5 Handy Life Hacks for a Breezier Summer

Despite the June gloom we’ve been experiencing in LA lately, I definitely feel the heat of the new season coming! While I can’t wait for summer and tanning on my swan floatie for days (which I finally purchased… was supposed to arrive last Friday but the estimated delivery date got postponed to tomorrow! Grrrr!), I’m also mentally preparing for how I’m going to survive the heat. Like anyone else, I absolutely hate feeling fatigued due to heat or gross due to sweat. Looking to stay as comfortable as possible this summer? Check out these life hacks that have been extremely handy for me! 🙂

WASH YOUR MAKE-UP BRUSHES WITH BABY SHAMPOO.

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to make-up, I like to keep things pretty simple in summer. In fact, I tend to wear less make-up in fear of it getting cake-y or smeary somehow from sweat and all that nasty jazz. Thinking about it actually makes me cringe. However, when I have time throughout the day, I definitely touch up my make-up with brushes. Using initially clean brushes to touch up sweaty skin day after day can get gross. Luckily, there’s an easy solution: Simply use warm water and some baby shampoo to get rid of all the build-up. Then, let them dry overnight.

I don’t wear make-up everyday, but I do try to wash them at least once if not twice a week, and it has helped to reduce breakouts tremendously (and I just feel a lot cleaner)! There are a plethora of make-up brush cleaners out there but I feel like baby shampoo does the trick at a fraction of the price. Plus, because it doesn’t irritate the eyes, it makes a great make-up remover overall too. Versatility always wins in my book.

OUT OF OIL BLOTTING SHEETS? NO PROBLEM. USE TOILET SEAT COVERS!

Oil build-up on the face is literally inevitable on a typical hot summer day here in LA. With that said, oil blotting sheets can really be a godsend to keep my face looking fresh and vibrant all day long. The only problem is, I’m not particularly good at keeping my oil blotting sheets well-stocked in my purse. Recently, I’ve learned that toilet seat covers (as weird as it sounds) is made of a similar, if not same type of material as oil blotting sheets. Since discovering this, I always be sure to take advantage of this unintentional luxury when visiting public bathrooms. Call me crazy all you want, but it works!

FRUIT + WATER + ICE = HEALTHY, DELICIOUS, & COOLING

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s definitely a reminder-worthy of a “life hack.” Dehydration is never fun, especially when temperatures peak. I would know, because I instantly get horrible headaches if I don’t drink enough water in a day. Not only that, I’ll also find myself breaking out and getting the much-dreaded scaly, peeling dry skin. When it comes to drinking water, I love getting creative and using citrus and other fruits to spice things up. Fruit water always tastes better, does a great job at quenching thirst, and is a wonderful alternative to sugary juices.

COCONUT OIL IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

In addition to staying internally hydrated, it’s important to take care of your skin and protect it from harsh weather conditions. I love extra virgin coconut oil all year round, but especially in summer. Coconut oil has sun protection properties (not to be replaced by sunscreen though, of course) and is a great moisturizing agent. To achieve a great long-lasting tan (real or fake), it’s important that your skin is always moisturized so that the pigment is even throughout your body. I’ve had my fair share of bad tanning experiences and find that by using coconut oil before and after tanning, I get much better end results.

GOT A SHRUNKEN DRESS OR ROMPER? USE IT AS A COVER-UP.

Before you donate or throw out that cute dress or romper that you accidentally shrunk in the wash somehow, consider using it as a cover-up over swimwear! It’s the perfect way to repurpose something that you still love dearly even if it may not fit the same way it did when you first bought it. Because there’s no such thing as wearing something too short or revealing at the beach, right? 😉

Do you know of any life hacks that would come in handy this summer? I’d love to hear them!