“Summertime and the livin is easy.” Hold it! Summer may be the season of sun and fun, but it’s not so easy keeping ourselves feeling fresh and squeaky clean. Summer equals sweat, and not a single part of our body–from our hair to the tips of our toes, and everything in between–is immune from from the stickiness and smelliness that come from perspiration.
So we asked the FabOverFifty community for summertime tips on keeping cool, calm and collected when the temperature soars.
Powder, especially when it’s scented, seems to be one of a lady’s favorite ways to stay fresh and fragrant when the sun is blazing.‘’Powder. Often,” commented Melody Nees on the FabOverFifty Facebook page, when we asked our fans to give us tips on staying cool during the summer. “Powder on my torso, especially under the breasts and on my back, and just a little on my feet or in my shows to keep my feet from sweating,” says Deb Mecks.
Talcum powder, made from talc, a mineral comprised mainly of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen, absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, “making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes,” according to the website of the American Cancer Society. It is widely used in cosmetic products such as baby powder and adult body and facial powders.
Some talc, in its natural form, contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled, but all talcum products used in homes in the United States have been asbestos-free since the 1970s. There also was talk that talcum powder, used in the genital area, can increase a woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer, but studies have not come close to producing definitive evidence. If you’re still nervous, avoid using talcum powder between your waist and your ankles, or use talcum-free powders.
Powder has competition. Caroline Clark loves cucumber-scented baby wipes, which she buys at one of the big mass merchants. “I put them in the fridge or freezer and wipe myself down with them if I’m out for a long time. My husband loves them, too, because he is a professional musician and sometimes plays symphony or band gigs out in the heat. They are great for wiping the sweat, and he doesn’t have that baby powder smell. Oh, and frozen grapes. We love frozen grapes!”
Cindy Anelante “splashes Jean Nate all over” after she showers. “So refreshing and it reminds me of my grandmother, who adored that scent,” Jean says. She also drinks plenty of water all day, wears her hair up, and slips into “soft nighties” at bedtime. Harriete Goldfarb keeps Avon’s Cheap spray cologne in the fridge and says “it feels so great.” And Debbie Ivey mixes peppermint essential oil with water and sprays it on her feet, the back of her neck, and elsewhere. “It’s very cooling,” she comments.
Of course, what’s more refreshing than taking a shower? “Lots of showers!” exclaims Mary Tyszka. And, make sure to always take a tube of body wash with sodium hyaluronate into the shower with you. Choose one you can use–every day–on your vagina, to keep it fantastically fresh, hydrated and healthy during the summer, and all year long.
Thanks for the great advice. I can’t wait to try the cucumber wipes on my face.