The essentials of skin and hair care – While Swimming

Skin Care:

Before swim: Use a heavy-duty moisturizer or body lotion few minutes before applying your sunblock. Apply sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection before stepping in, with a minimum SPF 30. 

After Swim: Right after your swim, go straight to the shower and rinse the chemicals off your skin with soap and water. If your skin is super sensitive, you can opt for swimmer specific body washes that will neutralize the chlorine. If you’re going to use moisturizer, look for products high in antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C. These will help neutralize the chlorine as well. Vitamin C shower filters that are pretty inexpensive and which dechlorinates  water. Bathing in hot water will exaggerate the risks because the chemicals can be inhaled with the steam. Also very important to have a bath asap, the longer gap you have, the more chlorine affects your skin.

How to make a DeChlorinating Lotion at home:

• 1/2 cup almond or olive oil
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup beeswax
• 2 tablespoons  warm water
• 2 teaspoons vitamin C powder
• Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
• Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

How to Make Lotion

1. Combine oils and beeswax  in a pint-sized or larger glass jar.
2. In another small jar or bowl, add the vitamin c powder to the warm water and stir until dissolved.
3. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple of inches of water and place the jar with the oils inside the saucepan and turn on medium heat.
4. As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, pour into a small blender or food processor, or keep in the jar if using an immersion blender that will fit in the top of the jar.
5. With blender or food processor on, slowly add the water/vitamin C mixture until blended and emulsified.
6. Store in an air-tight glass jar.
7. Use before swimming (preferably after rinsing skin) to minimize chlorine exposure. This is purposefully a small batch since no preservatives are used and it will only  last one swim season.

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