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British summer time officially starts on the last Sunday in March – this is when the clocks go forward. It doesn’t always feel particularly like a summer’s day in March though! Hopefully the sun is just around the corner, and we can start thinking about holidays, BBQs, and ice cream! The question is, when should you start preparing for summer? You may usually wait until June to begin really thinking about summer, but why not get ahead of the curve!
So if you want to get ready for summer, we’ve explored eight different things you can start doing now. That way, when summer actually arrives, you’ll be completely sorted!
When was the last time that you cleared out your kitchen cupboards? You probably have no idea what’s lurking in the back, or just how old some of your herbs and spices are! Go through your cupboards and chuck anything that’s out of date. Now could be a great time to restock your cupboards with healthier options too.
As summer approaches, it’s also a good idea to clear out your medicine cabinet. We rarely look at the expiration date of these sorts of products, but they do have one! And ensure that everything smells the way it should, particularly things that have fresh ingredients in them. If these are kept in the bathroom, each time you have a bath or shower, the steam could compromise such products.
One important thing to make a part of your skincare routine is exfoliating. Scrubbing your body with an exfoliant can make a huge difference in terms of improving your overall skin health, as well as make it easier for it to absorb moisturiser. You’re essentially getting rid of layers of dead skin, revealing the fresh new skin underneath.
Another thing to consider in summer is what moisturiser you’re using. We tend to use heavier creams and oils in winter, to fight off dry, cracked skin. But in summer, you should opt for something lighter, preferably with added SPF protection.
Start loading up your plate with seasonal vegetables! Throughout the winter, we often eat more root vegetables, as they’re both seasonal, and very filling. But in the spring and summer, we can go back to lighter veg, along with tasty salads.
If you’re hoping to lose a bit of weight for the summer season, now is also a good time to eat more healthily. Along with regular exercise, if you start cutting back the calories now, by the time summer is in full swing, you may feel more comfortable in swimwear and other beachwear!
In the summer, there’s a good chance that your hair will experience damage from a combination of sea salt, sun, and chlorine. These things can strip your hair of a lot of its natural oils, or damage the outer layer of your hair strands. This can lead to things like dry and brittle hair, discolouration, and broken or split ends.
While you may not be able to completely prevent issues like sun damage, the healthier your hair is to start with, the better position you’ll be in. So make a habit of deep conditioning your hair with things like coconut oil or a hair mask, at least once a week. Just try to avoid daily conditioning, otherwise you may end up with greasy locks!
During winter, we often bundle up our feet in thick socks and warm footwear. This can mean our feet are neglected in our beauty regimes! With sandal-wearing weather rapidly approaching, it’s time to be more proactive with foot care.
Use scrubs to get rid of any dead skin and calluses, rub cuticle oil into your nails, and put on a heavy moisturiser at night to smooth cracked heels. You could even treat yourself to a new summery nail varnish, and paint your toenails!
If you’re the type of person who wears makeup, in the summer, you probably don’t want to be wearing the same sort of heavy makeup you do in the winter. It will likely make you overheat, and can lead to clogged pores. So experiment with other products, or go back to what you normally wear in the warmer months!
Another thing you may want to switch up is your deodorant. Lots of people are making the change to an all natural deodorant, but as your body needs time to get rid of any residual chemicals from a regular deodorant, it’s best to switch sooner rather than later.
Over the winter, we don’t tend to leave the house as often, as the weather is a bit bleak! Some people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in the colder months too – as the weather gets worse, energy levels and moods can drop. One of the causes of things like SAD is a lack of Vitamin D. This vitamin influences mood, bone health, fatigue and muscle cramps.
So as the sun starts to make more of an appearance, make sure you’re getting outside as often as possible. Go on long walks, and try to do a lot of your errands on foot. This exercise should have the added benefit of you getting a bit fitter, and perhaps more toned in time for summer!
Even if you have sun creams or sprays left over from last year, you may want to replace them. Most will have an expiration date of a few years, but once opened, sun cream should be used within six to twelve months. After this, the cream can be less effective, and you could be damaging your skin without realising it.
Now is the perfect time to buy sun creams and sprays, as you just don’t know when the next sunny day will come! You don’t want to be caught unprepared. And you’ll be ahead of the rush, when summer products are often marked up, because everyone needs them.