So that summer rhymes with well-being

Meals, outings, sunbathing, festive friendships; but also rest, sport, well-being and balance. In July and August, contradictory injunctions and desires multiply. So how can you do yourself some good without forcing yourself to a monastic summer? How can you enjoy your loved ones, but also yourself? A review of the good reflexes to have a great summer, in the full sense of the word!

Refocus on your real needs and take time for yourself: when summer arrives, the good resolutions are there. But at the end of it, the feeling of having given in to many temptations without having managed to really rebalance ourselves often dominates!

Getting ready to fully experience your summer beauty

To avoid these regrets, a reflex is essential: prepare your summer in advance. Set goals, define a program, draw up a list of your own desires. With moderation, however: do not impose fixed rules in advance to be applied rigidly throughout your few weeks of vacation. No, just establish principles that will be useful reminders for our well-being when the whirlwind of summer is in full swing!

The concept of "holistic beauty" is the second key point of summer well-being. It is not just about considering one's beauty in a plastic way, but about reasoning in a global way by associating everything that can contribute to increasing our balance: care naturally, but also and above all our lifestyle, our physical activity, our diet, and more broadly everything that helps us feel good about ourselves and with others. The summer period is particularly conducive to this search for true beauty, both internal and external.

Body and facial care adapted to the rhythm of summer

This quest begins with good cosmetic products and a skincare routine adapted to the sun and higher temperatures. Before leaving, it may be necessary to prepare your skin by exfoliating it with circular massages starting from the bottom and going up to the top of the body and face. During the holidays, we will naturally avoid excessive exposure during the hottest hours of the day, and we will always protect our skin by regularly applying a high-factor sunscreen (50 for light to dark skin). The most cautious will wear a hat, a cap, or take shelter under a parasol.

For the rest, we will easily grant ourselves some beneficial moments in our bathroom: start by cleaning the skin well, continue with moisturizing with a cream rich in hyaluronic acid, avoid oils that do not mix well with the sun, and finish if you can with a self-massage of the skin. Without forgetting a real after-sun to recharge the skin with vitamin E and enzymes !

Seasonal nutrition and hydration

Drink, drink and drink again, water of course! Two liters per day in the middle of summer, and preferably at room temperature (because contrary to popular belief, water that is too cold forces the body to warm it up to adapt it to our body temperature).

As for food, we will favor seasonal fruits and vegetables. Nature being well made, those of the summer are naturally rich in water: tomatoes, watermelons, melons ... We will also move towards foods rich in beta-carotene . In addition to their taste, they have antioxidant properties that help the skin to protect itself from the sun. Identifying them is simple: they are generally orange (carrots, apricots, mangoes, pumpkins), red (peppers and tomatoes) or green (lettuce, spinach ...). Of course, cold soups, mixed salads, grilled vegetables, fresh fish and white meats will always be preferable to the fateful barbecues, salty appetizers and other cold meats of the summer. And to be completely complete, a little boost of food supplements rich in vitamins C and E , antioxidants and beta-carotene will always be welcome.

A lifestyle that is as respectful as possible of our body

By healthy living, we are covering an extremely broad field that begins with rest and quality of sleep. We can never repeat it enough, but they are essential for our fitness and our mood. An eight-hour night, a short nap or a quiet moment after lunch are highly recommended!

Another key point: physical activity. Some will prefer walking (target 8 to 10,000 steps, or 30 minutes per day); others will be fans of more intense efforts with jogging, swimming or any other slightly cardio sport; still others will turn to more meditative practices, yoga in particular. It can also be the time to take up activities that we have always wanted to try without ever really taking the time: hiking, mountain biking, kitesurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, horse riding, or any other practice to do alone or with others! The important thing is to move and avoid excess (parties, alcohol, hearty meals, sun) ... without forbidding ourselves from using them in moderation. The vitamin E from the sun is good for morale, and what would a summer be without dancing, music, or a few drinks here and there?!

Because to conclude, it is obvious that summer vacations are first and foremost a happy and festive time that we like to share with our loved ones. The question is not to deprive ourselves of it, quite the contrary. But summer must also be this necessary moment of pause where we reconnect with ourselves, and only with ourselves. Reading, music, drawing, strolling, massages, baths or any other personal time will be precious allies to find this "self-care" too often neglected during the year, and yet so necessary for our beauty!

The essentials for a truly invigorating summer

Non-exhaustive advice, to be consumed freely and without moderation.

Take advantage of natural light at the best times: before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
Get enough sleep, get up early, take a nap instead of sleeping in.
Drink regularly, between 1.5 and 2 liters of water per day at room temperature.
Prioritize healthy eating: fruit juices, salads, seasonal vegetables, home-prepared meals.
Consume antioxidants: fruits and vegetables, fresh or dried berries (goji, blueberries, blackcurrants, etc.), sprouted seeds, green tea.
Reduce sugars, coffee, sodas, cigarettes, alcohol!
Take some time for yourself: reading, music, drawing, relaxing…
Move, practice regular physical activity that keeps your cardio in shape: walking, cycling, swimming, jogging, etc.
Practice meditation and yoga for those who can/wish to.
Adapt your skincare routine: sun creams and after-sun creams, cleansing and moisturizing the skin, less makeup, etc.
Treat yourself: go to the sauna, get a massage, walk barefoot in the sand or in the morning dew.