a week of summer essentials. hydration.

*oops, we were having too much fun enjoying summer last week that these never made it to the blog...so i'm continuing last week's a week of summer esssentials this week.

now that we've covered protection from the sun and are out having a great time, it's important to stay hydrated. the sun, salt water, and chlorine eventually take a toll on our bodies, drying out our skin and hair. i'm always on the lookout for good products, so feel free to share some of your favorites. here is what i'm currently using to combat dry skin and hair this summer:

my hair stylist scolded me for not using a leave-in conditioner, so i went on a mission to find one. i had a sample of this suave professionals natural infusion with awapuhi ginger strengthening leave-in cream and loved it enough to purchase it. you can apply it to wet or dry hair, and i love the convenient pump. for best results, i apply it to towel dried hair at night and wake up with super silky hair. did i mention it smells amazing?

you can sample the suave natural infusion products here, and if it's the same thing i had, they are generously-sized foil packets.

my hands take a beating with all the hand washing i do, so i always follow up with hand cream. this mary kay peach hand cream really does make your skin feel satiny smooth. it's light, not greasy, and did i mention that it smells delicious?

lubriderm daily moisture moisturizer with sunscreen is my go-to everyday body lotion; i've been using it for years. with our warm weather year round, i'm extremely picky about my body lotion because i hate feeling sticky or greasy throughout the day. lubriderm is absorbed easily, doesn't feel heavy or greasy, and the SPF 15 is perfect for protecting my skin during the drive to and from work.

i wasn't sure what to expect from a hydration spray lotion. i was hoping for the convenience of a mist/spray-and-go [without having to use my hands to rub it in], but st. ives hydration lotion is a heavier spray that needs to be rubbed in. it's on the greasy side, which is good for my skin, but not for my hands since i have to wash them after each application...and then we're back to dry hands and my peach hand cream. but, i've found a way around it by applying it as soon as i get up in the morning, rubbing my arms together (crossing them over) to spread the lotion, and same with my legs. that way i don't have to get my hands greasy, and it has time to soak in before i get dressed. it does give your skin a pretty shine, and did i mention it smells amazing? has anyone tried other brands of spray lotions?

my face is already extremely dry and eczema prone; add to that the effects of summer sun, and now i'm desperate for a good hydrating mask. so i picked up glam glow thirstymud hydrating treatment after hearing some good reviews. it can be used as a 20 minute mask or left on overnight. at $70 a jar, i couldn't see washing this product down the drain after 20 minutes, so i use it as an overnight treatment. my glam glow conveniently arrived right after i spent a weekend in the sun...my sunburned forehead and nose were just beginning to show signs of peeling. after two overnight treatments, the peeling didn't progress...in fact, i forgot that i had even started to peel. i am enjoying this mask so far, but i'm sure there are less expensive alternatives. if you have a fave, let me know. oh, and did i mention how good this smells?

products can only do so much...make sure to also keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water. but if you need some extra help like me, do try some of these great-smelling products. the lingering scents will have you day dreaming of summer fun. scroll down to enter the ulta beauty giveaway where you can win a $250 gift card to stock up on all your summer necessities.

details here:

in case you missed it:

a week of summer essentials . sunscreen

a week of summer essentials . UPF clothing

*     *     *

enter to win a $250 Ulta Beauty gift card