Spa secret to total radiance
The easy key to looking and feeling fabulous during the dog days of summer? Facial mists! “A few spritzes of a skinnourishing spray can soothe, repair and rejuvenate in no time,” says aesthetician-to-thestars Ildi Pekar. Here, three DIY recipes to enhance your glow!
Red and splotchy?
Lavender + aloe
Scorching heat causes blood vessels in the face to expand, exacerbating any redness already there from the sun or rosacea. To the rescue: lavender oil and aloe! The oil’s phytochemicals (linalool and ester linalyl acetate) constrict blood vessels to ease redness, says Pekar. “And anti-inflammatory aloe instantly calms irritation.”
TO DO: In a spray bottle, mix 1⁄3 cup of water, 2 tsp. of aloe vera gel and 4 drops of lavender oil; refrigerate. Spritz onto skin in the morning and throughout the day for a refresher.
Dry skin? Rosewater + vitamin E
Hydration-sapping heat can leave skin super parched. Pekar’s fix? A mix of rosewater and vitamin E. “Rosewater’s fatty acids lock in moisture,” she explains. “And vitamin E, an antioxidant-rich humectant, deeply penetrates skin to boost hydration and fend off free radicals for a youthful glow.” TO DO: In a spray bottle, mix 1⁄2 cup of rosewater (like Heritage Store
Rose Petals Rosewater, $7 for 8 oz., iHerb.com) and the gel from an E capsule; refrigerate. Spritz on in the am and during the day for a refresher.
Dark spots? Lemon + frankincense
“Overexposure to the sun puts the production of melanin (skin’s pigment) into overdrive, resulting in hyperpigmentation,” says Pekar.
That explains why sun spots get more noticeable each year. But a daily spritz of a lemon and frankincense mix can fade spots in two weeks. “Lemon juice’s citric acid lightens spots while its vitamin C brightens complexion and halts melanin overproduction to keep new spots from forming,” Pekar explains. And frankincense oil increases cell turnover, encouraging new cell growth to further diminish discoloration. Tip: Apply SPF after use since citric acid can increase skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
TO DO: In a spray bottle, mix 1⁄2 cup of water, 1 Tbs. of lemon juice and 3 drops of frankincense oil (like Nature’s Truth Frankincense Essential Oil, $7 for 15 ml, Walgreens.com); refrigerate. Mist onto skin twice a day—once in the morning and again at night.