Summertime Fine Hydration Hacks

Thank you to Nubian Heritage for sponsoring this hydration hacks post. As always, all opinions are my own.

We are deep in the trenches of summertime, which means hydration is even more important than usual--for multiple reasons! The weather is warm (absolutely scorching if you live down south) so you're probably wearing less and going out more, which should be even more reason to keep on top of your hydration. Your skin is your body's largest organ and quickly lets you know when you're parched. In the journey to achieve or maintain your summer glow, there is no place for dry skin. You might not always know what dehydration feels like but ashy skin doesn't lie! For this reason, we're talking about a few easy ways to keep your skin hydrated from both the inside and outside.

Proper hydration is something to be mindful of at all times but in the summer months when things quite literally heat up, it becomes paramount. Higher temperatures mean we're all sweating more in the process of everyday tasks like checking the mail or going to the grocery store but you're probably also breaking a sweat while maintaining your summer body (aka working out). Altitude and climate changes associated with summer travel can also take a toll. To make sure none of these things stop your seasonal shine, let's get into four summertime fine hydration hacks--working from the inside out.

Drink Water.

Let's get the obvious answer out of the way, people. Drinking water is easier said than done for some so here are a few suggestions to get more H2O if you're on the struggle bus in this regard.

• Infuse your water. Plain water is my go-to drink but I love switching it up with fresh fruit and herbs and almost always serve an infusion when I host. Grapefruit, lime, and mint is an easy favorite. Just add one slice of each fruit and a sprig of mint to your bottle and you're good to go! Let me know if you'd like a post on infused water recipes.
• The rule of thumb is to drink half an ounce to one ounce of water for each pound you weigh per day. That number might vary depending on your activity level. To get what you need in, try keeping a bottle in your car's cup-holder and at your work station. Whenever it's empty, refill it!

*I touched on water bottles that meet different needs such as infusion or large capacity here and linked some at the bottom of this post, too.

Eat Watery Fruits and Veggies.

Fresh produce is one type of snack I like to keep on hand and some help hydrate more effectively than others. Here's the hit list:

• Apples
• Berries (blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, etc.)
• Bell Peppers
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Citrus Fruits (grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes)
• Cucumbers
• Melons (Watermelon is perfect this time of year! Here's how to pick the perfect melon.)
• Pineapples
• Spinach
• Stone Fruit (peaches, plums, apricots, etc.)
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini

Another option for getting your fruits and veggies in is the juice them or make smoothies. 🙂 This cherry pineapple smoothie and this tropical green smoothie are both excellent choices.

Incorporate Moisture into your Skincare Routine.

To banish ash and help keep my skin glowing, I love Nubian Heritage bath and body products. I've been a fan of their raw shea butter and African black soap collections for years now and was introduced to their papaya and coconut line through this collaboration. Fun fact: Nubian Heritage was my first foray into African black soap when I started getting into natural hair and body products. I highly recommend the body washes, bar soaps, and  lotions for keeping whatever amount of melanin you've got popping year round and especially during these brutal summer months. The Raw Shea Butter Body Lotion is my favorite because it's scented with frankincense and myrrh extracts and leaves my skin glistening! Perhaps best of all, each of Nubian Heritage's products are made with a high concentration of organic shea butter and natural fragrances AND are available at Sprouts and Whole Foods.

Take Cooler Showers.

Not only does this hack lock moisture into your skin, it is kinder to your budget (Hello, gas bill!) and can help you beat the heat. I'm currently using Nubian Heritage's Coconut & Papaya Bar Soap for this step and love the scent. It's made with vanilla beans and papaya extract, which gently buff and exfoliate the skin and shea butter and coconut oil to hydrate and renew the skin.

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Let me know if these hydration hacks are helpful and share any you may have in the comments section below. And be sure to check on your chocolate friends. We're melting out here. Thanks for reading!

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