5 Simple Tips For Great Summer Skin

Summertime is upon us, and our skin sometimes takes a beating from generous sun exposure, humidity, chlorine and salt water. Here are my top five tips for glowing, radiant skin for summertime and all year long!

1. Exfoliate.

Dry brushing is your skin’s best friend. A daily self-massage with a body brush before a shower promotes exfoliation, reduction of cellulite, and stimulates the lymphatic system, boosting immune function. Remember always to stroke towards your heart in small, circular motions. Shower afterward so you can wash off all the dead skin you rake off. My go-to natural scrub is a DIY mixture of organic raw honey, Himalayan sea salt, jojoba oil, and essential oils of lavender, rose, and sandalwood. Choose essential oils of your preference and scrub from head to toe each day to remove dead skin and promote smooth, radiant, even skin.

2. Moisturize.

After exfoliating and taking a refreshing shower, moisturize with a chemical-free lotion or body oil. The skin is the body’s largest organ and takes in 60% of what you put on it, so why put anything other than pure, organic love on your body? My favorite summertime indulgence is massaging my body in pure virgin cold-pressed coconut oil after a shower or bath. I love smelling like summer, and the glow from coconut oil is simply beautiful. If you tend to have very oily skin, avoid your face and scalp. Otherwise, go for it! Coconut oil is my favorite after-sun remedy and is highly effective for treating sunburn. Mix with some pure aloe vera gel, and your burn will heal into a lovely golden glow.

3. Sweat.

Whether it's on your yoga mat, a hike, a run, a cycle, or a swim, regular exercise brightens your complexion and improves the health of your skin. Movement stimulates the lymphatic system, which carries away waste products from your cells. If you're into yoga, focus on inversions such as headstand and shoulder stand to increase blood flow to the face and enhance lymphatic drainage.

4. Breathe.

This may be the simplest beauty routine of all! If you’ve ever been in my yoga classes, you’ve heard me say this: “Deep inhale … deep exhale …" Well, one of the many reasons for this easy reminder is that breathing deeply and fully allows carbon dioxide to release from the lungs on the exhalations and allow the lungs to draw in more oxygen on the inhalation. This is why yoga alkalizes the body and prevents inflammation in the skin, as well as the immune and digestive systems!

5. Hydrate.

Aloe vera is my favorite supplement for promoting healthy skin. Remember to steer clear of the brightly colored aloe drinks you see in most conventional supermarkets, as these beverages contain a cocktail of artificial colorings, flavors, and preservatives. I also love making a simple refreshing cucumber-mint water and toting it around all day with me in my water bottle. Cucumber and mint are cooling and pacify inflammation.