Who remembers looking at their shadows during summer days, noticing just how they would get shorter and shorter, eventually disappearing into the sidewalk? This cool “short shadow” effect comes thanks to The Summer Solstice, which occurs in June when the sun is at its highest position in the sky. Also called midsummer, The Summer Solstice is also the longest day of the year (except at the poles, where it remains light out for a full 24 hours for six months around this same time). Why does this happen? Well it’s kind of technical but here it goes: you get a solstice when the planet’s rotational axis (read: the North or South Pole) is intensely slanted towards the star that it orbits (the sun). The Summer Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere sometime between June 20 and June 22, creating the longest day of sunlight for those of us in the Northern part of the globe. By contrast, the Winter Solstice (occurring between December 20 and 23) creates the shortest day of the year. This is reversed for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere. Thankfully, we are moving towards warmth and sun, leaving cold days in our immediate past.
This June, GLOSSYBOX is honoring the Summer Solstice and this warm change of season with three DIY beautification ideas. All will instantly imbue you with nourishment, hydration and radiance thanks to delicious, edible ingredients that come straight from the earth.
Brightening Tea Hair Elixir
Feeling a bit… dull? Enhance your hair color with an all natural solution comprised of ingredients you have lying around your house. Why tea? It lowers the pH of hair, sealing the cuticle for extra shine and manageability. Additionally, the natural pigments from the tea will help neutralize brassiness for more saturated, multi-dimensional color.
Ingredients
- 2 tea bags (Select which is perfect for you by your hair color: Chamomile for blondes, Rooibos, AKA Red Tea, for redheads or Black Tea for brunettes).
- 2 cups of water (filtered, if possible)
Directions
Whenever you think the hair looks drab, give yourself an extra dose of shine by steeping tea bags in boiling water for 10 minutes. After allowing the mixture to cool down for about 15 minutes, pour it over freshly-washed hair, disseminating into your scalp as you would shampoo. Leave the concoction on your hair for 10 minutes, then re-wash and condition your hair to seal the cuticle with shine. This treatment should be done weekly for optimal results.
Blueberry Facial Mask
During the summer, skin needs an extra boost of hydration and antioxidants to protect against potential weather-related flare-ups. Give yourself some serious nourishment with this creamy, nutrient-packed mask that will leave your skin looking and feeling radiant.
Ingredients
¼ cup of blueberries
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of honey
Directions
Blend ingredients together until mixture is smooth. Next, using your middle and index fingers, apply your mask across your face, including neck and decolletage. Rinse off with warm water, patting dry with a soft cotton towel. Be careful not to pull skin or rub near the delicate eye area!
Coconut Salt Foot Scrub
Sun’s out, feet out! Summertime is pedicure season and in between trips to the salon it’s important to keep those tooties looking fab. We swear by this restorative foot scrub, which can be personalized depending on your scent preferences. Give yourself a healing foot massage while scrubbing this delectable blend for a calming, sensorial DIY spa experience!
Ingredients
1 cup of course sea salt or sugar
¼ cup coconut oil
¼ cup vitamin E oil
3-4 drops of organic essential oil (fragrance of your choosing)
Directions
Pour your salt or sugar into a glass or wooden bowl. Add coconut oil and vitamin E oil while stirring ingredients in a circular motion with a wooden spoon, until mixture begins to stick together. Next, add a few drops of your favorite organic essential oil, which should be food grade if possible. Store in glass jars in between uses.
By Belisa Silva