Beat the Heat This Summer with Natural Ingredients

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreshNaturally #CollectiveBias

Summer is upon us and it’s hot out there!  Here in South Florida it’s easily 90+ degrees each day with off-the-charts humidity.  Needless to say, even the quickest of trips out of the house end with you in a sweat.  While it may not be quite as hot where you are, chances are you’re looking for ways to stay cool.  But staying cool in the summer heat doesn’t have to mean harsh chemicals or big electric bills.   And as a mom who’s always trying to be just a little bit green-er, I figured this was the perfect opportunity to share my 3 tips on staying cool and comfortable this summer while being green and using natural ingredients.

Water – It goes without saying that you should drink more water as the temperatures start to rise, but don’t stop there.  Water can be great for your skin too!  Misting yourself frequently with a spray bottle will combat the dryness that summer often brings with it, while leaving you cool and refreshed.  So those misting fans we got at Disney last month?  Not such a bad investment at all.

Also remember to keep your misting water in the fridge – that way it will stay colder and you won’t need to run the tap for an excessive period of time in search of cold water.

Be Careful What You Wear – While you’re transitioning your wardrobe over to lighter, cotton fabrics, don’t forget about what you put on before you dress.  While deodorant is a must in the summer heat, there’s no need for it to be full of harsh chemicals.  On a recent shopping trip at Whole Foods, I was pleasantly surprised to find Tom’s of Maine makes deodorant.  Why is that important?  Well, Tom’s of Maine is know for making high quality, eco-friendly products that have no artificial colors, fragrances, artificial preservatives, or animal ingredients.   And their long-lasting deodorant is no exception.  Tom’s of Maine will keep you feeling cool and fresh in the summer sun without all those harsh chemicals.

I picked up the unscented Long Lasting Tom’s of Maine deodorant for women, but they have tons of different scents for women – Wild Lavender, Fresh Apricot, Lemongrass – and men’s varieties too.  All made with your body and the environment in mind.The next time you’re at Whole Foods, make sure to look for Tom’s of Maine in the Beauty & Aromatherapy aisle (by the way, “Aromatherapy” at a grocery store is just another reason I love Whole Foods!).

Send Your Appliances on Vacation – Okay, you don’t need to send them anywhere; just give them a little break.  I don’t know about you, but when I use my oven, it ends up heating my house.  Same thing with my dryer.  So to keep your house a little cooler and save energy, turn the appliances off.  Make lighter dishes like fruit and garden salads.  If you’re going to prepare meat, grill outside.  And if you have room for a clothes line, dry your clothes outside in the sunlight.  Your house will stay cooler and you energy bill will stay low.

Tip:  Of course, you’ll probably want to keep your air conditioning on during the summer, so to make the most of that cold air by running fans simultaneously.  Fans are great, but without an air conditioning, all you’re doing is pushing around hot air.  Running a fan and the air conditioning at the same time will make the most of your cold air.

How do you stay cool over the summer?