Five Ways To Beat the Heat

Jul 14

Jul 14 Five Ways To Beat the Heat

This summer has been a scorcher for so many places here in the US and abroad. I know here in the States the Pacific Northwest has experienced record0breaking highs in recent weeks. And here in Chicago our weather has been all over the place. One week it’s rainy and cool. The next week it’s blazing hot. I am NOT a summer person. I came to that realization some years ago and finding ways to stay cool is something I’ve thought a LOT about. Here are a few of the tips and tricks I’ve learned.

Put Your Body Lotion and Mists in the Fridge

I am not a proponent of skin care fridges. They are gimmicky and a waste of money since 99% of skincare does not require refrigeration. BUT. During the summer I find throwing my body lotions and face mists in the fridge works as a great cool off hack. On super hots days nothing feels better than spraying your face with a cold light mist. This is rally the only time of year that I actually use face mists. And I take my showers at night and love the feeling of cold body lotion on a hot night before bed.

Cotton Biker Shorts

Is there any feeling more painful and annoying than thigh chafing? I mean of course there are but still…it’s the WORST. There are a ton of products on the market now that are topical answers to the thigh chafing problem. But I find them to only be useful if you have a place to reapply them and also remember to do so. For me the better and more permanent solution has been to wear cotton biker shorts under my skirts and dresses. Not only does it give an extra bit of comfort and security on windy days (a frequent issue here in the Windy City), but also it eliminates the issue of chafing altogether. I HIGHLY recommend making sure that they are cotton so that your nether regions can breathe and stay cool. And you can get them at a relatively affordable price. I I’ve purchased mine from H&M and got a set of 3 Hanes shorts on Amazon for less than $10.

Invest in a Sun Hat (with UPF!)

Last summer I discovered sun hats. And was so mad at myself for not having invested in a good sunhat before. It was such a game changer for me. Not only do they offer more sun protection - if you find one with UPF (clothing with UVA/UVB rays sun protection) - all the better. it also just helps keep the heat of the sun off your head and face and allows those areas to stay cool. I now own two sun hats and will probably purchase a third ( I want a navy blue one - I own a Black and Tan one). You can find really affordable ones on Amazon by searching UPF Sunhat.

Cotton Lawn Dresses. Buy Them. Thank Me Later.

Along with sun hats, last summer I discovered the amazingness that is a mum or as the kids now call them - nap dresses. These dresses are usually long and loose on the body and made of cotton lawn fabric. I bought two last year and having been living in them this summer. Cotton lawn is perfect summer fabric. It is lightweight and allows for air to flow through the fabric and they don’t absorb heat like other fabrics can. It also doesn’t wrinkle as easily as linen and can stay looking fresh throughout the day. Cotton Lawn can be a see through and so I wear my dresses with my trusty cotton biker shorts.

Drink a Hot Beverage. No, really.

You’re probably thinking that’s crazy, right? It’s not. In fact it’s actually recommended that you drink a hot beverage in the summer. Why? Well the science behind it is pretty simple: When you drink a hot beverage you body temperature rises. Which causes you'd body to sweat. And sweat’s primary function is to cool the body down. When you drink a cold or icy drink your body temperature lowers a bit. And then your body will need to adjust - by getting warmer. See where I’m going? I’m not stating that you can’t drink ice beverage in the heat. I certainly do. But I also try to still have my morning cup of hot tea to help regulate my body temperature. But yes, I still love my Iced Matcha Latte.

What are some of the ways you try to beat the heat? Let me know in the comments!

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