USE IT: In a small saucepan, heat vegetable oil and coconut oils until slightly warm, mixing together. Remove from heat and cool. Add remaining ingredients to oils and mix in a blender until you achieve a uniform consistency. Massage mixture through hair and comb through carefully. Leave on for 5-20 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Massage vigorously to remove all of the mixture. Cover and refrigerate the remaining mixture. Discard after 5 days.  Apply twice a week for best results.

2. Damage: Callused Feet

Sometimes a pedicure just won’t fix the damage of endless summer days on the beach that our feet are showing. So Shizuka Bernstein, the owner of SHIZUKA Spa in New York, NY offers a do-it-yourself foot scrub that will not only have your feet looking smoother than a baby’s bottom but will have them smelling oh so sweet!

Crystallized Honey Exfoliating Foot Scrub

THE INGREDIENTS: equal parts olive oil, crystallized honey, rice bran, dark syrup.

HOW TO MAKE IT AND USE IT: Combine olive oil (softens and works as an anti-inflammatory), crystallized honey (exfoliates, helps feet retains moisture), rice bran (moisturizes, balances sebum), dark syrup (moisturizes, brightens, cleanses). Stir until ingredients are combined. Cleanse your feet with water. Apply the soothing mix to your feet and scrub it in for 5 minutes. Wash off the sticky concoction and your feet will be soft and callous free!

3. Damage: Dry Skin

Just as sun and sea and chlorinated water damage the hair it can also suck all the moisture from your skin. Isabelle Anton, owner of Advanced Skincare Day Spa in New York, NY, passed down a do-it-yourself facial dry peel that was given to her by her Russian grandmother. And as everyone should know grandmothers always seem to know a hint to the secret fountain of youth.

Bubby’s Blueberry Fresh Enzyme Dry Skin Peel

THE INGREDIENTS: 3 tbsp of blueberries (organic is better), 1 lemon (use the juice and grate its skin), 1/4 tsp of sour cream, 1/2 tsp of molasses.

HOW TO MAKE IT AND USE IT: Apply the mixture on the skin and gently massage it in (massaging as opposed to rubbing increases circulation and increases its effects). Leave it on for 8 minutes. Rinse off with warm water followed by a splash of cool water.

4. Damage: Oily Skin

Just like dry skin suffers, oily skin is not something that is wanted by most. Oily skin is often caused by poor circulation and unlike the other quick fixes we have provided on this list, oily skin can be fixed by a simple everyday facial exercise which gets the blood pumpin’. Carole Maggio, owner of Carole Maggio Day Spa in Redondo Beach, California has provided a smile “facercise” to improve facial blood circulation.

Facial Exercises

HOW: Open your mouth wide into the shape of a long O. Place one index finger on each cheek and apply light pressure. While maintaining your wide open O, try to do a big smile, turning the sides of your lips up (your top lip will be turned up to reveal your teeth). Release your smile but keep your open O. Repeat 30 times once daily.

But if you don’t have time to do the exercise, placing a cleanser, toner, and masks into your daily morning or evening routine will aid in minimizing oil throughout your day.

5. Damage: Sunburn

So you made the mistake of falling asleep in the sun again and the age old aloe remedy just won’t sooth the pain, Diane Hanson of Delluva Vinotherapy Day Spa in New York, NY has a soothing do-it-yourself remedy to ease the burning pain.

Sunburn Soothe with Frozen Grapes

HOW TO MAKE IT AND USE IT: Wash a handful of red grapes. Place them in the freezer. Wait several hours until they freeze. Mash the frozen grapes up and apply as a masque to the sun burnt area. Leave on for 5-10 minutes.

Now for you guys and gals that are not the do-it-yourself type there are alternative products that can be bought in your local fresh markets and local drug stores, but that would not be very green considering the plastic containers most of these products are packaged in. So to make your summer more green try something new with one of these do-it-yourself ideas.

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