My Summer Must-Haves: Head to Toe!
I consider myself to be a skincare minimalist.
I do not have a robust collection of lotions and potions that I use in rotation, and for me, that works! My skin is very sensitive and reactive, I am very ingredient-conscious, and honestly, I'm budget conscious as well. When I select products that go into my daily rotation, each product is vigorously evaluated, and if it doesn't make the cut for one of the three aforementioned reasons, it's ruthlessly culled.
My routine changes (albeit only slightly) through the seasons as the weather shifts, so I'm sharing what works for me! Your skin is undoubtedly different from mine, but sometimes it's surprising how similar our needs are, especially when taking a simple, wholesome and (mostly) natural approach to skincare.
Lip Butter: This one is really a year-round must for me. It shields the lips from any harsh weather and keeps everything supple and soft, as it should be. I actually just wrote a pretty detailed post about this product, so if you love a good lip balm, check out this blog post.
One day, I'll have to photograph the process of making these lip balms to share here. Perhaps, it'll be sooner rather than later, as I need to restock beeswax from our local apiary, and that's always a really labor-intensive (but kinda cool) purification process. I will definitely need to share that with y'all.
Conditioner Bar: The shampoo bar is also good and necessary, naturally, but in summer, the conditioner is the real champion! Pool water, salt water, and sun can really REALLY parch your strands. Parched strands tangle, split, and fray, and we don't want that. During summer, I maintain my regular shampoo schedule of about 2-3 times a week, but I use a conditioner almost every day just to restore precious moisture to my hair. Almost daily conditioning combined with protective styling (braids for me) helps to keep my hair in the best shape possible during the summer months.
Castor Oil: I cannot stress enough to you how much you need castor oil in your skincare routine. It's great for every skin type! I use it both as a cleanser and a moisturizer in summer.
To cleanse with oil, massage a good amount into dry skin and allow it to rest for 5 minutes or so. This will dissolve any makeup or SPF on your skin; it's an astringent oil, so it pulls everything out of your pores as well. Once it rests for those few minutes, wipe everything away with a warm washcloth, then use your regular foaming cleanser to wash away all of the oil and impurities.
To moisturize with castor oil, remember, a little goes a long way! I usually do my cleansing routine, then while my skin is still damp, I pat ONE small pump (two drops or so) of castor oil into my face and neck. If your skin dries before you get the chance to apply the oil, you can spritz your face with rose water before applying the oil. Do not apply as a moisturizer to dry skin, it'll just slide around or sit on top of the skin (no thanks). Generally, this oil should be used as a night time moisturizer.
I do not currently sell castor oil or any oils, but you can snag an inexpensive bottle from any supplier of carrier oils/skincare oils.
Body Lotion: I will say, I don't use lotion much during the summer as an all-over moisturizer. With our humidity, it's just too sticky. I do, however, still consider it to be a must-have for my hands and feet. I'm a gardener and an outside baby, but I don't want troll hands and feet - ha!
I've considered trying out body oil as a summer moisturizer. If I like it, maybe it'll be on next year's summer must-have list!
Pure Olive Oil Soap: This is my hands-down favorite cleanser for my face. It is sooo so gentle, but does a wonderful job of cleaning my super sensitive and often dry face. This year's batch is ready, so get you a bar while they're around; they really don't last long! If you've never tried pure olive oil soap and want to learn more about it, just click the product link above, and read the description!
A Good Natural Deodorant: I do not make deodorant, nor will I, but it is absolutely a summer must-have for obvious reasons! I've linked my summer deodorant above. I really enjoy Humble brand natural deodorants, but I do find that I have to use a stronger scented one in summer. Right now I'm using the Frankincense and Palo Santo fragrance, and it holds up well even when I'm sweating profusely in this southeast Georgia heat. I usually pick mine up in-store at Paris Laundry or buy directly from the brand.
I encourage you to RESIST the urge to pick this up on Amazon or in TJ Maxx or wherever else you may find it for cheap - they're cheap for a reason. I bought a tube from one of the above once and suffered the most terrible burning rash I've experienced in years. I don't know if it was expired or what, but I can tell you I've never had issues buying from Paris Laundry or directly from Humble.
Feminine Wash: Again, for obvious reasons! This is a staple year-round, ESPECIALLY, in summer. Read all about in this blog post!
Well, there you have it! I plan to do a giveaway on Facebook of all of these products, so make sure you're following there! I'll send out an email as well to let y'all know. As always, I encourage you to subscribe to emails, as that's my preferred and most consistent form of communicating with my customers!
As I get older, I find that I'm becoming more crotchety and less inclined to tolerate much social media. Even using it just for business is a tiresome time-suck, but I digress! Keep a weather eye out for that giveaway in August!
I appreciate y'all just so much, and I cannot express how grateful I am for your continued support of my little business. Every dollar you spend with a small, handmade business is a vote cast in favor of craftsmanship in a world that favors mass-production, and your support never goes unnoticed here!
Talk soon