Summer’s not all bronzed limbs and beachy waves, here’s how to fix chafing, strawberry legs and more warm weather woes

WE spend months dreaming about summer beauty – the glowy skin, the perfect tan, the bright colours we’ll paint our toes. Then the temperature climbs above 25°C and reality hits. Whether we’re limping around with thigh chafe, wondering why our heels suddenly resemble the Sahara Desert, watching our expensive highlights turn orange, or trying not to scratch the mosquito bite that’s somehow landed in the middle of our forehead, summer isn’t always our beauty BFF. The good news? Most of these seasonal disasters are easy to fix, or prevent. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! From the products that actually soften cracked heels to the ingredients that banish strawberry legs, here’s how not to sweat it. Cracked heels If you’ve found your feet need more TLC as you get older, you’re not imagining it. Podiatrist Margaret Dabbs explains: “During midlife, hormonal changes can contribute to increased dryness, making skin more vulnerable to roughness and cracking. Combined with years of pressure and wear on the feet, many people find their heels require more attention as they age.” And if you’ve been relying on a trusty foot file in the bath or shower, you might want to rethink it. “Foot filing should always be carried out on dry skin before bathing or showering for the safest, most effective and longest-lasting results,” adds Margaret. Regular body lotion often doesn’t pack enough punch, though, so you should also invest in a foot-specific moisturiser, too. Most read in Fabulous It’s time to show your feet some TLC by investing in high-quality foot moisturiser Credit: CREDIT: NEXT.CO.UK Margaret Dabbs London Cracked Heel Treatment, £18 This rich balm nourishes and hydrates rough feet thanks to salicylic and benzoic acids, which exfoliate the skin, plus moisturising shea and cocoa butter. Strawberry legs Those small, dark dots you see on your legs after hair removal – AKA strawberry legs (because they resemble the seeds on a strawberry) – can make many of us ditch the shorts, but there’s a relatively easy fix. “When strawberry legs occur, the skin is usually experiencing clogged or inflamed hair follicles,” explains medical and aesthetics expert Dr Leah Totton. Shaving with a blunt razor and not exfoliating and moisturising regularly can make them more likely. If you’ve got them, then reach for the actives. “Chemical exfoliants, such as salicylic acid, penetrate pores to dissolve dead skin cells and reduce follicle clogging and ingrown hairs. Glycolic acid and lactic acid will exfoliate the skin surface and also the middle layers, breaking down keratin plugs and improving texture, while retinoids improve cell turnover and skin texture,” advises Leah. Chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid reduce the appearance of strawberry legs Credit: BOOTS Q+A Salicylic Acid Smoothing Lotion, £10.50 If you’ve got sensitive skin, or don’t have time to add a scrub to your routine, this lightweight lotion uses exfoliating acids to unclog pores and buff away the build-up of dead skin. Insect bites Waking up on the morning of a special occasion with a huge insect bite is the stuff of nightmares. For an instant fix, Dr Sabika Karim, GP and founder of Skin Medical, says: “Keep the area clean, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and use over-the-counter antihistamines. Anti-inflammatory treatments, such as mild topical steroids, can also be helpful in reducing the inflammatory response and minimising the risk of longer-term marks.” Speaking of longer-term problems, whatever you do, keep those nails away. “The most important factor in preventing scarring is avoiding scratching, which can lead to increased inflammation, delayed healing and post-inflammatory pigmentation,” warns Dr Karim. If you’re a real mozzie magnet, it’s worth investing in a device like Boots Bite Relief Click-It, £6.30. This clever little gadget delivers a tiny click of piezoelectric energy to help take the sting (and the urge to scratch) out of mosquito bites. Small enough to stash in your beach bag, one device treats up to 4,000 bites. Keep your temperature in check with these clever patches Credit: Boots Boots Menopause & Me Instant Cooling Packs, £2.89 for five Cool the area with a cold compress pack for on-the-go bite soothing! Thigh chafing Who hasn’t had to do the thigh-chafe waddle? Caused by skin rubbing against skin or clothing, heat, humidity and sweat all make it much worse. Prevention is better than cure and anti-chafe shorts are an option (Snag does great ones, from £9.99), but they can feel too warm on really hot days. This is when anti-chafe balms step in. Originally used by marathon runners and hikers, a swipe creates a protective barrier. Already suffering? Advanced skin therapist Laura M Clipea advises: “If your skin has already become sore, the most important thing is to give it a chance to recover. Keep the area clean and dry, avoid any further rubbing and use a soothing barrier cream containing ingredients such as zinc oxide or panthenol. Anti-chafing patches or hydrocolloid dressings can also be real lifesavers.” Prevent thigh chafing this summer by using an anti-chafe balm Credit: CREDIT: CULTBEAUTY.CO.UK Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick, £8 Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Stick prevents irritating chafing from ruining your summer, it can be used on thighs, toes, shoulders and elbows to keep chafing under lock and key! Colour Fade Highlights you didn’t ask for can be a real lowlight of your summer, with copper and darker shades being especially vulnerable to lightening and fading. Laura Miller, beauty and product training expert at Oriflame, says: “UV rays act like bleach, breaking down the pigments in your hair, while also drying out the fibres. Sunlight can damage keratin, which is the hair’s primary structural protein and weaken the protective outer cuticle, making hair more porous, meaning your colour washes out even more quickly.” What’s the DIY fix? While you can’t replace pigment that’s already been lost, you can revive the look and feel of your hair with the right care. “A gloss toner is a great way to refresh faded colour and reduce brassiness without reaching for permanent dye,” says Laura. Avoid unwanted highlights and UV ray damage by using a hair gloss toning conditioner Credit: Glaze G­laze Supergloss Conditioning Gloss, £16 This conditioning gloss comes in clear and colour-depositing shades, and in one wash improves the look of dry hair damaged by UV rays, with Babassu Oil and Vitamin E that strengthens, smooths and softens hair in just 10 minutes! Comment now