During the summer, skin needs special care and attention. For a change from the usual routines, discover 10 totally do-it-yourself, gentle and natural tips for taking care of your skin. Tried and tested! 

1 - For cleansed skin 

une fois par mois par minimum ou une fois par semaine si on a le temps, on se gomme le corps pour une peau douce et brillante. Le gommage permet d'enlever les peaux mortes de la couche superficielle de l'épiderme. Ce nettoyage régulier renouvelle la peau, désobstrue les pores et active la circulation sanguine. En été, il permet même de conserver son bronzage au max !  

• The right recipe : Mix one tablespoon of coffee grounds, one tablespoon of caster sugar, and one tablespoon of runny honey. Apply gently to the skin, then massage vigorously (but not overly) in circular motions to remove dead skin cells. Finish with a soothing moisturizer. 

2 - For moisturized skin 

On ne le répètera jamais assez, une peau en pleine forme c'est une peau bien hydratée. En été, on mise sur le gel d’aloe vera connu pour ses vertus hydratantes, cicatrisantes et apaisante ! L'idéal est d'en retirer le gel directement depuis la plante. Le plant d'aloe vera peut facilement pousser dans un pot, si tant est qu'il est bien traité ! Autrement son gel bio et 100% naturel se retrouve facilement chez les marques Lulu & Guite, Aroma Zone ou encore PurAloé.

• How to make it directly from the plant? Open a leaf (carefully cut from the plant), wash off the excess oil that comes out, and scrape off the gelatinous substance. It can be stored in the freezer.
• How to use it? Aloe vera can be used as a mask or night cream. Pure aloe vera gel is also effective against sunburn, pimples, scars, and insect bites. It's the perfect summertime treat.

3 - For blemish-free skin

If you spend your vacations by the sea, then this tip is clearly for you. Did you know that seawater is excellent for cleansing the skin of impurities and drying out pimples? Rich in various minerals and trace elements, this naturally salty water can be likened to saline solution. Its benefits have been clearly endorsed by the cosmetics world, which has not hesitated to use it in a wide range of skincare products.

• What are the benefits for the skin? Exfoliated skin (thanks to the salt in the water), hydrated, healed skin, protected from bacteria (seawater is often recommended as an acne treatment), balances the skin's pH, and reduces inflammation. So, a nice swim for an hour, and those nasty blemishes are ready to say goodbye. A great excuse to chill out all summer on the beach. 

4 - For preserved armpits 

In summer, repeated shaving and waxing can weaken the armpits, which are a very delicate part of the body. To avoid any unpleasantness, opt for a deodorant that cares! It's effective, gentle and environmentally-friendly, and can be homemade. 

• The recipe: Mix 60g of baking soda (anti-odor), 40g of arrowroot, 100g of coconut oil (softener), and 10 drops of essential oil of your choice (fragrance). Let the mixture firm up. It's ready! 

5 - To reduce the appearance of stretch marks 

the oil moisturizes, cleanses and, above all, heals by nourishing the skin. It's the perfect natural miracle treatment when you're looking to fade stretch marks. These fine striae, which appear as a result of broken collagen fibers in the dermis, are generally not very popular, and it's normal to want to camouflage them (just as it's normal to want to accept them completely!). 

• How to do it? To fade them (they will never completely disappear if they are already white and well established), we accelerate the healing of the skin by moisturizing it as much as possible. Twice a day! Rosehip oil, avocado oil, argan oil, and calophyllum oil are known to be very effective. 

6 - To eliminate blackheads 

In summer, we like to keep foundation off our faces as much as possible. It's hot, it drips and it increases imperfections tenfold! So, for beautiful makeup-free skin, you may want to get rid of blackheads. There are many more or less natural, controversial or painful methods. Here, we make it simple with lemon! An antioxidant, this citrus fruit purifies and purifies the skin.

• How to do it? Apply in the evening before going to sleep on cleansed skin. Squeeze a whole lemon. Using a clean brush, spread it over the area to be treated to remove blackheads. Leave on for 1 to 2 minutes, then rinse. Repeat this process every evening for one week.

7 - For reduced dark circles 

Dark circles are the result of a hectic lifestyle or simply a genetic inheritance. While make-up does a superficial job of camouflaging them we'd just as soon not have to resort to artificial means to get rid of them! Incredibly, it's potatoes that you can turn to to say goodbye to dark circles. This starch contains a whitening agent that reduces the bluish or brown appearance of these marks.

• How to do it? Simply mash a good potato until it becomes a puree. Spread the puree over the affected area. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. 

8 - For soft lips

Even in summer, you can suffer from chapped lips. Dehydration, sunburn, smoking... Many factors come into play! Fortunately, for soft, rosy lips, you can rely on shea butter (and a good moisturizing regime, at least a liter a day). 

• How to do it? Every night before going to sleep, spread a delicate dab of shea butter (extremely moisturizing and nourishing) onto problem lips. When you wake up, your lips will be soft and plump.

9 - To reduce redness

Redness, like chapped lips, is not a wintertime indelicacy. In summer, too, you can have them and want to get rid of them, or at least fade them! Turmeric, which you may already have in your kitchen as a spice, is a powerful anti-inflammatory. As well as being excellent for your health, it can also help with skin problems.

• How to do it? Make sure the turmeric is organic and as natural as possible (turmeric produced on Reunion Island, for example, is a guarantee of quality). Mix a tablespoon of turmeric with a tablespoon of coconut oil (cold-pressed, 100% natural). Knead and apply the resulting paste to the redness. Leave on for about 10 minutes. The redness is reduced! ( Caution: not recommended for very sensitive skin .)

10 - For nourished, refreshed skin 

For nourished, refreshed skin, we say yes to cucumber! More specifically, milk and cucumber. Cucumber moisturizes dry skin and restores radiance to dull complexions. Combined with milk (even plant milk), it works wonders. 

• The recipe: Blend a quarter of a peeled cucumber, a tablespoon of honey, and 25cl of unsweetened organic almond milk. Refrigerate, and you've got a natural, nourishing milk to use every night for your skin.