Summer is a lovely season. You get to enjoy the beach, and swim in the pool. You get to wear light cotton clothes and ride bikes in the breeze. You get to do outdoor camping and even set up a barbecue in the backyard. Yet summer can be miserable for your skin.

The beach also means sand, the pool also means chlorine. With bike rides you also get dirt steaming through your hair. An outdoor camping trip can also mean mosquitoes and insects stings. A barbecue is also smoke and dust. The skin can actually be tortured in the summer season.

So you need to ensure that you do enough to take care of your skin and keep it hydrated all season long. You may use sunscreen regularly and feel that its enough. The trouble is that it does not protect your skin as much as you were led to believe it does. Here are a few basic pointers that can help your skin stay fresh all summer.

Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize

The basic skin care remains the same in summer. You need to cleanse, tone and moisturize the skin. Where possible use natural ingredients rather than chemical compositions.Yes I know its easy to buy the ready made creams in a bottle, but some natural products can be just as effective.

Use a mixture of quick cooking oats and milk as a natural cleanser.Just use it like you would a regular scrub in a tube. Don't rub it in too hard. The fiber in the oats makes it a wonderful cleanser.

Rose water works as a wonderful toner for your skin. To make it even more effective put it into the fridge to chill before you use it on your skin. And if you can stand the smell the cream taken off the top of the milk vessel can actually be used as a natural moisturizer.

If you would prefer you can also use honey to moisturize the skin. Use natural honey as a mask and apply it on the skin for ten minutes. Then wash it off with some water. There are a lot of things that you can use off the kitchen shelf.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

Hydrating the skin from outside is not as effective as hydrating the skin from within. This is best done by drinking a lot of water or fluids. Many summer coolers like watermelon juice, cranberry sorbet, and sweet lime refreshers work wonders for your skin.

Try and avoid food like ice creams as they are fatty in nature. They also have a some what dehydrating effect on the body, that's why you feel even more thirsty after eating an ice cream. I know summers are the time for ice cream, but for the sake of your skin, try and limit your intake.

Shelter from the Sun

In addition to all this using the sun screen is a must. The skin needs to be sheltered from direct sun. Use a cap where possible. Try out scarves which are light and can be tied to the ends of the cap to shelter the nape of the neck. Try and stay in the shade as much as possible.

I'm not trying to take the fun out of summer, but just hoping that your skin stays as healthy and fresh as it does in the spring. All you need to do is take a little care and the skin will flourish.