Bikini Bumps, Green Hair & Sunburns, Oh My!

Who doesn't love Summer? But it does bring with it it's own share of beauty challenges. Here's a few tips the pros swear by to keep you smooth & beautiful.

1. Bikini line bumps. What are they? Why do I get them and how do I prevent them?

Those little bumps are hairs that have grown back after shaving or waxing. Sometimes the hair curls into itself under the skin. This causes clogged pores and ingrown hair bumps.

How to avoid them: exfoliate (gently!) the area before you wax or shave. We love resurf.a.stic for ingrown hair. It's an easy to use stick that you wet with water and then press on the skin. Alternate clockwise and counter clockwise motion, then rinse the treated area with water and pat dry. This will exfoliate the skin and free any hairs under the surface.

2. Green hair. Blondes know that an innocent dip in the pool can turn golden locks green. If you can't bear to put your hair under a swim cap, wet it thoroughly with tap water before you jump in the pool. Doing this will saturate the cuticle so that it can't absorb chlorine and metal content from the pool water. Rinse your hair thoroughly after your swim as well. If you forget and wind up with a greenish tint, shampoo with a gentle clarifying shampoo such as Alterna Life Clarifying shampoo.

3. Sunburns. You know all the scary stats: 1 person in the US dies of melanoma every hour; melanoma of the skin is one of the most common cancers in the United States - among the top 10 causes of new cancer cases; every eight minutes someone in the US will be diagnosed with skincancer; and approximately 8,700 Americans will die of melanoma this year. But here's the good news: you have the power to protect yourself with some of the most advanced scientific skincare out there.

Block the damaging UVA & UVB rays with a broad-spectrum suncreen, and wear protective clothing. An excellent choice: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50, a paraben free and chemical filter free lotion for the face. SkinCeuticals also makes a great sunblock for the body: Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30. And remember: NEVER use an indoor tanning bed! They up your risk of melanoma by up to 75%; the only safe tan is self-tanner.

Reduce sun damage you already have with antioxidants: SkinCeuticals makes a variety of serums to treat all types of skin for environmental damage. Ask a Me Salon + Spa esthetician to recommend the right serum for you.

If even after your best efforts find yourself with self tanner streaks, grab a lemon! Not only are they delightful in an iced beverage, they can save you from a less than perfect self tanner application. Being that my skin is a pasty blue-ish white that does not tan, I am an avid user of self tanners. Should I happen to create an unsightly streak or two, a slice of lemon rubbed on the streak makes it disappear.

Wishing you, dear reader, a safe and delightful Summer!