With the summer heat ramping up, I thought I'd take a minute to talk to y'all about summer self-care! It's so important to take care of yourself all the time, but here are a few summer-specific tips + tricks to help you survive summer.

Moisturize Moisturize Moisturize!

I am literally insane when it comes to moisturizing/applying lotion. I have to put on lotion every day--it's my weird obsession, just a random fact for you, haha. I love moisturizing, too, because it makes my skin feel so smooth and hydrated.

Pro-tip: Use a retinol-based moisturizer--it has amazing anti-aging benefits! 

Spend time outside.

Fresh air and sunshine are God's natural healers. Spending time out in the sun while exercising or just lounging is proven to release endorphins that improve your mood! I know it's hard to spend more than thirty minutes outside because it's so hot right now, but if it makes you feel good + improves your health, it's totally worth it. 

Treat yourself with a DIY face/lip scrub.

I'm a big fan of treating myself with little things like DIY face scrubs. This is my favorite recipe--all you need is olive oil, lemon juice, and sugar. Just mix it all together until you like the consistency. Also, it tastes sooooo good!

Drink lots of water.

This is something you should always do, especially in the summer when it's easy to get dehydrated. Water is the best for you, because it gives you energy, improves your skin complexion, and boosts your immune system + a bunch of other things. 

Don't like water? Try adding fresh fruit, cucumbers, or lemon juice to enhance the taste and still gain the health benefits! 

Stretch!

I honestly don't like stretching that much, but I always feel so much better after I do. My hips are super tight, and as a result I have a lot of lower back pain/tension. It's actually kind of a family problem, because my brother struggles with the same thing, too. Anyways, he showed me a bunch of the stretches he does for his hips/back, and once I started doing them frequently, I noticed that my back felt so much better! 

Eat lots of fruits + veggies.

This is another thing that you should always do, but I felt the need to emphasize it because it's so important to your overall health. There are so many ways you can incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet--whether it's through juicing, salads, or even just sliced up with your meals! 

xx, Em