Beat the Heat: Keep Calm and Cool Down

Day 1: Keep Calm and Cool Down

           If you're like most of the world, the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of summer is splashing around in the water, whether  it be in the ocean or a friend's pool. Even if you spend more time loafing around than a bread loving sloth, you'll find yourself at least dipping in your feet after a nice long sun soak. However, you find that no matter how much water you drink or splash in, you're still blazing hot.
       

            My tip to avoid feeling like you're bringing the sun inside with you is this: stash your lotion and aloe vera in the fridge (or cooler if you're beach bound) before you go out. It sounds so simple that everyone should be doing it right? Wrong. I've spent 20 summers pool side and not once has any of my family done this. After spending the day outside, go to your fridge and slick on a generous amount on each section of your body and feel the heat leave your body. This will also help with rehydrating your skin, which is important if you plan to bake yourself this summer. Now if you happen to spend a little too long outside, no troubles bubbles. This is where the aloe vera comes in handy. Aloe vera is known for having been used on skin for its soothing properties and just imagine what it'll do when it's nice and cold on your skin. Apply generously to sunburned skin every 2 to 4 hours and feel the hurt slowly easing away. At first, it may tingle or feel prickly but that is just the cold from the gel replacing the heat radiating from your skin. I did this after I came back from the beach the next day when I saw my shoulders were burned a bit and I could move the next day.

(image made on memegenerator.com)