Summertime often means pool parties, picnics and shorts, all things that can sound daunting if you have spent your summer in an office and not outside basking in the sunshine. With the holiday weekend soon approaching, many of us are finding our skin to less than swimsuit-ready. If you would like to get the look of golden skin without the damage that can come from sun rays, here are four simple steps to attaining the perfect sunless tan:

Continue reading: Four Steps to a Perfect Faux-Glow and a Giveaway! *CLOSED

We have all (or most of us) experienced how dry skin can become in the winter, and unfortunately summertime can be just as dehydrating. This is especially true when cities are hit by heatwaves such as the one that has been lingering around the midwest over the past several weeks, delivering temperatures in the hundreds. When the air is dry and desert-like it can leave skin tight, itchy and flaky, none of which are flattering ways for skin to be/feel.

Luckily there are several ways to keep skin from being overly parched. A very common mistake people make in the summer is spending far to much time in the water, be it your pool or your shower. Prolonged exposure to chemicals in home and public pools can be extremely drying and the same goes for super hot showers. By limiting your pool time and taking warm (the cooler the better but it does not have to be cold) showers you can help retain skin’s natural moisture. It also helps to use a non-drying soap in the shower such as Aveeno Moisturizing Bar, a fragrance-free cleansing bar that contains oatmeal, a natural skin moisturizer. Exfoliating is also a great way to eliminate cracked, flaking skin.

Continue reading: Why So Dry?

Melasma, literally meaning dark skin, is most commonly known as the “mask of pregnancy,” an area of hyperpigmentation that shows up across the face of more than half of all pregnant women. But you don’t even have to be pregnant (or female) to develop this skin condition. Increased estrogen (from pregnancy, birth control pills, estrogen supplements or other hormone sensitivities) trigger pigment producing cells called melanocytes to produce too much melanin, resulting in patchy skin discolorations.

Continue reading: Lose the “Mask” — Dealing with Melasma

You’ve probably heard over and over how important it is to exfoliate your skin. Why is it so important? Exfoliation can help maintain your skin’s healthy glow and prevent acne and other blemishes. The epidermis is composed of around 30 layers of cells stacked upon each other like bricks. Like a brick wall, an intercellular “cement” runs between them like glue, and between the cells are microscopic fibers that anchor them together. Daily epidermal cells are invisibly shed through the body’s natural means of exfoliation. But dead skin cells can build up, and our bodies need help freeing the skin’s surface of these cells and other clogging debris that can cause blemishes. Poor exfoliation practices and plugging beneath the skin’s surface can lead to acne, blackheads and even large-looking pores.

Continue reading: Exfoliate Your Way to Healthier, More Radiant Skin