A seaside vacation has many advantages: a beautiful tan, a daily dose of vitamin D, meditative relaxation on the shore. However, while you are relaxing on the beach, your skin is under stress from the sun, and sea water is not always good for it. In order for your vacation to leave pleasant memories, and not dry and chapped skin, it is important to prepare for the trip and have the necessary care products in your arsenal.
the sea heals the skin
The healing effects of a seaside resort
The sea is like a special separate world where we come to relax, slow down and improve our health. The southern resorts have everything for this: healing air, salt water, warm sand. Each of these aspects really helps us feel better.
Sea baths for beautiful skin
Due to the difference in body temperature and water, the body increases heat transfer, which increases metabolism and energy consumption. The mass of water is felt by the body as a tonic hydromassage; it increases blood circulation and improves skin elasticity. And, of course, sea water has a unique composition, rich in valuable microelements: sodium, chlorine, magnesium, iodine, bromine, potassium, etc. These components penetrate the body through the skin, making it more elastic and smooth.
sea water is rich in valuable microelements
Sea air for immunity
Like water, sea air is filled with salts and chemical compounds that are beneficial to every person. Just by being outside, the body absorbs elements that help it maintain stable blood pressure, stimulate cell regeneration and enhance protective functions. Daily walks along the shore prevent many respiratory diseases and have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
Sea sand for psammotherapy
Psammotherapy is a treatment with hot sand. It is used for diseases of the joints, nervous system, and respiratory organs. Warmth reaches the internal organs, improving the symptoms of chronic diseases, and the mechanical effect of grains of sand stimulates metabolic processes.
psammotherapy
Water of the seas and oceans – natural cosmetics
Sea water is one of the best natural cosmetics, and the higher its salinity, the richer the effect. Its beneficial properties were known back in Ancient Greece, where thalassotherapy was used - healing procedures with sea water.
The minerals and trace elements such as magnesium, potassium and calcium contained in this natural product ensure that diving into the depths of the sea or ocean becomes a kind of nutritional cocktail for our skin. Swimming in the salty waves provides the body with an excellent procedure for tightening the skin, cleansing the hair and adding natural volume.
Let's take a closer look at the benefits of staying in such natural and artificial reservoirs.
How the sea heals the skin: essential microelements for the body
It is enough to look at the composition of sea water to understand the complex effect it has on the body. The sea contains more than 20 useful microelements, each of which makes us stronger, fitter and more beautiful.
sea water contains microelements beneficial for the skin
Bromine calms the nervous system, helping to get rid of neurosis, accumulated stress and irritation. It has a pronounced sedative effect, so it perfectly helps fight insomnia.
Iron saturates the blood with oxygen, replenishes energy levels, improves concentration and memory, and also relieves symptoms of anemia.
Selenium strengthens the immune system, prevents tumors, improves skin texture, and gives strength to nails and hair. It is involved in the production of enzymes and hormones, and also helps the body cope with anxiety, emotional and physical stress.
Sulfur is known for its cleansing and brightening effects. It suppresses the activity of fungal infections, helps in the treatment of acne and its traces, participates in collagen synthesis and even slows down aging.
Zinc is involved in lipid metabolism and regulates the functioning of the sebaceous glands. It prevents the formation of acne, relieves inflammation, dries out pimples and generally improves skin condition.
benefits of the sea for skin
Calcium strengthens hair and nails, bones and muscles, ligaments and cartilage. With its help, small wounds on the skin heal faster, and with a lack of calcium, the skin quickly becomes dull and thin.
Potassium regulates moisture levels in cells and helps prevent dehydration. This element improves the supply of oxygen to the brain, participates in the elimination of toxins and helps overcome allergies.
Silicon helps the body better absorb calcium and other minerals and enhances the properties of certain vitamins. Silicon strengthens the walls of blood vessels, normalizes heart function, and improves the body's protective functions.
Manganese promotes the growth and strengthening of connective tissue, which makes up bones and cartilage. It lowers blood sugar levels, participates in the synthesis of cholesterol and prevents its excess accumulation in the liver.
Copper ensures uniform skin pigmentation, prevents hair fragility and loss, and also normalizes appetite and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Chlorine regulates the water balance in cells, removes excess fluid and salts from the body, and reduces swelling. We especially need chlorine during hot weather or physical activity.
Iodine is primarily associated with the production of thyroid hormones. It promotes weight loss and provides energy for physical and mental activity. Iodine also ensures healthy skin, teeth, hair and nails.
Homemade salt scrub or ready-made: which is better?
When choosing exfoliating products, many girls prefer salt scrubs. But before experimenting with such cosmetics, you need to know whether sea salt helps with acne.201
Many arguments are made in favor of homemade exfoliants, which can be prepared from improvised ingredients, spending pennies on it. According to experts in the field of cosmetology, homemade salt cosmetics have the right to life, but they are unlikely to help get rid of acne.201
The use of such a product can even harm the skin. Too large crystals injure the epidermis, which often leads to the active spread of the rash. In addition, cosmetic salt often contains additives that act as allergens and irritants for sensitive skin. If we talk about the benefits of finished cosmetics with sea salt, we can note the following201:
- Balanced composition. At home, it is almost impossible to prepare a scrub that exfoliates well, but does not dry out or injure the epidermis. It is very easy to violate the proportions of ingredients at home, and this can even lead to an allergic reaction.
- Productivity. Purchased cosmetics containing sea salt for acne on the back and face are being tested. Based on their results, the manufacturer draws conclusions about the effectiveness of its products. Homemade cosmetics can be hazardous to health.
- Ease of use. Ready-made salt scrubs and other cosmetics are applied and washed off easily, which cannot be said about homemade cosmetics.
If you have problem skin, consult a dermatologist or cosmetologist on how to get rid of acne on your face. A specialist will help you choose a remedy that acts on the causes of the rash, and not just eliminates its manifestations.
How to prepare your skin for the sea
First of all, vacationers rush to bring back from the sea not magnets and shells, but a beautiful, even tan. In order for the sun's rays to evenly penetrate into the deep layers of the skin, it is important to cleanse the epidermis of keratinized particles. A salt-based scrub is ideal for this. It will not only relieve the skin from peeling, but also saturate it with useful microelements and protect against dehydration.
Dead Sea salt scrub
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is especially important for a chocolate tan. Responsible for skin regeneration, collagen synthesis and the production of melanin - a dark pigment. Vitamin A is found in carrots, pumpkin, watermelon, melon, avocado, red meat and fatty fish. A person who adds these foods to their diet is much more likely to get a bronze tan.
Another equally important element is vitamin C. It protects the skin from premature aging, burns and age spots. To compensate for its deficiency, eat more sour fruits and berries: kiwi, sea buckthorn, rose hips, currants.
It will be useful to refuse to use decorative cosmetics to give the skin a rest and avoid pigmentation disorders. Let us clarify that we are talking only about products containing fruit acids.
Important: start all beauty preparations a week before your trip.
Chemical composition
The main components of H2O in the sea are oxygen and hydrogen .
Their concentration in it is 85.7% and 10.8%, respectively. Oxygen improves metabolic processes in the body. Thanks to it, blood circulation is regulated. This element helps improve immune defense. The third largest component by weight is chlorine. Together with sodium, they form a compound that makes water salty.
Thanks to these elements, it has disinfecting properties. Metabolism also accelerates.
Magnesium eliminates allergic reactions and reduces nervousness . Calcium strengthens the nervous system and prevents osteoporosis. Sulfur also has a disinfecting effect. It has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin.
Potassium eliminates swelling. Bromine has a calming effect. Iodine normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland.
How to care for your skin at sea
Despite all the healing properties of a seaside resort, on vacation the skin is regularly exposed to stress.
sun protection
The sun is the first risk factor. While you are enjoying the warm wind and a cool cocktail, UV rays penetrate the epidermis, causing photoaging and varying degrees of burns. This means that you need to reconsider your classic care.
After washing and toning in the morning, be sure to apply a product with spf. The naturally lighter your skin, the more freckles and moles it has, the higher the sun protection index should be. The consistency of the product is not so important; cream, oil, and lotion are equally suitable.
moisturizing facial skin
The second risk factor is sea salt. It is good for the skin, but it is important to control the time of bathing and wash off any remaining salt afterwards so as not to dry out the skin. If possible, take a shower and apply sunscreen after bathing, and thoroughly rinse your hair to remove salt. If this is not done, they will quickly become tangled and stiff.
The best thing you can do for your facial skin is to use moisturizers regularly. Thermal water, cream or light emulsion will help maintain the water-salt balance and prevent the skin from drying out. If your skin is already irritated or you have a burn, use a soothing gel or alcohol-free lotion and give your hair a moisturizing mask.
hair moisturizing
Rise in popularity on TikTok
It all started with a video @aubyrnjadeart found in the recommendations - the dramatic transformation of skin from problematic to normal earned four million views. How did the girl do this? According to her, it’s very simple - self-treatment with sea water helped. This know-how originally belonged to another user - @leacrylics. The story of her struggle with acne is atypical: she tried literally everything until she remembered what a great cleansing effect swimming in the ocean has on the skin. So the cure for inflammation was spraying sea water twice a day on the face. Both are confident that the product works because it normalizes the pH balance of the skin and kills bacteria on the surface of the face.
TikTok content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Important Application Tips
Before treating your skin with salt or a salt composition, follow these recommendations:
- It is better to use sea salt than table salt. It contains many minerals that are beneficial for the skin.
- The fraction of the bulk ingredient is also important. Large particles can injure the epidermis, so when preparing cosmetics, use the crushed version (“extra”).
- Salt procedures often cause burning and discomfort. Don't wait for time to expire. Immediately wash the product off your face.
- Apply salt mixtures along the massage lines (read more about self-massage techniques here). This must be done easily so as not to damage the weakened covers.
- Do not leave masks on your face too long. Firstly, you can dry out the epidermis, and secondly, the product dries out and does not bring any benefit.
- Rinse off salt cosmetics several times so that particles do not remain and clog pores. Finish washing with herbal decoction.
- Do similar procedures in the evening. During the night, the skin will calm down and the next morning it will be ready to apply makeup.
- Do not overdo it with the frequency of applying salty compounds. The interval between applications should be at least 5 days.
- In between salt manipulations, do gymnastics. It will only increase the chances of quickly returning the youth of the integument.
- Don't forget to finish your salt peel with a moisturizer. This is extremely important!
A salt facial scrub, bath, lotion or mask are all part of proper facial care. Regularity and adherence to these rules and recommendations will help you avoid problems and achieve excellent results.
Contraindications
should not be used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes in the following cases:
- Presence of cardiovascular diseases.
- Kidney diseases.
- Liver disorders.
- Increased body temperature.
- The presence of ulcers, abrasions and weeping wounds on the skin.
- Varicose veins
- Dry scalp and body.
- Herpes.
- Post-stroke and post-infarction conditions.
Should not be used if the thyroid gland is malfunctioning. This applies when it produces too many hormones (hyperthyroidism). You cannot be treated with saline solutions during exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Skin transformation recipes
Nutrition, skin healing, salt peeling for the face are common procedures in beauty salons and spas. You can prepare nutritious, cleansing mixtures at home. This will require a minimum of waste, a little effort and time.
Facial cleansing
Facial cleansing is an important step in facial care. Free pores, clean epidermis free of dirt and sebaceous secretions are the key to excellent “breathing” of cells, rapid absorption of nutritional components from the mask and cream. It is also important to do this carefully so as not to damage the tissue and cause minimal irritation and redness. Let's consider several recipes for high-quality and gentle cleansing:
- Peeling with salt without additives. Pre-steam your face with a warm towel or steam. Rub the seafood product “Extra” in circular, light movements along the massage lines for 2 minutes. This should be done once every 3 days for those with oily epidermis; for normal and combination skin types, once a week is enough. After the procedure, wash with warm water and apply skin care cream.
- Face scrub made from salt and soda. Mix 1 tbsp. salt and soda, add 2 tbsp. sour cream (for dry skin) or kefir (for oily skin). Apply the scrub to your steamed face. In problem areas where there are the largest number of blackheads, massage lightly. After 10 minutes, rinse off the product. Be sure to moisten the surface with cream or olive oil.
- A fruit mask will help perfectly cleanse your face. Grind 1 tbsp. fruit puree from berries, kiwi or green apple with 1 tsp. salty ingredient. Place the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off the mixture and apply intensive moisturizing cream.
You can enhance the effectiveness of the cleansing gel and milk with a small amount of salt and soda. Apply the facial gel to the skin, and then rub in the bulk ingredients one by one for 1 minute. The skin after the procedure is surprisingly soft, smooth and clean.
Skin treatment for acne and acne
You can get rid of pimples and blackheads (not ulcers) with salt masks and washes. The effect is to fill the cells with mineral components with a slight drying effect. Be careful during the procedure so as not to damage the tissue or spread the infection to healthy areas.
- A salt mask with the addition of protein and lemon juice will improve tone, eliminate acne and inflammation, and help fight blackheads. To prepare you will need a third of a teaspoon of salty product, beaten egg white, 1 tbsp. lemon juice. Mix the ingredients. Spread the protein mixture over your face for 10-15 minutes.
- For medicinal purposes, a salt composition with cosmetic clay is suitable. Clay is good at drawing out impurities from pores and healing the skin. Combined with salt, this is an excellent healing option. Mix 2 tsp. prepared clay with 1 tsp. bulk product. Apply to the entire face or to individual problem areas for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with a decoction of herbs (chamomile, calendula), apply the main cream. Herbs will complement the therapeutic effect and activate important processes. Read more about them here.
