The first step to any skincare routine is always to cleanse, and first among the queen of cleansers is surely Eve Lom. Eve Lom’s cleanser formula will leave your skin feeling incredibly smooth and fresh, and even cuts out the need for other products such as toners and foundation in your skin routine. In fact, you could do a lot worse than going to Eve Lom for most of your facial skincare needs: the successful cleanser range has broadened out to include moisturisers, eye creams, masks and many others.

Aesop skincare formulas are great if you’re particularly interested in botanical solutions, free of unnatural compounds. Aesop products cover a full range of skin treatments, not just facial creams but body balms and cleansers, deodorants and more besides.

And it’s always worth thinking about the future. You’re never too young or old to use an anti-ageing cream to maintain the long-term quality of your skin. Perricone MD is the official beauty range of Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a published dermatologist and expert on curing wrinkles. Perricone products aren’t just preventative: they also correct and repair wrinkles and other features of ageing.

If you make these changes to your skincare routine, you can then make far more easy and cheaper changes to your lifestyle to see truly transforming changes. 8 hours of sleep, chicken instead of red meat, drink water regularly and have at least half an hour of daily exercise.

Summer is officially in full swing and with it comes cute shorts, hot weather and hopefully some time spent at the nearest pool, beach or lake. However, all that summer fun can unfortunately give our skin and hair a beating. Beauty treatments from spas can help, but usually cost a lot of money, which isn’t ideal for most college students.

That’s why I compiled a list of some do-it-yourself beauty treatments that can keep you looking your best all summer long. The best part? They’re inexpensive and all-natural.

Face

• It’s important to stick with a strict skin routine- even during the summer. I recommend using a mask once a week to revitalize the skin. There are tons of recipes out there for DIY facials, but my favorite involves combining one egg yolk, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt and 1/2 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil. Just leave the mixture on your face for 10 minutes and rinse it off. It’s a great mask for most skin types.
• For oily or acne-prone skin, try a mask that will help soothe the skin. Take one ripe banana and blend it with 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Leave on for 15 minutes.
• If you have dry skin, mix half of a mashed avocado with 1/4 cup of honey for a mask that will add tons of moisture to your face. Leave on for 10 minutes.
• Sliced strawberries, grapes and cucumbers act as natural toners to tighten skin and shrink pores. Just rub the slices over your skin after cleansing. Oily skin? Try sliced lemons to reduce shine.
• For a simple exfoliator, blend together 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of honey and 1/2 cup of sugar. This is a perfect scrub for the face because it gets rid of dead skin cells and re-hydrates the skin at the same time. You should use this 1 to 3 times a week depending on how sensitive your skin is.

Body

• Have some milk in your fridge that’s about to expire? Add it to a bath along with a few drops of extra virgin olive oil. Milk is a natural moisturizer that can do wonders for your skin and the olive oil will make skin super soft. You can also add the milk/olive oil combo in a bowl with warm water to soak your hands or feet before giving yourself a DIY manicure or pedicure.
• Exfoliating is important, especially if you want to try a self-tanner this summer. You can use the same sugar scrub from above on your whole body, but if you want something different try a salt scrub. Combine 1 cup of salt with 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil. Add a few drops of an essential oil in your favorite scent or get creative by adding the zest of an orange or lemon for a fresh and citrus-infused smell.
• Although we’re big advocates of sunscreen here at CF, sometimes the inevitable happens: the dreaded sunburn. While aloe gels and lotions can be a lifesaver, they’re are more natural ways to relieve a sunburn. You could buy the real deal- an aloe plant- or add a tablespoon of baking soda into a quart of cool water. If you want to try the latter, just use a washcloth to apply it to the sunburned areas. Also, you can help prevent peeling by applying vinegar to the skin.

Hair

• For an easy and natural deep conditioner, blend 1/4 cup of plain yogurt, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise and the whites from one egg. Cover your hair with the mixture (run a wide tooth comb through your hair to make sure it’s evenly dispersed) and leave in for 30 minutes before rinsing it out. This will reverse dry and damaged hair.
• Get rid of product build-up by mixing a small amount of baking soda in with your shampoo. This will clarify your hair and can make it more manageable over time.
• Want to lighten up your hair but don’t have the money for highlights? Dilute 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice with 1/4 cup of water. Put the mixture in your hair and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. If you can, sit outside in the sun to help lighten the hair- but don’t forget the SPF! Are red tones more your style? Do the same thing, but use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice.

What do you think?

Are you a fan of DIY beauty? Do you want to try any of these beauty treatments? Do you have a favorite DIY treatment that isn’t here? Let us know and be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts!

Now that the spring semester is over and summer is in full swing, most of us couldn’t think of anything better than laying out all day long by the beach or pool while the sun’s warm rays turn our skin a lovely shade of bronze. Summer weather is perfect for other outdoor activities as well, such as picnicking in the park or attending outdoor music festivals.

But as tempting as it is to spend loads of time outdoors absorbing the sun, there are some things you should know before you cause serious damage to your skin. A tan may make you look nice now, but it can be life-threatening in the future. But don’t worry: you don’t have to sacrifice being tan to protect yourself. You can have both! Read on for the info you need to know, as well as tips on protecting your skin while still looking gorgeously bronzed.

1. Sun Facts

• ANY visible tan on your skin that differs from your natural skin color is sun damage; the deeper the color, the worse the damage.
• All skin colors are susceptible to skin cancer, not just fair skin.
• Most skin cancer is caused by sun damage that occurred before the age of 20.
• You can get melanoma on your scalp.
• Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults, and can often be deadly.
  
• The sun doesn’t just damage your skin: it can cause numerous eye problems, such as cataracts and pteryguim.
  
• 90% of fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots on skin are caused by sun damage and could have been prevented.

Scary, right? And those are just a few of the facts. For more information on skin cancer, check out the American Academy of Dermatology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – both are excellent resources that are worth reading.

2. How to Protect Yourself

• Apply sunscreen every day, even in the wintertime. (Shape Magazine has a great guide on how to choose the right sunblock, if you need help.) Remember to reapply every two hours, especially if you are swimming or sweating.
• When choosing a sunblock, make sure to choose one that has UVA or Broad Spectrum protection, because if it doesn’t, then it may only protect you from UVB rays.
• Never, never, NEVER!!!! go into a tanning bed. Really, just don’t. Despite what the salon owners may try to tell you, there is NO such thing as a safe tan!! Just last year, tanning beds were officially added to the highest-risk category on the list of top cancer-causers, right up there with cigarettes, mustard gas, and arsenic. Stay away!!
• Buy a daily moisturizer for your face that contains an SPF of at least 15. The skin on your face is more sensitive to sun damage than the rest of your body. These moisturizers are made by almost any brand that you can find in drugstores, such as Clean and Clear or Neutrogena.
• Give your scalp, face, and eyes extra protection by wearing a hat and sunglasses. Not only do these accessories provide protection, but they can be quite fashionable as well:

Hats: Classic Straw Wide Brim Hat- Luxury Divas, Pink Wide Brim Hat- Shop Ruche, Chain Floppy Hat- Top Shop, Black and White Striped Hat- Buy.com, Green Fedora- Target, Microbrim Hat- Kohl’s

Sunglasses: Aviators- ASOS, Retro Vintage Shades- Goggles and Glasses, Metal Round Glasses- Top Shop, Printed Sunglasses- PacSun, Spitfire Round Lense Glasses- ASOS, Cateye Sunglasses- Top Shop, Pastel Retro Glasses- ASOS

• Try to avoid being in direct sunlight from 10 AM to 4 PM, when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
• Choose clothing made of thick material or dark colors, because these fabrics contain a higher SPF than lightweight, light colored cloth. Alternatively, you can wash your clothes with Sun Guard, which gives clothes an Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 30.

3. Don’t Sacrifice a Great Tan

If you really are set on getting bronzed skin for the summer, don’t fret. There are plenty of affordable products out on the market today that give you natural looking tans without the damaging affects of the sun. I personally love using moisturizing lotion that gives a gradual tan, because it’s convenient to use after a shower and it doesn’t leave streaks. My three favorites are:

• Jergens Natural Glow (which has recently updated the formula so the smell is no longer as pungent)
• Coppertone Gradual Tan (which dries super fast)
• Neutrogena Color Boosting Sunblock (which contains SPF 30!)

If you need a tan ASAP and don’t have time for a gradual tan, there are many options that show results right away, such as L’Oreal Sublime Bronze One Day Tinted Gel or Neutrogena Micromist Tanning Sunless Spray, but these are a little tricky to apply. We wrote a guide to getting the best sunless tan a little while back that will give you tips! For more info, Shape Magazine’s guide is great as well. You also have the option of going to a tanning salon or spa and getting a spray tan. These look great, but they may be a bit pricey. For your face, bronzer works best; sunless tanning lotions tend to make your face greasy.

4. Reverse Sun Damage

It’s never too late to start protecting yourself from the sun. Be sure to use the protection tips above, because not only will they prevent further damage, but they may also reverse some of the damage that has already been done.

You can also reverse sun damage by eating foods rich in antioxidants and using products on your face that contain vitamins and antioxidants, which neutralize harmful toxins. One example would be the Olay Reginerist product line.

Although a bit expensive, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion is a sunblock that contains antioxidants for super defense against the sun.

Thoughts?

How do you protect yourself from the sun? Do you have any tips on sun damage prevention? What are your favorite sunless tanners? Sunblocks? I want to know what all of you think, so be sure to leave a comment!