5 Free Green Ways to Reverse Summer Skin and Hair Damage

Seems we're often attempting to mimic nature when paying big bucks for beautifying treatments. You spend wads of cash trying to get a "natural" spray tan glow?the more expensive, the more seemingly "natural." You dedicate hours out of your day at the local hair salon trying to transform your locks from dull and mousy to sun-kissed and highlighted. Since Mother Nature has proven herself to be the most direct (and least expensive) route to beauty, why do we continue to try and outdo her with chemically concocted copy-cats that pale in comparison?

While your bronze glow and natural highlights may be signs of a fun-filled summer, overdoing it is easy and if you don't dedicate some time to reverse the damage you could be in for some long-term problems? and believe me, they aren't pretty. But instead of rushing out to buy some new expensive skincare concoction or head out to your hair stylist for a deep chemically-conditioning treatment, time to turn to nature to undo any summer damage done.

1. Damage: Dry Hair

Sun and salt water are natural hair enemies. Chlorinated water is even worse. A day in the sun, salt and chlorine can make your hair dry and damaged. Because the summer heat begs our inner sun worshiper/water baby to come out and play, you've got to be on the defensive to heal your once-healthy locks from nature's tempting elements. Philip B is the botanical hairstylist to the "stars" with a product line based on the at-home hair recipes that his celebrity clientele loves him for. Your tresses might not be as high maintenance, but Philip B has created an easy do-it-yourself so that yours too can shine like a star.

Dry Hair Do-It-Yourself

WHAT: Chocolate-Pumpkin Conditioning Hair Milk

THE INGREDIENTS: 1 tbsp of vegetable oil, 1 tbsp of coconut oil, 2 tbsp of chopped pumpkin, 2 tbls of coconut milk, 1 tsp almond extract, 1 tsp chocolate extract, 1 tsp vanilla extract

HOW TO MAKE IT AND USE IT: In a small saucepan, heat vegetable oil and coconut oils until slightly warm, mixing together. Remove from heat and cool. Add remaining ingredients to oils and mix in a blender until you achieve a uniform consistency. Massage mixture through hair and comb through carefully. Leave on for 5-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Massage vigorously to remove all of the mixture. Cover and refrigerate the remaining mixture. Discard after 5 days.

Or just BUY IT:

Not feeling like a hair care chef? Buy Ojon's Restorative Hair Treatment. This rich, highly intensive treatment rejuvenates, hydrates and protects dry and damaged hair using natural South American ingredients, like palm nut oil, babassu, shea butter and sweet almond protein. And here's the secret to its stand-out success: the palm nut oil is extracted from the tropical Ojon tree, which grows only in the rainforest of the Mosquitia region of Central America—a region where women are known for their beautiful, healthy, sweetly scented hair. But you aren't only doing your hair good, a portion of the profits from Ojon products go directly to the Miskito Indian tribes to help preserve their traditional lifestyle and the surrounding rainforests. 2. Damage: Callused Feet Summer is the season for bare feet and hot sand. But after months of frolicking, are you showing off unsightly calluses that you will now attempt to slip into stilettos? It's time to tidy up your feet by tending to those rough patches. Shizuka Bernstein, owner of SHIZUKA Spa says that the best way to get rid of ugly calluses and make your feet smooth and smelling sweet, is to whip up a simple concoction using ingredients from your refrigerator or farmer's market. Here's Shizuka's homemade callus crusher: Callus Crusher Do-It-Yourself WHAT: Crystallized Honey Exfoliating Foot Scrub THE INGREDIENTS: equal parts olive oil, crystallized honey, rice bran, dark syrup. HOW TO MAKE IT AND USE IT: Combine olive oil (softens and works as an anti-inflammatory), crystallized honey (exfoliates, helps feet retains moisture), rice bran (moisturizes, balances sebum), dark syrup (moisturizes, brightens, cleanses). Stir until ingredients are combined. Cleanse your feet with water. Apply the soothing mix to your feet and scrub it in for 5 minutes. Wash off the sticky concoction and your feet will be callous free! Or just BUY IT Abrione Heels & Elbows is an ultra moisturizing, gently exfoliating cream that will slough off the dead skin cells that form together to create calluses and moisturize your new supple skin. The formula is powered with bioactive ingredients— like pineapple, lemon, and grape extracts- that work quickly to pretty your feet and protect against the damaging heat. 3. Damage: Dry Skin Both sun and salt are known to sap water out of skin. Stop shedding dry flecks in your tracks and do an at-home face remedy that Isabel Anton, owner of Advanced Skincare Day Spa, has sworn by since her Russian grandma concocted it! But don't just take our word for it, models like Karolina Kurkova depend on this skin-saving treatment too. Dry Skin Do-It-Yourself WHAT: Bubby's Blueberry Fresh Enzyme Dry Skin Peel THE INGREDIENTS: 3 tbsp of blueberries (organic is better), 1 lemon (use the juice and grate its skin), 1/4 tsp of sour cream, 1/2 tsp of molasses HOW TO MAKE IT AND USE IT: Apply the mixture on the skin and gently massage it in (massaging as opposed to merely rubbing increases circulation and amps up the effects). Leave it on for 8 minutes. Rinse off with warm water followed by a splash of cool water. Or just BUY IT Pangea Organics, purveyors of self proclaimed "ecocentric skincare," make the most delicious, skin satiating Italian Red Mandarin with Rose Facial Cream. The mind-elevating, body nourishing formula is always organic, handcrafted and cruelty-free and one of our faves this season! 4. Damage: Oily Skin Yes, it's hot out. And, yes, a little natural glisten on your skin is sexy— but not when that glisten is actually oil pooling from your pores. Oily skin looks heavy and congested, often caused from poor circulation. Facial exercises can help supply your cells with fresh, healthy blood, re-upping the health of your skin by increasing circulation and therefore reducing oil production. To get the circulation going, you could go to an expensive facialist who will massage and manipulate your skin cells to exercised perfection? or you can do it yourself. Carole Maggio, owner of Carole Maggio Day Spa in Redondo Beach, California, has a great full face facercise to try at home. Facercise Do-It-Yourself WHAT: Facial Exercises HOW: Open your mouth wide into the shape of a long O. Place one index finger on each cheek and apply light pressure. While maintaining your wide open O, try to do a big smile, turning the sides of your lips up (your top lip will be turned up to reveal your teeth). Release your smile but keep your open O. Repeat 30 times. Do this exercise once daily. Or just BUY IT Cleansers, toners and masks are undeniably an essential element of any oily skin care regime. But when your face is covered in makeup and you are already out and about, simply soaking up excess oil is the best option for instant results. EmerginC's Matt Velvet Dust is a lightweight powder that cools and deglazes oily skin on contact. An added benefit: makeup applied over Matt Velvet Dust will last much longer. 5. Damage: Sunburn To save your skin long term, it's your ongoing year-round duty to slather on the sunscreen and avoid letting that beloved sizzle penetrate your skin to the point of burn. But, on the off chance that you miss a spot, or forget to apply the defensive lotion all together, be sure to stop the heat from doing further damage as fast as possible. There are lots of skin saving solutions that you can find at your local beauty supply source, or try this easy tip from Diane Hanson of Delluva Vinotherapy Day Spa, New York's first and only wine-based skincare spa in New York. Sunburn Soothe Do-It-Yourself WHAT: Frozen Grapes HOW TO MAKE IT AND USE IT: Wash a handful of red grapes. Please them in the freezer. Wait several hours until they freeze. Mash the frozen grapes up and apply as a masque to the sun burnt area. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, allowing the cool, resveratrol-rich grapes to suck the heat out of your skin while simultaneously helping to fight sun-damage triggered pre-mature aging. Or just BUY IT Too much sun exposure does more than burn the skin: a temporary woe; it can cause wrinkles: a long-term woe that even tanned skin can't camouflage. LATHER Sea Kelp & Ginseng All Over Mask heals, calms and restores skin's natural moisture with revitalizing aloe vera, St. Johns Wort acts, sea kelp and ginseng. An extra benefit: sea algae oil is brimming with antioxidants and anti-aging components.