How To Cool Down In The Heat – Once & For All

We all know to properly protect our skin and faces from the sun, apply sun protection every few hours, and stay out of the sun during peak hours.

We should also be wearing some sort of SPF every day on our faces to help reduce the UV impact of sun damage, even if its cloudy.

But how else can we protect ourselves from the heat? Summer is coming, and we’re all hoping for some hot weather… but we also need to know how best to cool ourselves when our bodies overheat.

Here are some tips and tricks on how best to instantly cool in the heat, and get some extra protection while we’re at it.

1. Sunscreen stickers

@irisjadesmit Replying to @meexplumbob This sticker changes colour in the sun and reminds you when it’s time to reapply your SPF ☀️👀 When it turns dark purple, you’re exposed to damaging UV. Apply sunscreen on top and it fades clear – meaning you’re protected. As your sunscreen wears off, it slowly turns dark purple again to remind you to reapply. Perfect for anyone (or kids) who forget to reapply sunscreen. Available at @BIG W Australia ♬ original sound – Iris | Beauty Business Founder

No matter the weather, we should be applying sunscreen to our face, but when the UV is exposed, we should also be putting it all over our body. This is common knowledge, but what people may not know is how often we should be reapplying. The 2-hour rule is the recommended reapply time from dermatologists.

While you are enjoying the sun you need to remember that active sun exposure can cause sunburn and using protection helps reduce cancer risks. Sunscreen stickers, also known as UV detection patches, are adhesive dots you place on your skin, somewhere visible, with changing colours to alert you on when to reapply your sunscreen.

When you are in direct sunlight put your sunscreen on the stickers and when they change shade, it indicates your skin is now unprotected. It’s a great and affordable product to help you remember to put on more sunscreen without having to constantly worry about it.

They are even waterproof and some brands offer kid friendly stickers in the shapes of stars and hearts.

2. Face sprays

@rebjane31 Such a necessity for the warmer weather!! Helps cool you down super fast xx☀️🏞️#evian #evianfacialmist #summer #cooldown #hotweather #tips #summertips #lakedistrict #walking #walk #lakedistrictwalks #fyp #foryou #beauty #newproduct #evianwater #beautyproducts #ukweather #uk #fypシ゚viral #foryoupage #fypage ♬ My feelings cant explainnnn – teagan stokes

Keeping your face cool in summer is not just about comfort, but can also help prevent several skin issues cause by the heat. Inflammation, heat rashes and breakouts can all occur when the heat from the sun targets our face. So how can we stop the sun from increasing our temperature, without sitting under shade all day?

One of the best things we can recommend is a facial water mist, or you can mix cleanser with water into a clean spray bottle and leave in the fridge overnight, for a hydrating and refreshing spray during the heat.

Another helpful tip is to rub peaches on your face – yes, we know this sounds strange – but it is actually really helpful to avoid your face becoming too warm. Peaches are packed with helpful nutrients that hydrate and help reduce inflammation. Peaches are roughly 89% water, which helps hydrate and cool the face while also restoring moisture to sun exposed skin.

Just remember to rinse them off afterwards.

3. Cooling towels and face cloths

 

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A post shared by Cool Vise (@coolvise_)

While face cloths are great for taking your makeup off after a long day in an environmentally friendly way, they are also a perfect addition to staying cool in the sun.

The night before you plan to do some sunbathing, place your clean face cloth into the freezer, and when you feel you might be getting too hot, pop the frozen cloth onto your face. For your body, you could also do this with a towel, if you have a freezer big enough. Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen after doing this, as the SPF could be removed.

4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

@riley…carr Best feeling ever #fruitbowl #longdayinthesun #yummyfruit #happygirl #fruitsalad ♬ son original – fabrice

We cannot stress how important it is to stay hydrated this summer. You typically lose fluids rapidly through sweat in the sun, and if you forget to stay hydrated it can lead to serious heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Don’t wait for thirst when it’s hot, have a water bottle on you all the time and ensure you drink more than you think you need. Try eating water-rich foods like cucumber, watermelons and strawberries — you can simply have a lovely fruit salad to make sure you don’t reach dehydration.

You can also try incorporating electrolytes throughout the day, which help replace lost minerals like sodium and potassium.

5. Target your pulse points

 

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A post shared by Dr. Felice Chan (@drfelicechan)

If you’re getting hot and you find yourself in a situation where you don’t have many options to cool down, you can target your pulse points with ice. The most effective spots are your neck, wrists and temples.

By placing an ice cube onto these points and rubbing them for 10-15 seconds you will find instant cooling relief. Chilling these areas sends a cold signal to the brain’s thermostat, which can trick your brain into turning down your internal temperature setting.

Place a special focus on the acupressure point Pericardium 3, a traditional Chinese method to help combat overheating.

Words by Nia Hayden