Summertime Skin Care and Watermelon

Whether you’re dining outdoors, going for a swim, sweating out a walk, 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.

Skin care and watermelon, inside and out

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 – which can also lead to energy drain – is to eat fruits and vegetables with high water content. One example is watermelon, which is 92% water and can help restore fluids.

Related: How to choose healthy juices

Prioritize Skin Protection

Whether you’ll be in the summer 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. Some reputable retailers even offer clothing with sun protection, including LLBean, Columbia, and Patagonia.

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 skin care with watermelon.

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 (use a zester if you don’t have a microplane grater) 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 sensitive skin care with watermelon

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 third calming, cleansing, at-home remedies for skin care using watermelon to moisturize and tone sensitive skin.

Watermelon Banana Mask:

• 1 tablespoon watermelon juice
• 2 tablespoons ripe mashed banana

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.

Watermelon Toner:

• 1/3 cup watermelon juice
• 1 tablespoon witch hazel
• 1 teaspoon distilled water

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.