Olivia Pellegrini

With the summer heat setting in, there’s more you can do for your skin than simply ducking into the shade (although that’s also viable).  Representatives at lifestyle agency Quinn PR have collectively found 14 little-known skincare tips from spas and lead estheticians. Try experimenting with these for the dog days, or keep them in your back pocket for later use year-round.

Take the pressure off

Esthetician Melissa Miller suggests “apply[ing] facial products to the back of the neck all the way up your hairline.” She spoke for gravity’s impact on the neck’s back half, especially in summer when the hair is up and pressure goes to the neck. Sun exposure tends to break down essential proteins, so when you’re out there try a collagen cream or a scrub before the daily sunscreen.

Lighten things up

Alina Cimpoeru, lead esthetician at The Guerlain Spa, recommends a weekly DIY mask for skin with a lasting glow. Put a few slices of pumpkin in a food processor, and add cinnamon and 2 spoons of yogurt and honey. After exfoliating, apply the mask and cover eyes with cold green tea bags for 20 minutes, to lessen puffiness. This procedure seems simple enough, but is not most people’s go-to and has proven effective. When you’re done, remove the mask with a warm, damp towel.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is one of the more basic elements of skincare. To keep up with the sun, apply the wet side of a watermelon rind on the face. Spa manager and “aloe master” Albert Cruz says that the watermelon’s high water content and lycopene is what makes this trick so effective. Adding moisture, antioxidants, and minerals reduces inflammation in just one step.

Extend a Tan

Need a tan, or want one? Well, have you tried raw carrots? Sibö Rainforest Spa manager Nicole Courrau has indicated that the carotene in the vegetable actually does promote skin coloration, albeit it won’t literally turn you orange. Essentially you can use the antioxidants, to warm up your skin tone and help a tan last longer. Courrau suggests a few servings in your diet for results, so snack frequently!

Summer’s Mist

Skincare expert Meaghan Bowers says to refrigerate a hydrating mist overnight, then keeping it in your purse all day long for refreshed skin. Misting the skin cools and calms the skin, stabilizing it with your environment rather than getting roughened up.

Rasa Spa’s Body Scrub

Revitalize your skin with a combination of sugar, ground coffee, olive oil, and lemon rind, even better if the ingredients are fresh. The scrub energizes the circulatory system while motivating cellular turnover, decreasing cellulite formation and shrinking blood vessels. It’s all you could ask for from a body scrub, so if you have all your ingredients give this a try in July.

Soft Lips

Heal chapped or sunburnt lips with a little sugar and honey. César Sánchez of Kuö Spa says this moisturizer is all it takes for a healthy face and lips: mix two teaspoons of sugar with one teaspoon of honey and use on the face to loosen dead skin cells. Let it sit for a few, then wash with warm water. For sensitive skin, you might use brown sugar and for coarse skin try raw sugar.

Jade Stone Revival

Spa team at Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo’s new Spa Metropole by Givenchy recommends applying eye cream with a jade stone. For ages jade has been known to drain toxins and increase circulation. Try this for refreshed skin.

Heal a burn

Create your own yogurt face mask to heal damaged skin a little faster. David Oyes of The Spa at Conrad Miami recommends a thin layer of (plain!) yogurt on the affected area, until the pain subsides and the skin becomes cooler. When ready, rinse for 5-10 minutes with cool to lukewarm water. Failsafe and efficient, this trick is good for anyone with yogurt and a burn to heal.

Spa Day Hack

When at the spa, it’s easy to try the first treatment a professional offers. In the summer months, however, avoid the stronger and more chemically-based peels. Zaharenia Victorios, lead esthetician at Carlyle Hotel’s Sisley Spa has said these services can accentuate the pigmentation guests are aiming to treat. A little counterintuitive, opt for the gentler treatments instead.

Embracing oils

Spa director Megan Linney recommends pampering yourself with a skin oil. Remove makeup, sweat and debris from the skin and then follow with a standard cleanser for a clean and healthy face.

Spa team at Key West spa Al Mare recommends submerging a washcloth with peppermint or lavender oils, then rolling and freezing for two hours. Hold the washcloth on sunburned or damaged areas and back of neck. This will relieve the skin and bring the body temperature down. Follow with liberally applied coconut oil.

A Fresher Look

It’s so important to rinse the body with fresh water after a day out in the sun. Make sure to wash off and thus remove chlorine and salt. Spa director Frank Garcia says those who don’t do this are prone to rapidly drying skin. All the more reason to clean off after a day at the beach.

Soothing the skin

Wellness expert Sienna Creasy shares her strategy of fighting sun-induced signs of aging. Take the jelly from a coconut and blend with plain yogurt. Wait a bit and apply directly to the skin for a soothing effect. Lactic acid from the yogurt gently exfoliates, reversing damage and fine lines. This trick, along with the others, will ensure that your skin’s summer is just as good as yours!