With hot weather, the blazing sun, and sunburns left and right, we’re all feeling the heat these days. It’s tough to get away from. And with plenty of summer left to come, everyone’s looking for ways to beat the heat. After all, you can’t exactly cart your own air conditioning unit around with you everywhere you go. Or can you?
The Blend
Peppermint has a cooling effect when applied topically thanks to the menthol in its chemical makeup. It can also have a soothing effect on reddened skin and be mentally relaxing. Spearmint has similar effects, stimulating the nerves, restoring the mind, providing balance and grounding. Lavender is known to have relaxing aromatherapy and skincare benefits. Bergamot has a wonderfully uplifting scent, lending some energy to this cooling blend. It can also help soothe dry skin—an all too common occurrence during the summer heat. Eucalyptus is also great for the skin, making it another smart inclusion for this blend. Pine has been found to be helpful in reviving tired muscles and promoting easy breathing, contributing to the energy and relief this blend offers.
Using It
Normally if you’d be topically applying Bergamot oil or a blend containing it, you’d want to take extra care if you intended to spend time in the sun. Bergamot contains bergaptene which can cause photosensitivity. Our Bergamot oil is bergaptene-free, though, so you don’t need to worry about that.
For easy application, try a spray cap on your oil bottle, or dilute some Icicle into a spray bottle with water. Just avoid the eyes when using your heat-relief spray!
More Ways to Beat the Summer Heat
Having our Icicle blend in your arsenal is helpful, but what if you forget it at home or don’t have any? There are still plenty of other ways you can beat the summer heat.
Hydrate. It’s crucial to stay properly hydrated. This allows you to create sweat, which is your body’s natural way of cooling itself down. As your sweat evaporates, it takes some heat with it, helping you cool down. The right amount of water will differ from person to person based on health, physical activity, environment, and other factors, but it’s generally thought that men should consume 15.5 cups of fluids per day and women should consume 11.5 cups. If your urine is light yellow or colorless, and if you are rarely thirsty, you’re likely drinking enough.
Stay Cool. Taking cold showers and baths and cooling your neck and wrists with cold washcloths can help bring down your temperature as well. You can also freeze water bottles and place them in areas with high blood flow. The idea is that if you place cold things in areas with a lot of blood flow, you can cool the blood a little as it goes through, helping lower your internal temperature slightly.
Limit Heat. Within your home, use LED bulbs since they don’t generate as much heat as incandescent bulbs. Spend more time in the basement if that’s an option, since they tend to be cooler than upper levels. Keep blinds and curtains closed to keep the sun out. Using fans can help circulate the air better too. While that won’t change the temperature, the moving air can help the room feel cooler.
We’ve still got a ways to go before we’re through the summer, and odds are that the temperatures will only increase from here. You may love the summer heat, but there’s a point at which it becomes too much. When you get to that point, make sure you have some Icicle on hand to help you beat the summer heat along with an entire arsenal of heat-beating treats!
