Take Care of Your Summer Skin with these Natural Remedies (For the Beach to Backyard Barbecuing)

From sunbathing at the beach to late-night campfires, summer is the season of fun. And while your cooler may be stocked to the brim with your favorite seasonal beverages, have you thought about stocking up on cleaner summer skincare? Here‚s a roundup of our go-to natural remedies for every type of summer occasion ‚ from beach to barbecue. The Goal: Shield Your Skin from the Sun Before you head off to the beach, be sure to pack your beach bag with plenty of sunscreen. Here‚s the thing: not all sunscreens are made the same. In fact, many are loaded with potentially harmful chemicals, and since our skin is the body‚s largest organ we want to be mindful of what we put on it. Choose a natural mineral-based sunscreen like Bare Republic ‚ made with antioxidant-rich plant extracts, and without chemical sunscreen actives, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. As an added bonus, their sunscreen is reef-friendly. Win, win! The Goal: Soothe Sunburn & Minor Skin Irritations Before you head to the drugstore for a slew of sunburn relief products, look first in your own cabinet! Aloe vera has been a popular home remedy for sunburns for many years ‚ and for good reason. According to Penn Medicine, its anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce swelling ‚ making it our go-to for treating sunburns and other minor skin issues. (Think: stubborn bug bites.) The Goal: Keep Your Skin Glowing Post Beach Day Between your subtle tan and dewy skin, your summer skin has never looked so good. Keep it glowing by nourishing your face with oils that work best for your skin type. We love Organic Bath Co.‚s Enhance Face Oil, made with antioxidant-rich, moisturizing ingredients like passionfruit, watermelon seed, and rosehip oil for glowing skin. Plant-based carrier oils like jojoba oil can also be a great choice for various skin types due to its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects. The Goal: Protect Your Hair (and Body) from the Sun & Chlorine From long days spent gardening outside to daily trips to the pool with the kiddos, your hair is getting its fair share of sun (and chlorine) exposure. No worries, we‚ve got just the solution to keep your locks looking luscious all summer long. For one, wearing a hat or headscarf can help protect your hair from harmful UV rays. Another tip for pool days: wet hair with fresh water before going swimming in chlorinated pools! Jane Chemerynski, owner of Connecticut salon Hair Today, says this can reduce the amount of chemicals absorbed into the hair. And when you get home from a long day at the pool, Connecticut-based Natural Living Consultant and owner of Authentically Raw Jessica Hale has her whole family take a bath ‚ a detox bath that is. Simply mix 1 cup Epsom salt with 3 drops Geranium essential oil (she recommends Young Living), and mix to warm running bath water. ‚Soak for 10-15 minutes to support the body in ridding itself of chlorine,‚ Hale says. The Goal: Keep Those Pesky Mosquitos Away From backyard barbecues to s‚mores around the campfire, you‚ve been spending more time outside during the evening. And try as you might, the mosquitos always seem to eat you up ‚ literally. When it comes to keeping those pesky mosquitos away, it may be in your best interest to look towards plants ‚ the essential oils from plants to be more specific. Studies have shown that essential oils like lemon, citronella, and eucalyptus can be an effective natural insect repellent, and they‚re registered by the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency. Feel free to DIY or scoop up a natural spray like Badger Anti-Bug Spray. And If you do get bit, try your best not to itch (as hard as it can be), and opt for natural remedies like tried and true Aloe vera. Wishing you‚re a happy, healthy summer! Share your sunny selfies with us @VibrantHealth