Top 10 Summer Beauty Hacks
Baking soda, tomato juice and apple cider vinegar are just some of the surprising products you’ll need to keep your hair and makeup in check this summer, according to experts.
The team behind online hair and beauty retailer Hairtrade.com have compiled a list of ten hacks to protect your hair from the sun and make sure your makeup lasts throughout the heat to prevent beauty backlash this summer.
Beauty expert Joanne Dodds from Hairtrade.com said: “Whether it’s dealing with botched fake tan, fading hair colour, green hair or dry and frizzy ends, summer can seem like a constant beauty battle.
“Luckily, these ten simple hacks will help you find both easy and affordable remedies to save your skin and hair.”
Make your makeup suitcase-friendly
When you’re jetting off on your summer holidays, place a cotton pad or two in-between your blush and bronzer compacts to prevent them from shattering in your suitcase and ruining all of your belongings.
Repair dry hair with an avocado mask
Chlorine and beaches can take the moisture out of your hair, leaving it feeling dry and coarse. But don’t fret – as a simple homemade hair mask can quickly resurrect your hair in summer.
Simply crush one whole avocado with quarter of a cup of olive oil and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix it together and apply onto the hair, then leave it in for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Make Aloe Vera ice cubes to treat sunburn
If you accidentally end up getting a bit sunburnt, simply freeze an Aloe Vera based gel into ice cube trays. This will feel amazing on your burnt skin whilst helping your skin to heal too.
Say goodbye to foundation and hello to BB cream
When the weather heats up you should opt for a BB cream instead of a thick, heavy foundation. BB creams are similar to tinted moisturisers, so you’ll still get some coverage but it will be light, allowing your skin to breathe. Plus, it won’t melt off your skin!
Use vinegar to prevent hair colour from fading
If your hair is coloured, sun and salt water can quickly encourage fading. Half a cup of apple cider vinegar is a great natural remedy to help brighten up your locks. Simply add the vinegar to a spritz bottle, spray all over your hair and leave it in for about 10 minutes before rinsing out.
Put your nail polishes in the fridge
High temperatures can cause nail polish to turn thick and gloopy. Keeping it in a cool place like the fridge can extend your nail varnishes shelf life and make it smooth and easy to apply.
Use tomato juice to keep blonde hair bright
Chlorine can damage your hair, especially if you’re blonde or have highlights, and it can also add an awful greenish tinge.
To protect your colour, coat your hair in leave-in conditioner or sesame oil before swimming. Always remember to rinse your hair after getting out the pool and wash in cold water to boost shine.
For a post-swim remedy, coat your hair and scalp in tomato juice for 5-10 minutes before washing with shampoo and conditioner. This will help fade the greenish hue if you have one.
Make coconut oil your new BFF
Coconut oil is a multi-purpose product that is great to use as moisturiser, conditioner, serum and cuticle oil. Pack into a small travel bottle and take away with you on holiday to keep your skin hydrated.
Coconut oil is also great to use to fight summer frizz. Simply dab some on your fingers and lightly apply onto your hair for a quick fix.
Fix uneven fake tan with baking soda
If you plan on staying away from the sunshine this summer, instead opting for a false glow, fix any fake tan botches with baking soda. Simply apply some baking soda on a loofah with warm water and exfoliate to get rid of any patchiness.
Use baby powder to remove stubborn sand
At the end of a day on the beach, dust your skin with baby powder to make it much easier to brush off all the dried sand.
Baby powder will absorb all the moisture that is causing the sand to stick to your skin, like sweat, sun cream and sea water, so the sand will just drop off your skin.
For more summer beauty tips, see Repair Sun-stressed Skin
Audrey Patterson
Having started my career at My Weekly on Real Life stories, for the past 8 years I have been Beauty and Fashion Editor. I also write Travel and Homes features, plus the odd book review. We’re a flexible team! I also write features for Your Best Ever Christmas covering a variety of topics.
