With summer right around the corner, we need to prepare our skin for the beating the heat is about to give us. Here’s how to get that summertime glow with this pre-summer skin detox. 

Pre-Summer Skin Detox: How To Do It + With What

When we hear “Winter is coming!” we somewhat dread its arrival and the cold that comes with it; conversely, when we hear “Summer is near!” we get excited and think of all the beach parties, bikinis, and tans we’re going to get. I mean, who doesn’t, right?

Summer is the time to look and feel our best; with the sun shining and temperatures rising, it’s also the time we show skin and a lot of it. Because you’re so exposed during the summer months, it’s important to prepare your skin before those harmful rays make contact with it.

You’ve most likely heard of a detox or have done one before (especially in you live in LA, the land of stars, green juices, and detoxes for every occasion), but for those that haven’t, a detox is when you eliminate all the waste and toxins in your body through clean eating, juices, or fasting. Hitting the reset button on your body will improve your digestion, boost your mood, increase energy levels, and make your skin glow!

Whether you’re going to a big event or are embarking on a healthy lifestyle journey, here’s how to do a skin detox the right way.

Drink Lemon Water. Lots of It.

Yes, you can drink plain water, but lemon water is more effective when it comes to detoxing. Lemons naturally promote a healthy digestive system and flush toxins from the body. A common misconception is that you should drink at least 2 liters of water a day, but according to experts, you should be eliminating 2 liters and drinking 3. The more you drink, the more waste you’ll eliminate.

Drinking water is an important step in your detox, but it’s important to drink the right water: alkaline. If you’re not drinking the right water, your cells aren’t retaining anything and you’re not getting hydrated.

So, to detox your skin just in time for summer, start and end your day with a glass of lukewarm to warm lemon water.

Cut Out the Junk

This is a given every day of the year if healthy, glowing skin is your end goal. The more junk food you eat, the more your skin will suffer. Refined sugars, starches and caffeine wreak havoc in the skin. Start by incorporating one clean-eating meal a day then move up to 2, then 3. After a month, you’ll not only see clearer, healthier skin, you’ll also have more energy!

Sip More Tea

And we mean herbal tea! Drink at least two cups of herbal tea a day for a week. Opt for herbs like licorice, spearmint, chamomile, ginger, or dandelion which are known to calm inflammation, regulate hormones, and improve liver and kidney function. When detoxing, eliminate caffeine and alcohol from your diet as both have adverse effects on the skin. Real Talk: I had awful adult hormonal acne and cleared it by eliminating caffeine and alcohol from my diet. It doesn’t sound fun, but it’s worth it.

Steam Yo’Self

This is done during facials and will help open up the pores and loosen up dirt, oil and other impurities. Just pour hot water into a small bowl and add a few drops of essential oil. We recommend lavender or citrus. Soak a hand towel in the water and drape it over your face. Then lie down and allow the steam to get out all the gunk.

Super Mud Mask

Mud or clay masks pull toxins out from the skin, unclog pores, and revitalize dull skin. To maximize the detoxifying effect, slather the mask on a bit thicker than usual, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then step into a steaming hot bath to allow the pores to open up and the mask to penetrate the skin even further. After another 5-10 minutes, rinse off and enjoy the fresh feeling!

Exfoliate

Whenever my skin starts to look dull, I know it’s time to exfoliate. Experts recommend that you exfoliate twice a week. As most of us know, exfoliating sloughs away dead skin cells and encourages the growth of new cells.

Cleansing Bath

Use bath time as an opportunity to detox your skin. Just add a cup of Epsom salt and unfiltered apple cider vinegar to your hot water. These will draw out impurities, reduce inflammation, and kill bacteria. For a luxurious bath, add some drops of lavender or sandalwood essential oil.

Sweat It Out

Exercise not only keeps you fit; it also detoxes the body and improves your circulation. Both of these are important in getting and maintaining radiant skin. For head-to-toe toning exercises, check out this article.

What are your detox tips? Let other readers know in the comments below or on Facebook! For detox recipes, follow us on Pinterest.