The most carefree time of the year has begun: getaways to the sea, refreshing cocktails with sunset view and carefree walks have already been included in our daily schedule. The truth though is that some of the daily habits of the summer season include various “mistakes” which can have a negative impact both on our skin and hair, as well as on our overall health.
In order to be able to enjoy this season to the fullest and… at our best, we have gathered below 3+1 mistakes that we all more or less make and need to stop making immediately.
Which of the following “innocent” – but not so innocent after all – habits do you follow?
1. You leave sea salt on your skin for hours
We all love a cool dip when there is heat, but what we need to be careful about is what we do after the dip. Although sea salt is nutritious and therapeutic in some cases, when it remains on our skin and hair for hours it causes dehydration and dry skin, which combined with solar radiation, can prove to be particularly harmful. You probably noticed that when your hair has sea salt on it, it becomes dry, dull and not easy to comb – precisely because of the dehydration it causes.
Therefore, what we recommend is to take a quick shower after you come out of the sea to remove the salt from your skin and hair.
2. You don’t apply sunscreen on your skin or you only apply it once!
The most frequent and perhaps the most harmful mistake for our skin is skipping sun protection. We have repeatedly mentioned how important it is to protect the skin and ourselves from solar radiation. A frequent “bad habit” of ours is to apply sunscreen once, go for swimming or sit under the sun for hours and… not reapply it! Our sunscreen, according to the protection index it offers, should be renewed every 1-2 hours or after every dive, to make sure that we provide ourselves the necessary protection.
3. You use the towel you have on the sunbed on your face
Do you know how many germs and dirt can be collected on the towel you have spread out on your sunbed? This is the fastest way to easily get pimples by the next morning, since the impurities are going to clog your pores and cause a breakout.
That’s why next time remember to take a small clean towel with you to keep in your bag or wash your face with water and dry it with a paper towel.
4. Your sunglasses’ frame attracts solar radiation
What is the reason that when you touch your stainless-steel/metal glasses or any other metal product that has been under the sun for a while, it burns so much? Because this material attracts solar radiation. Therefore, when the sunglasses we wear attract the sun the particularly sensitive area of our eyes is at risk. As a result, pimples and skin issues such as brown spots – freckles (pycnidia) can be caused much more easily.
*However, we should distinguish the natural, congenital freckles that tend to intensify during this period and the brown spots – freckles that appear as a result of extensive and unprotected exposure to solar radiation. The appearance of the latter can also be combined with hormonal changes or age. The second case is also the one that we must pay particular attention to, putting our sunscreen and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun as our main priorities.
With love,
The CP Herbalist Team
