Celebrate Summer as the Solstice approaches!

Being outdoors is very, very good for the soul. You get fresh air, you connect with nature, you relieve stress and get new, creative ideas. And there is no better time than the Summer Solstice to get yourself out there and connect with the Earth!

The summer solstice heralds the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The timing of the summer solstice depends on when the sun reaches its northernmost point of the equator. In 2016, summer begins with the solstice on June 21 at 12:24 a.m.

Connect to the Earth

And this is a time of celebration and connection to the natural world, which has been honoured and followed in many different cultures around the world, for thousands of years. The date of the June solstice was significant in that it was used as a calendar marker to decide when to plant and harvest crops. It was also a really popular time for weddings, so if you want to get hitched...nudge nudge!

In ancient China, the summer solstice was observed by a ceremony to celebrate the Earth, femininity, and the “yin” forces. It contrasted with the Winter Solstice – celebrating the heavens, masculinity and “yang” forces. In France, the midsummer celebration was called the Feast of Epona, after a goddess who personified fertility and protected horses. Native American tribes held sun-honouring rituals, and the Sioux went all out with a major celebration.

So, all this a great little piece of history, but has it got to do with you? Well, we might live centuries later in a modern world governed by commerce and technology, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use this time to connect with the earth and enjoy the warm weather. What is important, is to do it with style, flair and looking fantastic!

Summer skin, smooth, hydrated and glowing!

So, when you put on your sundress, or skip into your short shorts to go and play outside, you want your skin to look its very best. So, start now by exfoliating your body. You can use Malie Organics Koke’e Body Polish to exfoliate, nourish and hydrate – giving your skin that lovely, healthy, summery glow. The fragrance will transport you straight from your bathroom and onto the beach with tropical notes that dry down to a smell that is just like an endless vista of warm sand and azure water.

Malie Organics Koke'e Body Polish

After the invigorating exfoliation, give your skin a hydration boost with a delicious body butter, like Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter, a spa-powered body butter for soft, superbly scented skin. Marvelously moisturizing, this fresh-citrus scented treat is incredibly effective that a single squeeze can make rough and scaly skin 'history'. It contains coconut oil that softens skin, sodium hyaluronate locks in moisture while vitamin E deeply nourishes.

Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter

And being outside means there is a good chance you could be taking a dip, in the ocean, a sparkling swimming pool or a refreshing stream! So make sure you protect and nurture your precious skin with a hydrating sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, like Sisley Facial Sunscreen (Colourless) SPF 30. Rich in essential oils and natural plant extracts, it really helps you to enjoy the sun safely. This is a fine, matte cream that offers optimal protection against UVA/UVB rays and perfectly moisturises skin. Here is a good place to spend a little extra, and reap the rewards for years to come!