spring into summer

8 BEAUTY TIPS FOR A SIZZLING YOU

Although we all love the long, sunny days of summer, getting our bodies ready to bare can seem like quite a challenge. But with a few refinements to your beauty routine, you can have gorgeous skin and hair throughout the months ahead.

Tip #1

Shed Your Winter Skin

Our bodies slow in the winter-just as bears hibernate-and the exfoliation process is no exception. We need to slough off the ugly, dying cells to reveal younger, plumper cells, says Linda Miles, DOM, vice president at Derma E. "This simple process can take years off our appearance in a matter of minutes. Skin is smoother, more vibrant," she says. When exfoliating, the key is to remove the dead skin cells but leave healthy ones intact. Look for exfoliants that contain gentle ingredients, such as a scrub with sugar or a chemical scrub with fruit acids.

Tip #2

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Getting rid of unwanted body hair is no fun, but using a product that actually smells good and nourishes the skin while it works makes the task more manageable. Look for hair removal systems made with ingredients such as sugar and pine resin. "Sugaring" is designed to stick to the hair, not the skin, so there's no painful tearing. Made with ingredients such as lavender and vitamin E, these natural products also benefit the skin.

Tip #3

Lighten Up

Set aside heavy-duty skin creams, and stock up on lightweight products for the summer. "Heavy moisturizers aren't necessary during the summer months because our skin isn't exposed to the harsh environment of winter: artificial heating and extreme cold weather conditions that can be so detrimental to skin," says Shelley Rubenstein of Nature's Gate..

Tip #4

Pop a Supplement

Nourish hair, skin and nails from the inside out with supplements. "Healthy skin, nails and hair need a good source of protein," Miles says, "and your supplement should include silica [present in all connective tissue], zinc [promotes hair growth and skin health] and sulfur [a building block for protein], just to mention a few."

Tip #5

Safely Sun-Kissed

Worried about the potential health hazards associated with sunbathing but want a bit of color? Try the new breed of sunless tanning creams that actually produces an authentic-looking tan. Researchers have found that dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a colorless sugar, interacts with dead cells located in the upper layer of the epidermis to produce a harmless color change that lasts about a week. Opt for a natural sunless tanning product that is enriched with botanicals and vitamins that leave skin soft and supple.

Tip #6

Power-Packed Sunscreens

Look for sunscreens that contain plants and other nutrients that enhance the product's actions. "Certain botanicals offer unrated SPF factors (the US Food and Drug Administration specifies which ingredients are acceptable to achieve the specified effectiveness) such as wild pansy and coffee extract. Plus botanicals offer soothing and calming properties that help enhance the properties of the sunscreens," Rubenstein says.

"When applying sunscreen to the face, it is best to apply it after a moisturizer that doesn't contain sunscreen," says Jim Caras, CEO for Health Direct. "You want the properties in the moisturizer to penetrate the skin and reach cells; sunscreens prevent this from happening," he says.

Tip #7

Treat Your Tresses Right

Chlorine, wind and sun are all hard on our hair during the summer. Protecting yours with shampoos and conditioners that offer moisturizing and soothing benefits-as well as protection against the weather-is especially important this time of year, says Rubenstein. "Look for products with panthenol and vegetable proteins that strengthen hair, and grape seed extract and sunflower seed extract that offer color protection," she says. Also, during the summer months, consider a leave-in hair conditioner that contains an SPF. For extra highlights, try using a conditioner that contains botanicals that work with the sun to brighten hair-such as chamomile or henna.

Tip #8

Unmask Beautiful Skin

There is perhaps nothing more effective after a long winter than a mask to reveal beautiful skin and stimulate cell renewal. "Masks help to detoxify the skin and are usually gentle exfoliants as well. These are great to help remove debris and toxins," Miles says. "They also encourage the shedding of old dead skin cells for a younger, smoother look."

Summer Beauty

Moisturize

Aura Cacia Natural Cocoa Butter

Derma E Pycnogenol Cr�me

Health Direct Cocoon

Exfoliate

Diamond Herpanacine Associates Pumpkin Face Scrub

Himalaya Walnut Scrub

Jason Citrus 6-in-1 Wash & Scrub

Sunscreen

Desert Essence SPF 30 Sunscreen Towelettes

Nature's Gate Natural Suncare Aqua Block SPF 30

Nutra-Lift Day Moisture SPF 25

Facial Masks

CamoCare Gold Revitalizing Mask

EO Purifying Mask with Olive & Lavender

Zia French clay Purifying Mask

Hair, Skin and Nail Supplements

Futurebiotics Hair, Skin & Nails

Health Support Beautiful You

Nature's Plus Ultra Hair Plus

Nature's Way Hair & Skin

Hair Removal

Moom All Natural Hair Removal

Parissa Tea Tree Soft Gel Hair Remover

Hair Care

Aubrey Organics Swimmer's Normalizing Shampoo

Jason Swimmer's & Sports Rejuvenating Shampoo

Nature's Plus Ultra Hair Conditioning Shampoo

Sunless Tanning

Alba Botanica Sunless Tanning Lotion

Nature's Gate Natural Suncare Self-Tan Lotion

Nutra-Lift Sunless Tan