Be careful what you wish for, ladies – because summertime is here!  I know…you’re imagining icy pina coladas, long walks on the beach, sunshine on your shoulders that makes you happy…Meanwhile, I’m picturing bug bites, sweating on subway platforms, and incurable heat rash.

There is an upside to this whole season, even if I sound like the ‘Grinch who stole the Fourth of July.’  And that’s lots of new products that are perfect for the time of year when days are long, nights are hot, and you always seem to have a little bit of sand in your underpants.

Wait – wait – before you go into full summer reverie, allow me to say what I’ve said a thousand times before, in the hopes that even one of you will listen.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE USE PROTECTION.  I’m not talking about protection in the sexual sense, although these products could darn well lead to it, and it’s not a bad idea.  I’m talking about protecting your skin.  No matter the temp or the location, every season the sun gets more damaging to your skin.  Make sure you are covering yourself with a high SPF lotion that contains UVA and UVB protection, and re-apply frequently.  Even on cloudy days, or when you’re just driving in the car, your skin is being hit with rotten rays.  A big hat, sunglasses, and a cute wrap are all in order this summer and every summer.  And, oh yeah – no tanning booths, either.

Before you try the latest trends in colors and tools, make sure your skin is in tip-top shape.  Load it up with gentle moisturizers, many of which now contain natural soothing ingredients like lavender, colloidal oatmeal, and sesame.  If you really want to go back to basics, forget the factory brands and try two natural skin care lines, Anakiri and Karma.

Anakiri was started by a group of alternative medicine experts who wanted to create products that enhance both body and mind – which might be why this line is invading spas all over the world.  On their elegant site, www.anakiri.com, you can shop for individual products or see suggestions by skin type.  For easy summer travel, Anakiri offers sets and travel sizes of its skin products so you can take ‘em on the go.  However, they are glass bottles, so pack them well.

On a recent trip to the West Coast, I tried Anakiri “Nourish” Moisture Gel  ($50.00) to try to prevent skin hydration on the plane.  I used a few drops on my face at night after removing my makeup and found it to feel cooling and soothing on my skin.  Any scaly plane drama was minimal. An alternative treatment was the “Rejuvenating” Phyto Nutrient Serum ($36.00).  Both of these products are packed with minerals and natural essences.  Try them on the inside of your arm before applying to your face to make sure it suits you as well.

Before Clinique, before Olay, before the seed of Crème de la Mer had even been planted, an ancient Indian system of health and body care was used by the masses.  It’s called Ayurveda (this is what guru Deepak Chopra is all about), the “science of life.”  Ayurveda focuses on balancing the body’s systems while detoxing any bad stuff that’s found its way into them.

Kama Ayurveda products are made in India, and packed with Ayurveda’s greatest hits – oatmeal, neem, almond, and fennel to name a few.  Because they are fresh and natural, products come with an expiration date that should be acknowledged. If you head off to India, you’ll find Kama in the best spas, hotels, and clinics there.  Check www.kamaayurveda.com to get more details about this line.

Kama’s Kukumadi Miraculous Beauty Fluid helps the skin even out its coloring and complexion, and a touch of saffron gives the face a youthful radiance.  Buy it at www.alcanz.com for $49.00 – that little bottle that goes a long way.

If you really want to get hardcore and be your own apothecary, check out the Mridul Soap-Free Face Cleanser.  It comes in powder form that you mix with water before you place it on the face.  When you wipe the cleanser off, it removes dead skin and other impurities.  The Soap-Free Cleanser is $18.00 at www.alcanz.com. You can also try Kama’s Bar Soaps for $8.00 if you’re less into DIY.

Let me know what you think of these products!

xo Wendy
w.shanker@amazemagazine.com