How to // Stay Style Savvy in the Summer Sun

We all know the sun is harshest in the summer--and that is particularly bothersome for a girl with eczema, as heat makes the rash and itching about 1000x worse! So while it is paramount for me to know how how to stay stylish and protect my skin in the summer sun, it is still important for every girl to do the same.

The above is an example of a style savvy summer outfit with sun protection superpowers. A tunic dress is perfect for covering sensitive areas of the upper body like the neck, shoulders and cleavage; and when it's in a light airy fabric, you'll still feel perfectly cool. A panama hat protects your scalp and face--and one with a wider brim could even help to protect your neck. And of course, fabulous sunnies provide even more protection for your face against the sun.

If you need more protection for the lower part of your body, simply sub the tunic dress for a maxi dress, and you're good to go! And finally, make sure you have a tote large enough for all your style savvy essentials, including sunblock and lip balm.

And here are a few posh beauty tips to keep in mind before you head out for a day in the summer sun:

Hydrate

- You've obviously heard this before, but I'm going to reiterate it again: hydrate hydrate hydrate. Water is your skin's best friend. It helps it to remain elastic and to repair itself from the inside out. If you're going to be out in the sun for an extended period of time, start drinking water the night before. If you're going to be consuming alcohol at a bbq, or a wine festival or on vacation, be sure to drink water in between each of your other beverages so that your body doesn't dry out.

Moisturize

- Your moisturizing should also start the night before you're going to be out in the sun. Grease up with a heavier oil or cream, like raw Shea butter, vitamin E oil, coconut oil, or your favorite body butter right before bed, so that it has time to sink into your skin. Then the next morning, apply a lighter lotion (Borage or Cetaphil for eczema), since you don't want to apply heavy oils right before going outside--they would essentially bake your skin!

Use SPF

- Apply SPF generously before leaving home, and repeatedly throughout the day. I like to layer mine--especially on my face and neck. My facial moisturizer (

Ambi Even & Clear Daily Moisturizer) contains SPF 15, my favorite BB Cream (Maybelline Dream Fresh) has SPF 30, and I add another light SPF (Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 70) to all of my skin before leaving home. I know, my sunblock situation is so serious! You may not need to be quite this diligent, but everyone should definitely use at least one layer of SPF daily in the summer. And if you're a fellow eczema sufferer, spray on SPF tends to have a higher concentration of alcohol, so avoid them if you can. They're going to dry out your skin, which is the reverse of what you'll want.

Have a skin issue other than eczema? HSN has a fantastic page on their site that allows you to shop skincare by type of problem. Whether you're dealing with dry skin, oily skin, wrinkles or acne, they make it easy for you to find the products that can help.

Have a tip you'd like to add to this list? Let's hear it! Do share in the comments below.

style, beautyKim M. BarfieldJuly 31, 2014HSN, style, summer beauty, summer style3 Comments