Beat The Heat!

          

        Hey, Guest Blogger Miriam here! Alright, so I know I’m not alone when I say that we’ve all had those fun-filled beach trips that have left us looking like we were human tomatoes. I am proud to say that you can easily avoid getting a beet-red complexion by following a few simple steps. By following these guidelines, you’ll be completely equipped to beat the heat, and score a healthy tan that will leave everyone totally jelly!

1 .      Sunscreen/Sunblock

              People, I CANNOT stress enough how important sunscreen is to your skin!! It literally saves your skin! We live in a society where a lot of teens neglect applying sunscreen simply because they think that's it's just not that important. Trust me, it's SO important- especially if you're trying to avoid looking like "Po", the red Teletubbie (but if that's your thing, by all means go for it).

Side Note:  The worst thing you can do at the beach is to purposely lie out in the sun trying to get a tan. You don’t need to lie out in the sun to get a tan; let’s get real- you’re at the beach! A tan is inevitable, whether you’re playing beach volleyball or splashing around in the water! Stay active and enjoy your day! Don’t let your skin bake like a cake!

Side Note x 2:  The above was a really long side note.

2 .       Water

         I’ll bet you all saw this one coming! It is absolutely crucial that you stay hydrated while soaking up the sun! Water does this amazing thing where it replenishes all of your body’s cells so that you can function and feel well throughout the day. If you’re one of those people who find the taste of water just a tad boring, adding a slice of citrus to a glass of water gives it the perfect bit of flavour.

3 .       Sunglasses

         These are your excuse to look like the coolest person on the beach…well maybe one of the coolest people. But on a serious note, sunglasses are really important to your eyes. Unlike your skin, you can’t exactly apply sunscreen to your eyes (I once got some in my eyes; it wasn’t the most pleasant experience in the world) to protect them from the sun’s harmful rays. Instead, slide on a pair of shades, and do your retina cells a giant favour- they’ll be thanking you when you’re a senior with 20/20 vision!

              Side Note:  To make sure you don't get the dreaded, "raccoon eye" tan, remember to apply

              sunscreen to your face. Luckily, there are types made specifically for your face.

 

4 .      A Hat

          I love hats! Hats are your secret to looking totally chic, while providing protection for your face and scalp. Surprisingly, the scalp is one of the most popular places that melanoma (skin cancer) is found. Why, you ask? The scalp is not one of the areas of body to which most people would think of applying sunscreen. As a result, the scalp gets more exposure to the sun, than most people would prefer. Thus, it’s very important to protect your scalp by wearing a hat (a wide-brimmed hat is your best bet- it provides maximum surface area protection!) and/or by applying sunscreen that is made especially for the scalp.

          So, I hope you all have learned a thing or two about how to beat the heat at the beach! Remember to stay hydrated, and to not let your skin bake! Have an amazing beach trip this summer! Talk to you people later! Until next time, try not to look like Po!

                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                    - Miriam