Summer Skin & Hair Care Tips For A Headturning Bod!

Summer is just around the corner once again! And what's it without being able to show off some skin and baring the abs you worked out for hours in the gym, right? Well, it won't be that if you don't do a LITTLE preparation to reverse the signs of neglect you "skinposed" during the past months. Read on and follow each of my skin care tips and you'll surely be ready to pull out those kinky bikinis and summer garbs in no time!

1. Exfoliate your skin
TRIVIA: Our body sheds skin cells at an amazing rate every minute of every day! That is why it is extremely important to regularly exfoliate the skin in aiming for a glowing bod! Else, these dead skin cells will be left sitting on your skin NO MATTER HOW MUCH hydration you give it (through regular use of body creams)! Now, go grab a scrub and rub in circular movements on your entire body to start off the process!

Take your pick from our 4 different types of exfoliants or take all four and see which works for you best!
*Clear y Rosy Sugar Tease - This is the only scrub among the line that can be used both for the face and body. Upon applicaion, you'll notice how quickly it melts unto the skin.
Main Exfoliating Ingredient: Sugar
*Spa Milk Salts (Yummy Vanilla, Mango Mandarin, Coffee Mocha, Orange Burst) - If you're the type who loves everything mild, soft and milky, this would be your bet. Rub against skin and feel a smooth bod just right after rinsing off!
Main Exfoliating Ingredient: Milk
*Romance in Bloom - If you love using Bare It All Emu cream, you'll surely enjoy this herbal-based exfoliator, which is btw patterned on the Bare It All Emu cream in terms of its content.
Main Exfoliating Ingredient: Apricot Scrubs
*Astrid Zakiya Dead Sea Salt - If you want a spa after feel, I would say go for these babies! I personally love how the oil feels on my skin as if I'm having a spa treat at the comforts of my own bathroom. Invigorate your senses by using the Astrid variant. But if you want a warm touch to your bath, go for the Zakiya's lingering and promising scent.
Main Exfoliating Ingredient: Dead Sea Salt & Rosehip

*Whitening and Brightening Scrub

2. Shave smart!
Lots of shorts, skirts, sundresses and bikinis mean more frequent shaving sessions, which can terribly dry out skin and irritate it through nicks and cuts. Appearance of ingrown hairs shouldn't surprise you either if you're not cautious enough.
TRIVIA: Did you know that you have to find a good shaving cream/suds? It should properly moisturize your skin while it works well against the razor. Minty Geranium Mud does just that. Plus it keeps you from getting ingrown hair by nourishing your skin as you rid it from hair.
TIP: Shave only after you've been in the shower for a few minutes already, this allows hair to soften and it would be easier for you to shave.

3. Use a skin-loving body moisturizer
During this time, it's best to use a moisturizer that's light and quick to put on, plus something that would never leave your skin feeling greasy as you sweat more due to the extra summer heat. If you've been a V&M lover all this time, I'm sure you can attest to the fact that our body butters get absorbed easily by the skin a few minutes after application. But if you wish to opt to a lighter body butter still, we have 'em for you. My bet would be the Limited Edition premium Emu-Rosehip line of body souffles - Astrid and Zakiya. They are light-weight, almost water based and extremely hydrating and skin benefitting. Your skin will thank you so much for it. Also, don't forget your facial moisturizer. Radiance and Supernatural would be great companions.

4. Happy Feet
Make sure to exfoliate the feet as well and get a proper pedicure treatment if budget isn't too tight. Scrub off dead skin cells here as it is expected to be harder and thicker than that of the body. Scrubbing your feet a few times every week will reward you with younger looking and pinkish feet, sandal-worthy!

5. Buy a New Sunscreen
Protect yourself from skin-aging, skin cancer and premature dark spots by using the proper sunblock! Ditch your unused bottles or tubs of sunblock, be safe and get a new one. For most people, I know it's such an ordeal to use sunscreens! Probably because of the texture and how it can sometimes feel just too sticky for your liking. Well not anymore! With V&M's Keep Safe Facial Sunblock with SPF 35, Wonder Creme with SPF 50 and Grace and Poise with SPF45 (melon scented sunblock), putting on sunblock surely would only be just a happy treat. V&M's promise: Our sunscreens will never be greasy. Be protected and have a summer full of sun safe fun!
TIP: Use a shot glass full of sunblock for your body and a teaspoon full of sunblock for your face. Re-apply after 1-2 hours of direct sun exposure.

6. Hair Lovin
Never put your hair on the side. It can make or break your whole look, and may shatter the confidence in you. Keeping your hair healthy everyday pays off more than you think. By the time you head to the beach and expose it to terrible and prolonged heat, it's as if it's ready for the damage it will temporarily get through. This also means less trouble for you when you get back to reality after the brief break! Use V&M's SLS and Paraben free Shampoo and Conditioner everyday to nourish hair and scalp. De-stress Your Tresses Hair Masque is great for damaged and treated hair (which is btw currently available in Papaya scent too!) Reverse the signs of hair damage while you still can. Not giving it proper treatment would lead to IRREVERSIBLE HAIR DAMAGE that you would definitely regret once it hits you. This type of impairment is so severe that it breaks hair off and it will never grow back. You might also start seeing bald patches on your scalp. Before this even happens, you should start giving yourself extra and deeper hair treatments! Generally, it takes weeks of treatment for you too see the best results. Be patient, your hair and scalp will thank you so much for it!
Read more about this as I wrote about it in: http://venusandmars08.multiply.com/photos/album/76/VM_DE-STRESS_YOUR_TRESSES

7. Spoil your Puckers!
Make sure to bring your Smooch Lip Detox, which is now fortified with SPF 15 to keep the lips safe, always supple and younger looking! This one's always a best seller! If you haven't tried it yet, well you're missing out on too much I would say. ;) Give your lips a break now! You deserve it. :)

8. Switch to summer makeup
Liquid foundation is just too much for the summer heat. Trade it for a light mineral powder, preferably with a high SPF, which will help your facial sunblock protect your delicate face from all the negative effects of the sun. Pureglow Minerals has 9 shades of foundation to choose from. Plus, they come with SPF 25. :) V&M's Liquor in a Pump Lip & Cheek Stains also make great color to complement your features and skin tone. Choose from the available shades: Luscious Tart (this shade will give you a pinkish glow), Cherry Crush (which will give you an orange hint)

9. Get a safe glow!
If you want to get a safe summer tan, find a good sunless tanner and apply it alternately with your face and body moisturizers. This trick will help build a great color and will give you just the perfect healthy glow by the time you hit the beach.

10. Get ready for Sun-baked skin! And Be safe - anyhow!
As in one of our campaigns, Keep Safe. Take Your Emu Oil Everywhere. Apply Emu Oil all over your body after showering and capping the night off in your hotel suite. Our premium Emu oil is great even for the slightest cuts (you might get while surfing or doing your favorite water activities and/or hiking) or for any rash you might just get while you're out and having fun! Heat rash is also common during this time so never let it get in the way of this well-deserved break!


Enjoy this year's summer lovelies. Follow these tips and get the best-looking, most natural and healthiest skin and hair on the beach!

xoxo
Jamie