If you’re looking to enhance your skin's natural glow this Summer, we’ve tapped spa experts for insider advice! And no, it’s not your typical “wear sunscreen” type of advice – but 14 little-known tips beyond the norm!
Consider Gravity: “Apply your facial products to the back of the neck all the way up your hairline,” says Melissa Miller, lead esthetician at Well & Being Spa at The Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas at Las Colinas. “Gravity affects that area too, especially with hair up and sun exposure breaking down collagen and elastin. Applying products to the back side of the neck will help prevent sagging in the front and should be treated as an extension of that area."
DIY Brightening: Alina Cimpoeru, lead esthetician at The Guerlain Spa at The Plaza Hotel, recommends a DIY mask once a week for skin that glows brighter than the sun. Simply put few slices of pumpkin in a food processor, add cinnamon and 2 spoons of yogurt and honey. After exfoliating, apply the mask and cover the eyes with cold green tea bags (to reduce puffiness) for 20 minutes. Remove the mask with a warm, damp towel.
Rind Hydration:For ultimate hydration, rub the wet side of a watermelon rind on the face, says Albert Cruz, spa manager of eforea spa at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Beach Resort & Casino. Because of its high water content and lycopene, watermelon is highly moisturizing and rich in antioxidants and minerals, resulting in reduced inflammation from the sun.
Extend A Tan: “To extend your summer tan, incorporate raw carrots into your snack routine,” says Nicole Courrau, spa manager of Sibö Rainforest, Spa & Retreat at Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort. “Carrots contain a very potent antioxidant called carotene that promotes the coloration of the skin, and when you have several servings in your diet, it warms up your natural skin tone to help your tan last longer.”
Summer’s Mist: “Keep a hydrating mist in the refrigerator overnight and pop it in your purse in the morning for refreshed skin all day long,” says Meagan Bowers, lead esthetician at Well & Being Spa at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Misting the skin throughout the day will cool it off and balance nature’s harsh elements by keeping it quenched and calm.”
Bikini Body Scrub: The Finger Lakes based Rasa Spa recommends reducing cellulite with an at-home body scrub using olive oil, ground coffee, sugar, and fresh lemon rind. The combination invigorates the circulatory system and encourages cellular turnover, decreasing the formation of cellulite while simultaneously tightening and shrinking blood vessels.
Soft Lips: “For sunburnt or chapped lips in the summer, mixing sugar with honey is a great moisturizer that helps heal them quickly, “ says César Sánchez, spa manager for Kuö Spa at Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose. Mix two teaspoons of sugar with one teaspoon of honey and rub the paste gently on the face and lips to loosen the dead skin cells. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.
Stone Service: The spa team at Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo’s new Spa Metropole by Givenchy recommends applying eye cream with a jade stone. An ancient beauty ritual, jade is known to drain toxins from the body and increase blood circulation, leaving skin looking and feeling sunny and refreshed.
Sunburn Healer: Make a homemade yogurt face mask to heal sunburned, damaged skin faster, recommends David Oves, spa manager at The Spa at Conrad Miami. Place a thin layer of plain yogurt on the affected area (body or face) as a mask. Leave on the skin until the pain subsides and skin feels cooler. When ready, rinse off for 5 to 10 minutes with cold to lukewarm water.
Spa Day Hack: When spending an afternoon at the spa, avoid stronger peels during the summer months (i.e. chemical peels, microdermabrasion, etc.) says Zaharenia Victoros, lead esthetician at The Sisley Spa at The Carlyle Hotel, as they can accentuate the pigmentation guests are trying to treat. Instead, opt for gentler and more indulgent facial services during the summer season.
Embrace Oils: A cleansing oil is a pampering, luxurious self-care treatment that also removes makeup, summertime sweat and debris from the skin, says Megan Linney, spa director at The Spa at Red Rock by Well & Being. After applying an oil to the face and neck, follow with a more traditional cleanser for clean and healthy skin.
Cool Irritated Skin: For travelers who have spent too much time in the Key West sun, the spa team at Casa Marina and The Reach’s Spa Al Mare recommends submerging a washcloth into a water bowl with lavender or peppermint essential oils, tightly rolling and freezing for two hours. Hold washcloth on sunburned areas and back of neck to bring body temperature down and relieve skin. Follow by liberally applying coconut oil.
Fresh Water “Refresh”: One of the most important things to do after sunbathing is to rinse your body with fresh water to remove salt and/or chlorine from the skin, says Frank Garcia, spa director at Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach, as these two elements will dry the skin quickly.
Stop the Clock: Jamaica’s Jewel Resort Radiant Spa resident wellness expert Sienna Creasy recommends taking advantage of her favorite island ingredient – the coconut – to fight signs of aging caused by the sun. Take the jelly from a whole green coconut and blend with natural plain yogurt. Once the mask firms up, apply directly to skin for a soothing effect. The yogurt’s lactic acid gently exfoliates the skin, reversing damage and fine lines.
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A GIRL'S GOTTA SPA!® began in 2005 as a beauty blog. Here you'll find informative reviews and helpful articles.
