SUMMER!

Happy Midsummer Day! I wish I was celebrating this beautiful holiday with my family in Sweden. Instead I'm in Massachusetts, writing this blog for you, with no pool or beach or summer activities in site. Basically I'm using this blog update to remind me that it issummer.
There is no other fruit that screams summer the way that watermelondoes. It is the ultimate outdoor* food - no one wants to clean it up so you always get thrown outside with your watermelon slices in hand.
But it doesn't matter that you're banished outside to eat it. Watermelon is nature's freeze pop and it has lycopene, which is a natural red pigmentation that has been shown to help prevent skin cancer. So eat up this summer!
While you're slicing that thing up, take advantage of its skin care benefits. The fresh, watery consistency of the fruit is a great mask or exfoliator. Don't believe me? Try it yourself.

Body

Watermelon cubes: After a long hot day in the sun it is crucial to relieve the burn you have procured (if you forgot sunscreen). Slice some watermelon into cubes and freeze them for 30 minutes at most. Dump them into a pitcher of cool water and let sit until they have softened and melted. Get into the bath and pour the mixture over the sunburned areas. This also works with cucumbers too; because of their high water content and their silica and lycopene ingredients, they work wonders on damaged skin.

Face

Pink Exfoliator: Just mashing the watermelon pulp and scrubbing it all over your face is one of my simplest tricks. Because of the high water content you don't need to mix with water. You will, however, need to rinse.
Sunny sun burn trick: Mixing some mashed watermelon with 2 tsps of yogurt gives you two powerful ingredients to help relieve the sunburn on your face.

*Enjoy your summer days safely. The beautiful sun is the number one reason for skin damage, skin cancer and wrinkles. A little prevention goes a long way.