Simple Tricks to Get Summer-Glowing Skin

The sweltering heat and longer sunny days can mean only one thing: the summer is here. But before you run off to throw on your favorite flirty dress or tank tops and shorts, you want to make sure that your skin is "summer-ready"—let's be honest, dry, flaky skin is oh-so-not attractive. To learn how to give your skin a healthy glow by changing the way you wash your face and using items that can be found in your kitchen or bathroom, continue reading below.



Drink Water. Contrary to what many may believe, the first step to having healthy, clear and glowing summer skin has a lot to do with your diet. While avoiding fatty, greasy foods and replacing them with fresh fruits and vegetables can help prevent oily skin, the real miracle remedy resides with your faucet—water.  This is because water flushes out all of the toxins and pollutants in your body that are absorbed in your skin from the air. If those toxins from your body are not removed via the urinary tract, the toxins will be removed in another way—through the surface of your skin. This is what causes unwanted acne and blemishes. So drink the recommended 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to have radiant skin.

Close Pores. No matter if you scrub your face and body clean 3 to 4 times a day, if you do not close your pores, dirt and oil can easily slip into the crevices of your skin and cause acne. To ensure that this doesn't happen, wash your face with warm water (this opens your pores and allows you to wash away dirt) but then use cold water to remove any remaining soap or residue (cold water will close your pores). To get an extra-smooth and clean face, use coffee filters to penetrate soap deeper into your pores. Not only are coffee filters extra durable and are made to withstand water, but their special semi-abrasive fibers act as scrubbing cloth and removes flaky skin.


Apply Face Mask. While drinking water and closing your pores can help keep your skin clear, applying a face mask can also give your face that desired glow. Using items that can be found in your pantry, try this homemade face mask recipe to rejuvenate your skin.

Honey and Banana Face Mask
· Ingredients: One whole banana, mashed; 2 tablespoons of honey; 1/4 to 1/2 cup of oatmeal, grinded to a fine powder.
· Directions: In a large bowl, mix mashed banana and honey. Add-in oatmeal until the mixture turns into a thick paste. Apply the paste to the face and let stand for 20 minutes. Use a wash cloth to remove the paste. Rinse with warm water, seal with cold water. Pat face dry.


Exfoliate. One of the easiest ways to get radiant skin is to remove dead, dry skin cells from your body by exfoliating. While body scrubs can be expensive, this cheap homemade one is equally as effective (remember to exfoliate before you shave):
· Ingredients: 1/2 cup of your favorite body lotion; ¼ cup of sugar
· Directions: In a large bowl, pour in lotion. Add-in the sugar until the mixture turns into a thick paste. If the mixture is too runny, add more sugar until it creates the right consistency. While in the shower, slather the mixture all over your body, using a circular motion to work it in. Remove with warm water.


Get a Close Shave.  Lastly, to ensure that you have silky smooth and touchable, stubble-free legs you want to make sure that you get a good shave. After exfoliating your legs, soak your legs in a warm bath for a good 5 minutes to prevent razor burn and to open up pores. Then instead of using traditional shaving cream, slather your legs with hair conditioner or olive oil—these products not only moisturize the skin, but also smooth out the hair follicles which help you get a closer shave. Then use a new razor to remove unwanted leg-hair and rinse razor clean between each stroke.



Author Bio:
This guest post is contributed by Leslie Johnson, who writes about health, green living, parenting etc.