AYour summer essentials, sorted!

It’s the silly season, the happy season and the fun season! Still, summer comes with its own set of health concerns and having the essentials on hand can help you and your family stay protected, safe and comfortable.

We’ve got you covered!

Sunscreen

It’s the summer essential. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply it 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.

Try: Piz Buin Allergy Lotion SPF50. Moisturises the skin for several hours and helps prevent skin from flaking. Quick and easy application. Suitable for kids.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are essential minerals that carry an electric charge and play a central role in many physiological functions in the body. The major electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate and bicarbonate. Stay hydrated with electrolyte-rich drinks, especially if you’re spending time outdoors and tend to sweat a lot. Consider sports drinks or electrolyte tablets to replenish lost minerals from sweating.

Try: MediRite Hydrate Fizzy.

Allergy medication

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, keep antihistamines or allergy medications on hand. Hay fever or allergic rhinitis are typically triggered by airborne allergens such as pollen from trees, grasses and weeds. Common symptoms include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes and fatigue.

Lip balm with sunscreen

The skin on your lips is delicate and can be prone to sunburn. Lip balm with sunscreen provides a protective barrier, helping to prevent sun damage and reduces the risk of sunburn on the lips. Choose a nourishing lip balm that contains a strong SPF as well. Don’t forget to reapply throughout the day, especially if you’re spending lots of time outdoors.

Try: Eight Hour Cream Nourishing Lip Balm SPF20 PA. Provides lips with essential daily nourishing moisture. Enriched with eight essential vitamins and minerals, it includes UVA and UVB broad spectrum sun protection.

After-sun gel

You had a great day out at the beach but… ouch! Sunburn is no fun! Sun exposure can lead to dehydrated skin. After-sun gels typically contain moisturising ingredients that help rehydrate the skin, reducing dryness and preventing peeling. Keep an aloe vera gel on hand to soothe and cool sunburned skin. For an extra frisson of coolness, store it in the fridge.

Try: Nivea Sun After Sun Moisture Spray. The quick-absorbing light formula with aloe vera soothes, refreshes and helps to restore your skin’s moisture.

Leave-in conditioner

Spending hours outdoors can have a drying effect on your hair. Leave-in conditioners are formulated to moisturise and hydrate the hair, providing helpful moisture to dry or damaged strands. This is particularly helpful if you have dry, frizzy or chemically treated hair. Look for a product that provides UV protection to prevent sun damage.

Try: Novex Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner. Ideal for finishing hair care as it gives hair hydration and shine, while avoiding split ends and frizz. Provides daily care for your hair, creating much more softness, moisture and brilliant shine. It is formulated with the purest argan oil that fights the free radicals and repairs the capillary fibre.

Insect repellent

It wouldn’t be summer without our buzzing friends! Insect repellents help prevent bites and stings from a variety of insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, flies, fleas and gnats. Just make sure the repellent is suitable for your skin and doesn’t cause any allergic reactions.

Don’t forget!

Drink lots of water to stay hydrated during the warmer weather. Heat stroke is a real risk during our summers, so carry your bottle of water everywhere you go.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, or using any medication.