You know those late summer days where you’re up and showered bright and early, but by 11 AM you’re feeling sweaty and sloppy? Your office is air-conditioned, perhaps, but you’ve got two or three visits to make and you just know you’re looking bedraggled by the time you get in your car for the third time?
It can’t be helped, my sweetlings. All you can do is your best: choose simple, classic, clean clothing in light, breathable fabrics, scrub down well in the shower, and keep your hair clean and off your face. You too, fellas. And go light on the hair product, which has a nasty way of melting out of your hair and making its way down your forehead.
PeaceBang has a few little favorite little helpers on the muggiest days and she is happy to share them avec vouz, plural!
1. Keep a spray bottle of distilled water with a few drops of organic rose oil in it in the fridge and spritz your face and hair whenever you get a chance. Ahhh! (If you’ve ever been to a dinner party at PeaceBang’s, you’ve seen her do this in the midst of cooking.)
2. An easy ‘do for long or mid-length haired gals: Part your hair on the side, put it back in a high ponytail, tuck that under into a messy or clean bun and keep everything neat up front with a slim satin or cotton headband.
3. Keep your face absolutely bare of any make-up except for sunscreen, a bright pop of lipgloss, waterproof liquid eyeliner (if you’re the eyeliner type, and God knows I am) and waterproof mascara. This makes your features stand out and helps you to look alert and vibrant even when you feel like a Wilting Wilma.
4. Spritz a very light cologne on a clean, white cotton hankie and use it to dab at your brow and chin when the greasies threaten to get you later in the afternoon. Dab, don’t rub!
5. Splurge on a fantabulous minty body wash by C.O. Bigelow. It’s available at Bath & Body Works and since PeaceBang had to quit even iced DECAF coffee (*sob*), it’s the only thing that gets her going on some humid mornings. This isn’t just minty and refreshing, my friends… it’s MINTY and REFRESHING!!
I had to give up decaf coffee too. And chocolate. Sad, sad, SAD. [::::Pats on your head:::: – PB]
Is there a male version of the rose oil spritz water? I’m one of the lucky people who almost NEVER sweats (I know, it’s weird, but the drawback is SUPER dry, sensitive skin…), but my husband melts as easily as homemade sorbet in August.
What oil would you put in a spritz bottle for the wilting gentleman? Or is there some other “manly” option? [Well, the smell doesn’t really linger so I wouldn’t worry about it. I always spray my guy friends when they’re over and in the hot kitchen with me. Some of them are gay and less prone to worry about smelling macho, but my straight dude pals always like it too. I’m afraid that any of the “manlier” options that are coming to mind might sting the eyes, but let me think about it!- PB]
These are great tips for staying cool, no matter who you are or what you do! Thanks, PeaceBang – I’m definitely going to link to this post in my Weekly Fizz Fix this weekend!