4 Summertime Skin Care Tips
(Family Features) Summer brings sunshine and plenty of exciting opportunities to head outdoors for fun with family and friends. While those joyous moments make the season special, all that sun exposure can wreak havoc on the skin without the proper precautions.
Whether you’re dining outdoors, going for a swim, sweating out a bike ride or just spending a few moments soaking up some sun, it’s important to ensure you’re taking care of your body so you can enjoy those rays all season long.
Stay Hydrated
As an important aspect of overall health, staying hydrated also helps maintain your skin’s water content. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially as temperatures rise and you spend more time outdoors. Another delicious way to avoid dehydration – leading to energy drain, in mild cases – is to eat fruits and vegetables with high water content. One example is watermelon, which is 92% water and can help restore fluids.
Prioritize Skin Protection
Whether you’ll be in the sun for a few minutes or a few hours, it’s paramount to protect skin by applying sunscreen. On days when the UV index is 3 or higher, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying a broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 15 or higher. Another option is to wear light, loose clothing that covers as much of the skin as possible while staying comfortable in the heat.
Refresh Your Face
As one of the parts of the body that sees the most sun exposure, your face is perhaps the most important area to care for during the sunnier months. An at-home, all-natural DIY facial offers a brightening, hydrating way to treat yourself.
For a true glow-up from the comfort of your own home, try this quick and easy solution: Mix 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt (to help exfoliate and purify) with 1 tablespoon of watermelon juice (for hydration). Apply the mask to your face and neck for 10 minutes then rinse off and pat your skin dry.
Keep Your Whole Body in Mind
While your face is likely to see a lot of sun, that shouldn’t mean neglecting the rest of your body. This gentle body scrub can give you that glow you’re looking for with a sweet, fruity scent.
Here’s how to exfoliate and polish your skin: Combine 1 1/2 cups of white sugar, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1/4 cup of watermelon juice. If you’d like, add 1 teaspoon of microplaned watermelon rind zest and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Store the scrub in an airtight container up to 1 week and, when you shower, gently rub a handful of scrub on your skin then rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
For more skin care solutions and other health and nutrition information, visit watermelon.org.Subtle Care for Sensitive Skin
For many, summer skin care can be as simple as following a basic routine. However, those with more sensitive skin may require additional attention. Try this calming, cleansing at-home remedy to moisturize and tone sensitive skin.
Watermelon Mask and Toner
Watermelon Banana Mask:
- 1 tablespoon watermelon juice
- 2 tablespoons ripe mashed banana
Watermelon Toner:
- 1/3 cup watermelon juice
- 1 tablespoon witch hazel
- 1 teaspoon distilled water
To make watermelon banana mask: In bowl, mix watermelon juice (for hydration) and mashed banana (to ease inflammation). Apply mask to face and let sit 10-15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Pat dry.
To make watermelon toner: In small bowl, combine watermelon juice with witch hazel and water. Apply toner to clean face and let sit 2-3 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Pat dry.
Store in refrigerator in airtight container up to 5 days.
6 Exercise Safety Tips
(Family Features) In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are more aware of their health and wellness. Now, as social restrictions ease, you may find yourself stepping up your workouts, whether you’re training for an event or working to improve your game in a recreational league.
Sprains, strains and injuries can happen to even the most seasoned athletes. When you’re testing your limits, even a minor injury can alter your performance. Consider products and supports like these from the CURAD Performance Series product line, available at Walmart and Amazon, to help you get back in the game quickly and safely.
Find more resources to support your fitness journey at CURAD.com.
Keep Dirt and Germs Away
The more active you are, the harder it can be to find a bandage that stays with you all day or all game long. You can find serious staying power with CURAD Performance Series Bandages, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes to conform to the body and are made to stand up to mud, sweat, friction and heat. The rugged, heavy-duty fabric offers flexible, breathable protection to help seal out dirt and germs, and the highly absorbent, colored wound pads are antibacterial to help prevent infection.
Spray Away Sore Spots
Controlling mild pain can help keep you at the top of your game, and a topical analgesic works fast to heal common pain brought on by fitness and exercise, such as pain in knees, feet, shoulders and backs. For advanced numbing support, ActivICE gel, roll-on and spray relieve soreness fast with ultra-strength 8% menthol that has anti-inflammatory properties to numb muscles pre-workout and relieve post-workout soreness. The gel also includes pharmaceutical-grade conditioners that moisturize for lasting protection and comfort to heal and relieve prolonged inflammatory pain.
Put Pain in the Past
When recovery becomes the name of the game and pain relief is needed after daily workouts or bodily injuries, home remedies like CURAD Performance Series small reusable hot or cold packs provide long-lasting chilling or heating relief for recovery from aches, pains and swelling. Cold packs work to heal bruises, reduce swelling and relieve headaches and general pain points while microwavable heat packs provide satisfying heat therapy to address sore and stiff joints, muscle cramps and tension.
Reduce Impact of Knee Strain
Weak, injured or arthritic knees can come from many sources, including tendonitis and a wide range of conditions that result in strain or overuse. An adjustable band can provide support for on-field sports and during workouts or everyday activities. An option like the CURAD Performance Series Knee Support has a universal, adjustable design that fits either knee for most men and women. Its adjustable patella support pad fits a variety of knee shapes and sizes, and a special antimicrobial layer helps prevent stains and odor-causing bacteria.
Manage Pain and Relieve Pressure
If you participate in endurance and strength exercises or certain sports, you may ask a lot of your joints. Kinesiology tape can be configured a multitude of ways to help reduce pain and improve blood circulation, as well as relieve tension and pressure. Providing support and relief while active, CURAD Performance Series Far Infrared Kinesiology Tape features infrared technology, designed to absorb and redirect energy, and may be experienced as a gentle radiant heat. The tape is latex free, hypo-allergenic and can be worn for multiple days, even when swimming or participating in water sports.
Control Back Strain
When your back is strained, your body and performance can suffer. A mild or moderate sprain can benefit from strong support and compression, such as the CURAD Performance Series Back Support. The dual-pulley system provides quick, uniform, custom compression with an easy, one-hand pull and metal stays for added support across the lower back and abdomen. The soft, breathable material is discreet under clothing so you can wear it all day long and hardly notice it, and the adjustable design comfortably fits a wide variety of body types.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images (Man on bike)
SOURCE:
CURAD
Take Summer Grilling to New Heights with a Versatile Veggie
(Family Features) The fresh flavor of favorite foods pulled hot off the grill makes summer cookouts a treasured pastime for families across the country. This year, you can make new memories at those backyard barbecues by keeping in mind that grilling isn’t only about charred burgers and steaks – delicious, grilled vegetables can be just as enjoyable.
Nutritious and full of antioxidants, sweetpotatoes are a perfect option for summer recipes as they’re easy to grill in a recipe like Sweetpotato Wedge & Purple Cabbage Salad with Poppyseed Dressing. Hearty yet light for a tasty side dish, this salad is effortlessly simple and combines crispy purple cabbage, juicy tomato, velvety feta and poppyseed dressing around sweetpotato wedges as the star of the show.
With nearly 70% of the nation’s sweetpotatoes produced in North Carolina, the state is the largest producer in the country of the year-round veggie ideal for grilling on those hot summer days. As a versatile superfood, their rich nutritional value and ease of use in a variety of dishes make them an ideal ingredient in recipes ranging from breakfasts and salads to protein bowls, tacos and more.
In addition to cooking on a classic grill, sweetpotatoes can also be prepared using a griddle. Until Sept. 30, you can enter the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission’s Blazin’ Blackstone Giveaway to win one of 14 prize packages including the grand prize: a 28-inch XL Culinary Pro with Rangetop Bundle. Join fellow “griddlers” by sharing a photo of your favorite sweetpotato recipe and encouraging friends, family and online followers to do the same.
Learn how to enter the giveaway and find more information at ncsweetpotatoes.com.
Watch video to see how to make this recipe!
Sweetpotato Wedge & Purple Cabbage Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission
Servings: 4
- 2 North Carolina sweetpotatoes
- 1/2 head purple cabbage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 6 tablespoons poppyseed dressing, divided
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
- 3 tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled
- Preheat grill to 400 F.
- Scrub and wash sweetpotatoes. Cut each into six wedges. (If sweetpotatoes are long, consider cutting wedges in half.) Parboil sweetpotatoes 5 minutes, drain and cool 5 minutes.
- Shred cabbage into thin slices.
- Toss sweetpotatoes with olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place sweetpotato wedges on grill perpendicular to grates over direct heat; grill about 3 minutes on each side, or until tender-crisp with grill marks on each side. Remove from grill and set aside.
- In zip-top bag or large bowl, toss cabbage with 4 tablespoons poppyseed dressing until coated. Add parsley and tomatoes; toss.
- To serve, place sweetpotato wedges on bed of dressed cabbage and drizzle with remaining poppyseed dressing then sprinkle with cheese.
- Serve warm or cold.
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.