Finally, summer has hit the European hemisphere. I was afraid that all this cloud seeding and climate change had completely knocked our summer off its normal schedule.

If you haven’t heard, Europe has been experiencing torrential downpours and greyness since April. Only around the first week of July did we start getting that real summer heat, and I have to say, it’s warmly welcomed!

I am a summer baby, so I love summer to the core. I loved gathering my summer favorites to share with you to protect you from the heat and make sure you feel your best! The theme this year is clear: Hydration.

Rudolph Care Clean Sunscreen 50+

So first comes first: Rudolph Care is my go-to face sunscreen and it’s always in my bag.! Always 50+ for the face (minimum), do not step out of the house without it. In the case that I leave without sunscreen, I am basically in crisis mode. I put it on everywhere, including my neck and my hands! Your hands have such sensitive skin and show signs of aging quite quickly, so do not forget to target your hands! Rudolph Care is the ultimate winner for me in terms of sun protection, hydration, texture, and the cleanliness of the ingredients. The Nordic brand has also won multiple awards in Europe for its unique blend. Knowing that the brand is clean also means there won’t be ingredients that dry my skin or make it more sensitive. I also bought their body sunscreen and use it on my arms and legs when I go on walks. Side note: I love that the brand is also focused on sustainability, which is crucial for me as a conscious consumer.

Check them out at https://www.rudolphcare.com/, or you can also shop them at Oh My Cream (https://en.ohmycream.com/) in the UK or France.

Moisturizer - Moussse Moisture Rush Cream

A good moisturizer is key for summer! I used to be afraid of adding oil or moisture to my face, thinking that it would cause breakouts. Well, times have changed, and I have finally understood that it’s the lack of moisture that causes those breakouts. My go-to moisturizers this summer have been Moussse’s Moisture Rush Cream, a brand founded by a dear friend of mine and her husband, Helene and Daniel Guttman. Truly, this is something extraordinary. The pair’s brand focuses on creating Swiss-made, biotech skincare, and they created their own proprietary ingredient called the MoussseShield, incorporated into the Moisture Rush Cream which brings moisture back to your skin, especially necessary for those in urban environments where pollution and toxins dehydrate and weaken the skin barrier. After my hormonal acne and pigmentation healing journey - I truly needed this! Check them out here: www.moussse.com.

De Mamiel Natural Rose Lip Balm

So one of my favourite features about most people but also myself is someone’s smile! So of course I have to take care of my lips to make sure that they stay looking peachy all summer. Hydration for the lips is incredibly important, especially since they tend to get extremely dry in the sun. We often forget to put sunscreen on our lips, leaving them vulnerable to skin spots (sadly I have one). Unlike the rest of our skin, our lips don't have oil glands, which makes them more prone to dryness and chapping. To combat this, I use De Mamiel’s luxurious lip balm. This product has become a staple in my skincare routine, both as a night mask and for use throughout the day. Before bed, I apply a generous layer of the balm, allowing it to work its magic overnight. The rich, nourishing ingredients deeply hydrate and repair my lips while I sleep, so I wake up with the nicest feeling of moisturized lips. The balm is lightweight yet effective, making it perfect for everyday use. Investing in a high-quality lip balm like De Mamiel’s can make a significant difference in the health and appearance of your lips. Keeping them hydrated and protected from the sun is essential for maintaining their softness and beauty. Find it here or at Bailey hill in Geneva Old Town.

A Hat (In My Bag at all Times)

I am a hat girl and that’s convenient because dermatologists have clearly stated that the sun on our faces, especially during peak hours, is not great for our skin. No matter how much sunscreen we wear. So, I have a huge hat collection and have opted to carry a hat in my bag at all times. I either have a baseball cap or I tan with this huge wide-brim fisher hat. I got it in Thailand, and I love it; it covers my whole face and is great for tanning (pictured above with Rudolph Sunscreen). My other favourite (pictured below) is this beautiful Janessa Leone Simone Hat in Sand that matches literally every outfit from city strolls to South of France swims - find it here.

Fruit as a Snack Daily

I know many people who don’t eat much fruit because they don’t want the sugar content or the carbs, but I cannot stress enough how critical fruit is for our body in the summer. Our body craves seasonal food, and fruit especially, because of its vitamin and water content. Most fruit ripens in summer, so to be in tune with our bodies and with nature, we need to provide it with the fruits of nature (pun intended)! I highly suggest that you eat one fruit a day; at least crowd in whatever else you are eating with diverse fruits this season to help improve your gut bacteria and basically your mood (fruits are full of fiber and feed good gut bacteria) and help fight off inflammation with their high antioxidant content. Also, by adding fruit, you can help support hydration of all your organs! Fruit is truly amazing both as a snack and with meals. My favorites are figs (promote digestive health), kiwi (full of vitamin C), watermelon (electrolytes and liver cleansing), and berries (high antioxidant content) for many reasons, but choose your favorite and incorporate them when you can! Want to know more about mood-boosting and gut-healing foods? Check out one of our past articles here.

Water With Electrolytes or with Sea Salt

Salt has a bad reputation, but it’s actually necessary for your body’s health to have a proper amount of sodium. Too little sodium in the body can lead to a condition that is essentially “water intoxication.” This potentially fatal problem occurs sometimes in athletes when they lose too many electrolytes during a heavy sweat session, sports performance, or exercise. It’s why doctors often recommend consuming electrolytes or other sports drinks to replenish minerals in the body when working out. I highly recommend you buy Celtic sea salt or another organic salt (not Himalayan) like volcanic salt that has minerals in it and add it to your water in the morning. OR Kroma Wellness has an amazing electrolyte powder to put in drinks. Check it out here. This will not only help add needed electrolytes to your water, but it will keep you hydrated for the length of the day and your body functioning properly. Water is not actually absorbed by our bodies if we do not have salt to help it. I also suggest to buy organic volcanic salt, I bought some in Mexico, and I love it. Find one that works for you and try it out for yourself!

Matcha > Coffee

One of the problems with summer heat is dehydration. Coffee is not great for dehydration, so I like to swap out my coffee for matcha at least once a day if possible. This will let your body’s water content stay high instead of allowing coffee to dehydrate you. Also, matcha has a high antioxidant content that includes catechins, which lower cell damage in the body. Recently a randomized control trial studied the affects of green tea catechins on UV exposure and data suggests a reduction of UV affects after consumption - so this is basically a natural sunburn fighter. It also helps improve your heart health and liver health. I think matcha can be an easy swap for anyone looking to up their health routine. However, do not forget to choose a high-quality matcha like Ceremony Matcha from our shop (find it here)!

A Good Probiotic

We love to eat out and drink all summer, so my recommendation is to focus on adding good gut bacteria to support your fun summer. Make sure it’s a high-quality probiotic and that it has some of the following probiotic strains, which are the best for adults:

Lactobacillus fermentum: Prevents gastro and respiratory infections.
Lactobacillus acidophilus: balances bad bacteria due to illness or antibiotics.
Lactobacillus casei/paracasei: Helps to ease IBS, e.g., bloating, gas, symptoms.
Lactobacillus plantarum: Fights off bacteria and aids in vitamin production.
Lactobacillus reuteri: Supports female health.
Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum: Reduces inflammation.

While there are many strains, these are considered some of the best through considerable research. I buy my probiotics from https://www.delta6desaturase.com/, a swiss company making high quality supplements without additives, gluten, lactose, and no other inflammatory compounds in their supplements.

My Calming Sabi Tea (Iced)

I love tea all the time, even in summer. It’s such a Russian tradition to always drink black tea or mint tea after a meal that I just have this necessity to always make tea every night. It’s my nightly routine. My husband would laugh and say yes, I make the tea and drink two sips, and then the routine is to leave it out for him to finish (haha!). But tea is truly such a high-quality drink to add to your routine because it can support so many aspects of your health! My favorite teas are from the brand The Sabi. It’s a high-quality hormonal health brand that also makes adaptogenic skincare. They created these teas with a naturopath in partnership with an ob-gyn, with women’s needs at the core of their products. I love the Calming Tea (iced in summer - check out the recipe below); it has helped me bring my cortisol down and can help to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and it’s basically a healthy mocktail. Full Disclosure: This is a hormonal beauty brand I actually angel invested in because I am so aligned with the founders’ passion on the power of natural healing remedies for our bodies. The Sabi.co have a tea for everything, including period cramps, breastfeeding support (for new mamas), post-partum recovery, and more! Check them out here.

Spoon of Olive Oil Every Day

Did you know that olive oil is one of the most antioxidant and powerful healing elixirs out there? It has so many antioxidants; it’s literally one of the key overlapping factors for people who live longest, as most of the people in blue zones in Europe consume olive oil in large quantities every day. A good organic, cold-pressed olive oil can help regulate your microbiome and support good bacteria growth. It helps by lining the gut and supporting your digestion. The polyphenols in olive oil are super-powerful antioxidants that literally reverse aging and kill free radicals in the body. It is also amazing for keeping your skin hydrated. Olive oil is often underutilized in our day-to-day life, and I truly believe if we all had a little bit more olive oil in our lives, we would be happier! (I definitely am!) My current favorite is Kalios Olive Oil because I love its mild, smooth taste. https://mykalios.com/en/

Hope you enjoyed my wellness favourites for this summer. If you loved this and you want me to share my travel, wellness and food diary, leave a comment below.

My Summer Wellness Essentials